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| Volume 34, Number 5 | May 2024 | Home | IBWIndex |
Table of Contents
| Reviewer's Choice | Writing/Publishing Shelf | Education Shelf |
| Psychology Shelf | Health/Medicine Shelf | Photography Shelf |
| Cookbook Shelf | Wildlife Shelf | American History Shelf |
| World History Shelf | Civil War Shelf | Military History Shelf |
| Biography Shelf | General Fiction Shelf | LGBTQ Fiction Shelf |
| Literary Fiction Shelf | Romantic Fiction Shelf | Western Fiction Shelf |
| Mystery/Suspense Shelf | Fantasy/SciFi Shelf | Poetry Shelf |
| Graphic Novel Shelf | Library CD Shelf | Library DVD Shelf |
| Art Shelf | Needlecraft Shelf | Gardening Shelf |
| Antiques/Collectibles Shelf | Sports Shelf | Native American Studies Shelf |
| Computer Shelf | Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf | Architecture Shelf |
| Business Shelf | Christian Studies Shelf | Judaic Studies Shelf |
| Wine/Beer/Liquor Shelf | Metaphysical Studies Shelf | Criminology Shelf |
Reviewer's Choice
Shelley Fraser Mickle
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
https://www.imaginebooks.net
9781623545499, $27.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/White-House-Wild-Child-Roosevelt/dp/1623545498
Synopsis: "I can do one of two things, I can be President of the United States or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly doboth." -- Theodore Roosevelt
During Theodore Roosevelt's presidency from 1901 to 1909 (when Mark Twain called him the most popular man inAmerica) his daughter Alice Roosevelt mesmerized the world with her antics and her beauty.
Alice was known for carrying a gun, a copy of the Constitution, and a green snake in her purse. When her father told her shecouldn't smoke under his roof, she climbed to the top of the White House and smoked on the roof. She became the mostfamous woman in America (and even the world) predating Princess Diana and Jackie Kennedy as an object of publicobsession.
As her celebrity grew, she continued to buck tradition, push against social norms, and pull political sway behind the curtainof privilege and access. She was known for her acerbic wit and outspoken tendencies which hypnotized both the social andpolitical world.
Critique: "White House Wild Child: How Alice Roosevelt Broke All the Rules and Won the Heart of America" bybiographer Shelley Fraser Mickle vividly places the reader in the yesteryear world of Alice Roosevelt and asks what wouldit have been like to be a strong-willed powerful woman of that day when women could not vote and were denied access tohaving political authority. Drawn from primary and secondary sources, and exceptionally well written, in the pages of"White House Wild Child" Alice Roosevelt's life comes into focus in an historically accurate account and celebration of anextraordinary woman that in many ways was ahead of her time. Unreservedly recommended for community andcollege/library American Women Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "WhiteHouse Wild Child" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Shelley Fraser Mickle is the author of "The Queen of October" which was selected by Library Journal as oneof the ten best adult books suitable for young adults. Her novel "Replacing Dad" won an America's Writers Award inChicago and was adapted for film. From 2000 to 2006 she was a commentator for National Public Radio's "MorningEdition." Her husband trained under the Brigham hospital surgeons who are the focus of her nonfiction, "Borrowing Life"(2020.
To the Last Man: A Memoir
Lloyd K. Walund
Sweet Grass Press
c/o Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591523277, $24.95, HC, 226pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Man-Lloyd-K-Walund/dp/1591523273
Synopsis: Some years ago, Lloyd Kenneth Walund began writing a memoir of his experiences as a United States Armycombat infantryman of the 34th Infantry 'Red Bull' Division in World War II and its military campaigns in North Africa andItaly. The original handwritten and typed pages of the "manuscript" suggest that the work had been in progress for severaldecades following the end of the war.
At some point, having decided that his manuscript represented his thorough and complete recollection of his experiences, hecollaborated with some members of his family to transcribe from his existing handwritten and typed manuscript, a documentfrom which multiple copies were printed and distributed to each of his children and to a few other relatives.
Years after he shared his story, Lloyd passed away at the age of eighty-five. It is the wish of Lloyd's family to share hisbook, To the Last Man, with a larger audience. The greatest tribute to Lloyd's service that can be offered, is to present hisstory, in his words.
An easy but compelling read, the account of Lloyd Kenneth Walund's World War II service, "To the Last Man" is a deeplyauthentic personal memoir, reflective of the culture of the time and the vernacular of the farm country from which membersof the 34th Infantry Division were mustered. Lloyd completed school only through the eighth grade, but his writing is aneloquent and truthful account of the horrors of combat he experienced, and his recollections contain insights into how theman who would later become husband, father, and devoted American citizen, developed his sense of humor, his patriotism,and many of the values he carried with him and demonstrated throughout his life.
Critique: An authentic, eloquent, informative, and inherently fascinating account of Lloyd K. Walund's wartimeexperiences, the combat horrors, and the military values that were to shape the rest of his life, "To the Last Man" intimatelyand vividly chronicles Walund's experiences as a combat infantryman in World War II (transcribed from Walund's originalhandwritten manuscript) and is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library World War II History & Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Lloyd K. Walund was born in Leola, South Dakota, in 1920, and grew up in farm country in Forbes, NorthDakota, during the Great Depression. He left school after completing the 8th Grade, served in the Civilian ConservationCorps (CCC) and, like many of his generation, he enlisted in the Army to serve the United States during World War II. As amember of the 34th Infantry Division, he spent nearly 600 days in combat in Northern Africa and Europe.
Upon his return to the United States, Lloyd opened and operated the Club Cafe with his brother in Sheridan, Montana,where he met and married Dorothy Jane Burnett. Lloyd and Dorothy later moved to Anaconda, Montana, where Lloyd wasemployed with the Anaconda Company until his retirement. Lloyd and Dorothy raised seven children. He passed away at theage of eighty-five in 2005.
The Next Half Century
Alan Nevin
Global Economic Press
9798988614418, $24.99 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Next-Half-Century-Prepare-Prosperity/dp/B0CJKTT4ST
The Next Half Century: Prepare for an Amazing Change in World Prosperity sports a new deluxe color edition. It bases itsprojections about the future on an unusual combination of statistics: trends and demography, and real estate. This reflectsAlan Nevin's position as a demographer and real estate economist, casting a different light on the subject of not justfuturistic thinking, but understanding the processes, routines, and implications of demographic-based forecasting.
From this, one might expect that Nevin's guide would be weighty and scholarly, and perhaps not for the average readerseeking entertainment value along with thought-provoking social insights. In actuality, Nevin writes with a passionate andcolorful hand that injects life and interest in what could have proved a daunting topic. This translates to The Next HalfCentury's appeal to a much wider audience.
From the impact of widespread and powerful economic growth in first-world nations, which combats the usual pessimismabout their survival and influence, to the massive economic changes that will be fostered by this trend and the United States,Nevin creates an uplifting, positive vision of the future which serves as a much-needed panacea for modern-day angst.
Graphics, charts, and colorful portraits depict this future in different, highly accessible ways. This approach allows readersto dip into the potentials and promises of economic forecasting without the usual dry approach of monolithic speech and thetypical lack of visuals in competing books on the subject.
History, economics, and nations of the world all receive reasoned, lively contrasts and speculations powered by a foundationof facts and well-researched trends that lay the groundwork for insights not to be found in other books. In turn, this creates atreatise that is as perfect for book club and classroom discussion groups as it is for individual pursuit. It raises manyquestions about opportunity, choice, impact, and purpose that a diverse audience will find suitable for lively debate andpersonal contemplation.
The next fifty years receives close inspection as to its possible or likely incarnations based not only on current changes inpopulation, lifestyle, education, and employment patterns already underway around the world, but geographic regions of theU.S. that are already on target to become leaders of these changes.
Too many books paint a grim picture of what is to come. This is why The Next Half Century: Prepare for an AmazingChange in World Prosperity is so very highly recommended to anyone who would view coming decades in a more positivelight than has been presented in the past.
Future generations need this book, which builds hope based on facts and research, not just ideals; and libraries need toinclude it in their collections and point it out so these readers can find it.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Randy Laist
CAST
https://publishing.cast.org
9781943085101, $35.00, PB, 238pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rethinking-writing-instruction-in-the-age-of-ai-randy-laist/1145014336
Synopsis: Writing is an invaluable academic skill, but, as writing expert and academician Randy Laist points out, "it is alsomuch more than that. It is a tool for thinking, a means of personal expression, and a vehicle of self-discovery."
Composition instructors have long been challenged to fi nd effective ways of engaging and empowering student writers.Now as we enter the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this challenge has become even more complicated, with too manystudents-and too many people in general-feeling shut out of writing.
With the publication of "Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI: A Universal Design for Learning Approach",Professor Laist offers composition instructors practical ways to address the emergence of AI panic as well as insight intohow to embrace it as an opportunity to strengthen writing and critical thinking skills.
Professor Laist also shows how Universal Design for Learning provides a framework that can help unpack the writingprocess and support instruction. "Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI: A Universal Design for LearningApproach" offers numerous hands-on writing activities that are not only engaging but also "AI proof".
Critique: This trade paperback edition of "Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI: A Universal Design for LearningApproach" by Professor Randy Laist is impressively informative, exceptionally well written, deftly organized andthoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, making it a timely, unreservedly recommended, and high value addition topersonal, professional, community, and college/university library Language Arts, Teacher Education, Writer Reference, andAI collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialistgeneral readers with an interest in the subject that "Rethinking Writing Instruction in the Age of AI: A Universal Design forLearning Approach" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.49).
Editorial Note: Randy Laist, Ph.D., is a professor of English in the School of Applied Liberal Arts and Social Sciences atGoodwin University, and he is the Chair of the English Department at the University of Bridgeport. Laist received hisdoctorate in American literature from the University of Connecticut. He has taught in middle schools, high schools, andcolleges, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He is alsothe co-editor of UDL University: Designing for Variability across the Postsecondary Curriculum.
The Language of the Night
Ursula K. Le Guin
www.UrsulaKLeGuin.com
Scribner
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/scribner
9781668034903, $18.00, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Language-Night-Writing-Science-Fiction/dp/1668034905
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Language of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy", famedscience fiction and fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin's sharp and witty voice is on full display in this collection oftwenty-four essays (newly revised by the author a decade after its initial publication in 1979).
This outstanding collection covers a wide range of topics and includes Le Guin's origins as a writer, her advocacy forscience fiction and fantasy as mediums for true literary exploration, the writing of her own major works such as A Wizard ofEarthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness, and her role as a public intellectual and educator.
"The Language of the Night" offers contemporary readers and aspiring authors a truly fascinating and intimate look into theexceptional mind of Le Guin -- whose insights remain as relevant and resonant today as when they were first publishedsome 45 years ago.
Each thematic section comprising "The Language of the Night" is brilliantly introduced and contextualized by ProfessorSusan Wood (University of British Columbia) -- a literary editor and feminist activist during the 1960s and '70s.
Critique: Brought back into print for a new generation of grateful science fiction and fantasy authors and fans, "TheLanguage of the Night: Essays on Writing, Science Fiction, and Fantasy" is especially and unreservedly recommended forpersonal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections. It should be noted forUrsula K. Le Guin fans that "The Language of the Night" is also now available in a digital book format (Kindle,$11.99).
Editorial Note: The late Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) was the celebrated author of twenty-three novels, twelve volumesof short stories, eleven volumes of poetry, thirteen children's books, five essay collections, and four works of translation.Her acclaimed books received the Hugo, Nebula, Endeavor, Locus, Otherwise, Theodore Sturgeon, PEN/Malamud, andNational Book Awards; a Newbery Honor; and the Pushcart and Janet Heidinger Kafka Prizes, among others. In 2014, shewas awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2016 joinedthe short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America. Le Guin was also the recipient of theAssociation for Library Service to Children's May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award and the Margaret A. EdwardsAward. She received lifetime achievement awards from the World Fantasy Convention, Los Angeles Times, PacificNorthwest Booksellers Association, and Willamette Writers, as well as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of AmericaGrand Master Award and the Library of Congress Living Legend Award.
The Amazon Author Formula
Penny C. Sansevieri
Independently Published
9798874429799, $9.79, PB, 238pp
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Author-Formula-Insider-Strategies/dp/B0CT5FMQ9K
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Amazon Author Formula: Insider Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Selling MoreBooks!", legendary book marketing expert Penny C. Sansevieri unlocks the secrets to growing your book's visibility andsales on Amazon.com, the world's largest and dominating online marketplace.
As an author, the key to success lies in getting your title into the hands of the right readers. In this comprehensivecombination of instructional guide and DIY 'how to' manual, marketing expert, book publicist and successful author PennySansevieri unveils a game-changing strategy to optimize your Amazon presence and support long-term book sales.
With a close reading of "The Amazon Author Formula" authors, publishers, and publicists will:
Discover the Hidden Language of Amazon -- Learn how to speak Amazon's language by mastering the art of keywords andcategories. The Amazon Formula takes you on a step-by-step journey to demystify the complex algorithms that drive bookdiscoverability. Dive into proven techniques to choose the most effective keywords and categories for your genre, ensuringthat your book stands out in the crowded digital marketplace.
Ignite Your Book's Visibility with Amazon Ads -- Crack the code to Amazon advertising and turn casual browsers intodedicated readers. The Amazon Formula provides expert insight into creating compelling ad campaigns tailored to yourbook's unique appeal. From budgeting strategies to ad design, you'll learn how to elevate your book's visibility and reach awider audience.
Optimize Your Author Page for Maximum Impact -- Your author page is your digital storefront - make it irresistible! TheAmazon Formula empowers you to create an enticing author profile that captivates readers and boosts your credibility.Leverage the power of compelling author bios, engaging visuals, and strategic cross-promotion to transform your page into amagnet for genre and topic fans.
Data-Driven Success -- Uncover the secrets of interpreting Amazon data to refine your marketing strategy. From trackingkeyword performance to analyzing ad conversion rates, you'll gain the confidence needed to make informed decisions thatdrive ongoing success.
Master the Amazon Ecosystem -- "The Amazon Author Formula" goes beyond the basics, providing a comprehensiveunderstanding of Amazon's ever-evolving ecosystem. Stay ahead of the curve with updates on algorithm changes, platformenhancements, and emerging trends, ensuring your book remains a top contender in the competitive Amazonmarketplace.
Achieve Authorial Greatness -- Whether you're a publishing veteran or a debut author, "The Amazon Author Formula" isyour roadmap to achieving unparalleled success on Amazon. Transform your passion for telling stories or sharing yourexpertise into a lucrative career with the proven strategies outlined in The Amazon Formula.
Critique: Knowledgeable, comprehensive, detailed, practical, effective, and impressively well organized and presented, "TheAmazon Author Formula: Insider Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Selling More Books!" is a premier DIY course ofinstruction that while specific to book marketing on Amazon, is also quite relevant for successful book marketing on theinternet with other on-ling bookseller sites -- as well as the author and publisher's own website. Penny Sansevieri is apublishing industry veteran and one of the best at bringing a book to the author's intended readership. "The Amazon AuthorFormula" will especially be appreciated by authors and publishers having to work on a 'shoestring' or even 'no-string'marketing budget. Whether you are a novice author marketing your first book, or a seasoned self-published writers, becauseAmazon remains the 800 pound gorilla of online book marketing you need to give "The Amazon Author Formula" careful(and profitable) attention. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "The Amazon Author Formula" isunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishingcollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Penny C. Sansevieri (www.amarketingexpert.com) is the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts,Inc., a successful author, and an internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is also anAdjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU.
She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine. Her company is one of the leadersin the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon visibility campaigns as well offeringnational media pitching, online book marketing, author events, and other strategies designed to build the author/bookvisibility.
She is the author of 18 books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon, Revise and Re-ReleaseYour Book, 5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and From Book to Bestseller. She also hosts the top ranking podcastBook Marketing Tips and Author Success.
Word of the Day
Marilyn Horowitz
O Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803415161, $12.95, PB, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Word-Day-Transform-Writing-Minutes/dp/1803415169
Synopsis: Offering a unique creativity-and-time-management technique, "Word of the Day: Transform Your Writing in 15 Minutes a Day" by Marilyn Horowitz presents a practice that assists writers to create at will and write as much as they want, all while acquiring accurate self-acknowledgment in the process.
The practice immediately connects writers with their innate storytelling ability as reflected in their dreams.
The techniques synthesize the right and left sides of the brain so that writers can draw upon the entirety of their creativetools, fusing the verbal and visual mind, unleashing structural instincts and creativity, allowing them to dance together.
Writers are asked to put a notebook by their bed so they can write first thing in the morning when they wake up and justbefore bedtime.
Studies have shown that our most creative moments happen immediately upon waking and just before falling asleep.Writing adjacent to these moments, even briefly, gives writers access to their unlimited imagination, powerful tools ofimagery, and the full scope of their memory.
Critique: A novel and effective approach to writing, "Word of the Day: Transform Your Writing in 15 Minutes a Day" bythe award-winning author Marilyn Horowitz (with the assistance of Elizabeth Wiserman) is an inherently fascinating andthoroughly 'user friendly' DIY instructional guide to improving the scope, practice, and performance in the art and craft ofwriting. It's also a welcome tool for dealing with writer's block, experimentation and inspiration. While also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $6.99), "Word of the Day" is an ideal, highly recommended, and prized pick for novice andexperienced writers alike.
Editorial Note: Marilyn Horowitz (www.marilynhorowitz.com) is an award-winning author, New York Universityprofessor, TV show creator, and writing coach, working with successful novelists, produced screenwriters, andaward-winning filmmakers. Horowitz received the coveted New York University Award for Teaching Excellence in 2004and has an active online audience comprising 5,000 Facebook friends, over 10,000 connections on LinkedIn, and 2,500readers of her weekly blog.
The Crossroads of Crime Writing
Meghan P. Nolan & Rebecca Martin, co-authors
Anthem Press
www.anthempress.com
9781839991172, $110.00, HC, 250pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crossroads-of-crime-writing-meghan-p-nolan/1144355826
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Crossroads of Crime Writing: Unseen Structures and Uncertain Spaces", thecontributors collectively argue that we must examine the boundaries in fiction and non-fiction crime writing with anawareness of and turn toward the unseen structures and spatial uncertainties that so often lead to and reflect collective fearsand anxieties.
Drawing upon the insights and expertise of an international array of scholars, the ten chapter articles comprising "TheCrossroads of Crime Writing" deftly explore the interplay of the literary, historical, social, and cultural in various modes ofcrime writing from the 1890s to as recent as 2017. They examine unseen structures and uncertain spaces, andsimultaneously provide new insights into the works of iconic authors, such as Christie, and iconic fictional figures, likeHolmes, as well as underexplored subjects, including Ukrainian detective fiction of the Soviet period and crime writing by aBengali police detective at the turn of the twentieth century.
The breadth of coverage (of both time and place) is an indicator of a text in which seasoned readers, advanced students, andacademics will find new perspectives on crime writing employing theories of cultural memory and deep mapping.
Critique: A erudite, insightful, and thought-provoking compendium of ten original, seminal, and ground breaking studies,"The Crossroads of Crime Writing: Unseen Structures and Uncertain Spaces" is essential reading for novice andexperienced crime fiction and true crime non-fiction novels and stories. With each of the ten extended articles includingNotes and Bibliographies, as well as expertly co-edited by the team of professor Meghan P. Nolan and Rebecca Martin, thishardcover edition of The Crossroads of Crime Writing" from Anthem Press is unreservedly recommended as a highly prizedaddition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental curriculumstudies lists. It should be noted for aspiring authors with an interest in writing crime novels and true crime stories that "TheCrossroads of Crime Writing" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.49).
Editorial Note #1: Meghan P. Nolan, MFA, MA, PhD, is an Associate Professor of English and Chair of the Honorsprogram at SUNY Rockland Community College. She is a multigenre writer, who focuses on (Neo-)Victorian and Modernliterature/crime writing and fragmented perceptions of self-hood through many published academic works, fiction,non-fiction, and poetry.
Editorial Note #2: Rebecca Martin, PhD, is Professor Emerita of English at Pace University in New York. In addition to herPhD, which focused on the eighteenth-century Gothic novel in England, she holds a graduate certificate in film studies fromCUNY Graduate Center, and her interest in crime writing focuses on the hardboiled tradition.
How to Self-Publish Like A Pro
Tina Koenig
Independently Published
9781736470527, $24.95 Paperback/$14.95 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/How-Self-Publish-Like-Pro-Comprehensive/dp/1736470523
With the publication of "How to Self-Publish Like A Pro: A Comprehensive Guide for Writing, Publishing, and PromotingYour Book", Tina Koenig covers all the basics for would-be self-published authors, from the initial structuring of anauthor's business to building and promoting an author presence and registering a book with the Library of Congress.
Koenig's extensive information goes beyond the basics of how to publish a book. It also covers the aftermath of promotion,which is as important to the publishing process as gaining an ISBN and understanding how to work with different kinds ofpublishers.
Koenig outlines how to provide review copies months before publication so there is adequate time to schedule reviews thatdovetail with a book's publication date. She also encourages understanding the pros and cons of different platforms forgaining book reviews (including ones that many novices won't think about, like Instagram).
Ultimately, Koenig pins down the nuts and bolts of the publishing process in a manner that requires no advanced (or evenmuch basic) prior knowledge.
Another subject Koenig covers, that many books about the process do not, is how authors can lay the groundwork to becomean 'expert' whose advice will be solicited by podcasters and other media entities. There is no better publicity than that whichcomes from added value, delivered by an author who backs, say, an interview with repeated emphasis that their book holdsfurther information, and thus will prove of additional interest to listeners or readers.
These kinds of strategies make the most of the latest technology, social media, and literary connections in the industry,affording Koenig's book a contemporary and wide-ranging series of applications. These are broad in scope and specific, witheasy step-by-step insights that any novice publisher can easily absorb.
Koenig's strategies make the most of the latest technology, social media and literary connections. Each chapter is broadenough in scope to be easily absorbed, with step-by-step insights that any novice publisher can implement. These qualitiesplace How to Self-Publish Like A Pro head and shoulders above similar-sounding books, affording it a diversity and ease ofunderstanding that will make it a major library and reader attraction.
The Education Shelf
F. Joseph Merlino & Deborah Pomeroy, co-authors
Lexington Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rlpgbooks.com
9781666949766, $135.00, HC, 402pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Era-Urgency-Repurposing-Education/dp/1666949760
Synopsis: Co-authored by the team of F. Joseph Merlino and Deborah Pomeroy, "New Era - New Urgency: The Case forRepurposing Education" explores the unprecedented realities and challenges associated with entering a new era, such ascatastrophic climate changes, advanced artificial intelligence, massive demographic shifts, and worldwide digitaldisinformation campaigns. This new era in human history calls for a new urgency in thinking about how we will educatepresent and future generations of young people.
"New Era - New Urgency" is divided into four parts:
Part I describes the profound social, technological, and demographic changes that have occurred over four hundred yearssince the first English settlements in Massachusetts and Virginia.
Part II describes four shadows that have served to corrupt these purposes of education: extreme wealth inequality, nativism,white supremacy, and anti-intellectualism.
Part III explores the illusions of educational reform that have over-promised college and career success, created an idolatryof math test scores, conflated memorization of facts with conceptual understanding, and confused multiple layers of policyagendas with progress.
Part IV depicts F. Joseph Merlino and Deborah Pomeroy's twelve years of experience in Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina,Turkey, and the U.S. in helping to craft new purposes of education for model schools in their countries that reflect theiraspirations for a new generation.
Critique: F. Joseph Merlino is president of the 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education, (21PSTEM), a non-profitresearch and action organization. Deborah Pomeroy is Professor Emeritus of Science Education at Arcadia University. Thishardcover edition of "New Era - New Urgency: The Case for Repurposing Education" from Lexington Books will prove ofspecial interest to readers concerned with the issues relevant to how education and educational institutions can best prepareus for the on-coming and inevitable impacts of the physical, political, technological, economic, and cultural global changes-- especially those that will be generated by dramatic climate change and the advances of artificial intelligence.Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "New Era - New Urgency: The Case for Repurposing Education" isespecially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, governmental, and college/universitylibrary Contemporary Educational Theory & Practice collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Breathe - Move - Learn With Young Children
Marcia Lee Unnever, author
Damon Pellican, illustrator
Brookes Publishing Company
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681257594, $32.95, PB, 169pp
https://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Move-Learn-Young-Children-Brain-Friendly-Social-Emotional/dp/1681257599
Synopsis: With the publication of "Breathe - Move - Learn With Young Children: 70 Activities in Mindfulness,Brain-Friendly Movement, and Social-Emotional Learning" by Marcia Lee Unnever, classroom teaches will be able to getevery young child in their class ready to learn (and support their social-emotional development) with 70 fun, quick, andeffective activities!
In particular, teachers of early childhood through Grade 3 will love this unique combination of SEL, mindfulness, andbrain-friendly physical activity that promotes growth, development, and behavior management.
Designed to increase focus and nurture the essential skills every kid needs for social and academic success, the activities inthis teacher-friendly book are a perfect complement to all of today's popular curricula. They're field-tested, easy toimplement in as little as 15 minutes a day, and great for use in person or in the virtual classroom.
When used throughout the school day, the Breathe - Move - Learn activities work fast - helping kids wake up, calm down,focus, or soothe anxious feelings. Easy-to-follow scripts, illustrations, and photos allow teachers to lead the activitieswithout extensive prep work.
A must-have for all teachers from early childhood to elementary school, Breathe - Move - Learn activities will help kidsdevelop the mental, physical, emotional and social skills to support a lifetime of learning.
Critique: Practical, easy to implement, and fun, "Breathe - Move - Learn With Young Children: 70 Activities inMindfulness, Brain-Friendly Movement, and Social-Emotional Learning" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization andpresentation. Making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, school district, andcollege/university library
Early Childhood Education collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Marcia Lee Unnever is an Educational Trainer certified by the state of New Mexico. Since 1970, Marcia hastaught thousands of preschool and elementary school children and teachers in New Mexico and California. In 2010 shefounded Kids Focus, a program dedicated to helping every child and teacher feel strong, positive, healthy, and smart.
The Psychology Shelf
Garry Cosnett
Secant Publishing
www.secantpublishing.com
9798988641056, $24.00 Hardcover/$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Slows-Down-Garry-Cosnett/dp/B0CCWCDQDS
Everything Slows Down: My Hidden Life with Depression: How I Survived, What I Learned documents a lifelong battleagainst clinical depression and a search for its cure. This took Garry Cosnett through a series of drugs, psychiatrists,hospitals, and challenges... all this while simultaneously navigating jobs and daily life challenges.
From its opening lines, Cosnett's words will resonate with readers struggling with their own long-term depression: "One'ssixty-fifth birthday is commonly a point of reflection. It certainly was for me. I was taken aback by how much of my livedexperience - at least the past fifty years - had been shaped by depression. At times, it could be described as mild. And atother times, it was diagnosed as major -- so severe as to be immobilizing. It was a stunning realization. How is it thatdepression's role in all my life's stages was not apparent to me? I guess it's like the analogy of a fish's relationship to water.It was the medium that I lived in and moved through."
From drugs that produced terrible side effects to treatments that helped only mildly or not at all, the tidal back-and-forthmovement of Cosnett's efforts create a marked expose of not just drugs and treatments, but the politics and personalities thatdictate their assignment: "I've learned that a reasonable target for depression patients is 80 percent better, 80 percent of thetime. Dr. V. seemed to be more of a 60/60 practitioner. I felt pretty good, much of the time. Yet it didn't come close to thestunning success of phenelzine. I had the inner sense that I could do better. I grew frustrated."
Readers on their own long-term journeys through depression receive keys to survival, understanding, and empowermentwithin Cosnett's revelations in Everything Slows Down. Its candid accounts of successes (whether limited or morelong-term), failures, ongoing challenges, and the shifting nature of drugs and their applications makes for a story that willeducate a wide range of followers, from medical students and psychiatrists interested in the experiences and course ofdepression to fellow survivors who will not just walk in Cosnett's footsteps, but learn from his choices.
This is why libraries will want to include Everything Slows Down in their collections as a standout guide to depression'ssurvival, and will want to recommend it to psychology reading groups interested in the nuts and bolts of betterunderstanding.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Vinod Krishnan (Editor)
Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman (Editor)
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119870050, $255.00, HC, 608pp
https://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Clinical-Orthodontics-Vinod-Krishnan/dp/1119870054
Synopsis: Co-edited by the team of Vinod Krishnan and Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman, this newly updated and expandedsecond edition of "Integrated Clinical Orthodontics" offers an overview of clinical orthodontic theory and practice to equipclinicians to take an integrated approach to orthodontic practice.
It also presents the problems of orthodontics in an interdisciplinary context to describe how the potential complexity ofdentofacial problems, the medical histories of patients, and a host of other factors contribute to orthodontic outcomes.
This second edition has been expanded and thoroughly updated with new chapters and following an organized approach tothe role of the orthodontist as part of a team. The cases presented include orofacial deformities, sleep disorders, estheticsmile creation and temporomandibular joint problems.
Orthodontic diagnosis and treatment are integrated into the wider health of the patient, including orthopedics, neurology,pediatrics, genetics and psychology, and the result is a modern, adaptable approach that places the patient and their needs atit* center to achieve the highest possible standard of patient care.
Of special note are: New chapters on neuromuscular disorders, customized orthodontics, artificial intelligence, ethics andpatient data; Expanded content on special care in dentistry; Guidance for the clinical interactions between orthodontics andother areas of dentistry and medicine; Clinical implications and applications of the integrated approach in everychapter.
Critique: An essential, comprehensive, indispensible resource for clinical orthodontists and specialists in related medicaland dental fields who wish to take the holistic view of orthodontic practice, this large format ( 8.7 x 1.2 x 10.9 inches, 4.15pounds) hardcover second edition of "Integrated Clinical Orthodontics" is an unreservedly recommended and core pick forprofessional, dental school, and college/university library Modern Dentistry collections and supplemental curriculumtextbook studies lists. It should be noted that "Integrated Clinical Orthodontics: 2nd Edition) is also available in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $204.00).
Editorial Note #1: Vinod Krishnan is Professor and Head of the Department of Orthodontics at Sri Sankara Dental College,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Editorial Note #2: Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman is Researcher & Educator in the Department of Orthodontics at theUniversity of Groningen, the Netherlands; and Adjunct Professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland; and University ofIndonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Clinical Insertion Techniques of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices
Hu Long (Editor)
Xianglong Han (Editor)
Wenli Lai (Editor)
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119892236, $210.00, HC, 592pp
https://www.amazon.com/Insertion-Techniques-Orthodontic-Temporary-Anchorage/dp/1119892236
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Hu Long, Xianglong Han, and Wenli Lai, "Clinical InsertionTechniques of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices" is the first comprehensive guide to the clinical insertiontechniques for temporary anchorage devices (TADs) and the clinical applications of TADs according to different anatomicregions.
Divided into five principle sections it provides detailed clinical insertion instructions and applications, as well as guidanceon choosing an optimal insertion site, detailed insertion techniques, and potential complications and their solutions.
The first section covers general considerations, the second section explores the techniques at different insertion sites, thethird section delves into the clinical applications of miniplates, the fourth section delivers the guided insertion ofmini-implants, and the fifth section outlines the adverse effects of insertions. The result is a comprehensive textbook whichbrings TADs into orthodontic practice in a rigorous and accessible way.
"Clinical Insertion Techniques of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices" includes: Some 800 photographs andillustrations demonstrating different insertion techniques and clinical applications; Detailed coverage of all maxillary andmandibular regions as potential insertion sites; Design and application guidelines for insertion guides.
Critique: This large format (8.7 x 1.2 x 10.9 inches, 4.1 pounds) hardcover edition of "Clinical Insertion Techniques ofOrthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices" from Wiley-Blackwell is ideal and indispensable source for orthodonticclinicians looking for a reference on this area of orthodontics and would well serve as a curriculum textbook for dentistrystudents. A seminal and ground-breaking instructional guide that is expertly written, organized and presented, it isunreservedly recommended for professional, dental school, and college/university library Oral Health & Medicinecollections. It should be noted that "Clinical Insertion Techniques of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices" is alsoreadily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $168.00).
Editorial Note #1: Hu Long PhD is Associate Professor at West China Hospital of Stomatology in Chengdu, China.
Editorial Note #2: Xianglong Han PhD is Professor at West China Hospital of Stomatology in Chengdu, China.
Editorial Note #3: Wenli Lai PhD is Professor at West China Hospital of Stomatology in Chengdu, China.
The Photography Shelf
Kim Watson
Broadleaf Books
www.broadleafbooks.com
9781506491134, $29.99, HC, 218pp
https://www.amazon.com/Trespass-Portraits-Unhoused-Life-Understanding/dp/1506491138
Synopsis: According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), nearly 70,000 people were unhoused inthe city as of September 2022.
Writer, director, and photographer Kim Watson began connecting with these unhoused people near his LA neighborhood bydelivering food out of the back of his car. As his relationships grew to become trusted friendships, he began to interview andphotograph those he encountered, documenting their experiences.
Through profiles, essays, and stunning black-and-white photography, "Trespass: Portraits of Unhoused Life, Love, andUnderstanding" sheds light on the complex situations that lead to homelessness, the individuals who struggle to rise out ofit, and those who have resigned themselves to it.
Fueled by a deep sense of care, Watson's portraits capture the hopes and demands of people in need of support andconsideration. In this book of extraordinary photo essays, Watson also dares us to look inside ourselves and confront ourown biases as we consider the conditions of others so, together, we can process our collective trauma and developsustainable solutions.
Critique: A unique yet seminal contribution to our on-going national dialogue regarding the cultural, political, economic,ethical impact of homelessness on American society, "Trespass: Portraits of Unhoused Life, Love, and Understanding" isunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library ContemporaryPhotography and American Social Issues collections. It should also be noted that "Trespass: Portraits of Unhoused Life,Love, and Understanding" is available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Kim Watson (https://kimwatson.com) has photographed, directed, and written for Grammy winners,Hollywood studios, and various entertainment platforms, including Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS, A&E, Warner Brothers, andmany more. His work with groundbreaking hip-hop pioneers garnered both MTV and Soul Train Awards "Best MusicVideo" nominations, as well as NAACP recognition for his positive portrayals of African Americans. Untethered by labels,Watson has always aspired to tell a story that moves us to see the world a little bit differently, and with a lot moreempathy.
Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin
David Moskowitz, author/photographer
Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, narrator
Braided River
c/o Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680516609, $39.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Big-River-Resilience-Renewal-Columbia/dp/1680516604
Synopsis: With the publication of "Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin", award-winningphotographer David Moskowitz and writer Eileen Delehanty Pearkes collaboratively illuminate the hydrogeology, beauty,and activity of the Columbia River, while also highlighting current challenges facing the region and the people working onsustainable solutions.
The watershed encompasses immense ecological, cultural, and economic value, the benefits of which have been wrangledover for centuries. As the region comes to terms with the unsustainable nature of our relationship with the watershed, andlocal Indigenous nations renew their efforts to steward their territories, we are reaching a new inflection point.
"Big River" explores possible new management strategies, including the removal of key dams that have decimated thesalmon runs that are vital to tribal cultures and a healthy ecosystem.
The culmination of Moskowitz's many years of photographing the river and exploring its watershed, "Big River" seeks apath forward for the Columbia watershed, balancing the demands around water, salmon, agriculture, energy, and climatewith the need for a sustainable living river.
Critique: Of special and particular interest to readers concerned with environmental issues, conservation, and spectacularphotography, "Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin" is an impressive and large format compendium offull color, captioned photographs showcasing the beauty and importance of the Columbia Basin country. Ideal for browsingthrough by the armchair traveler, important for its emphasis on the need for environmental protections and restorations, "BigRiver: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Photography collections and supplementalEnvironmental Issues curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: David Moskowitz (https://davidmoskowitz.net) is a photographer, wildlife biologist, tracker, and theauthor of Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, and Wolves in the Land of Salmon, and co-author ofPeterson's Field Guide to North American Bird Nests. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Sierra, HighCountry News, and Audubon Magazine, as well as by organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, EndangeredSpecies Coalition, and Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Editorial Note 32: Eileen Delehanty Pearkes (www.edpearkes.com) explores landscape, history, and the human imaginationthrough writing, maps, and visual notebooks, focusing on Indigenous culture and the power of water. She has researched theinternational Columbia River basin for more than two decades. Pearkes is the author of The Geography of Memory, A RiverCaptured: The Columbia River and Catastrophic Change, and The Heart of a River.
Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home
Peter van Agtmael
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500027028, $60.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Look-U-S-Diary-Home/dp/0500027021
Synopsis: A personal chronicle of post-9/11 America, at war and at home. Through reportage and memoir, in photographsand words, with the publication of "Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home", photographer Peter van Agtmaeldocuments the major fault lines that have defined this era, beginning with the war in Iraq and ending with the Talibantakeover of Afghanistan.
Fueled by ideology, insecurity, ambition, and a deep fascination with war, Peter van Agtmael began documenting America'swar in Iraq in 2005. So began a photographic odyssey that would span more than two decades generating work that grewfrom a deep need to understand and peel back the layers of his troubled society.
Confronting the mythologizing of war and seductive nature of conflict on the American psyche, "Look at the U.S.A.: ADiary of War and Home" visually explores the disconnect between the intergenerational wars and the home front,juxtaposing American troops in combat with their grieving families at home and the recovery of the wounded. As theaccompanying narrative commentary progresses, the gaze begins to widen, to the imprints of nationalism, the election ofDonald Trump, militarism, and race and class on American society.
Layered with van Agtmael's personal accounts, observations, and interviews with those he has encountered on his journey,"Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home" is a damning, sometimes ironic critique that will make it one of theseminal photobooks on war.
Critique: Of special note for readers with an interest in photojournalism, equipment and techniques, this large format (7.6 x1.3 x 9.6 inches, 1.74 pounds) hardcover edition of "Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home" from Thames &Hudson is comprised of some 200 full color and impressively memorable photographs (a great many of them double pagespreads). A unique approach to the use of photographs as commentary, "Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home" is astriking and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryContemporary Photography and American History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Peter van Agtmael is a Magnum photographer. His books include Look at the U.S.A., Sorry for the War, andDisco Night Sept 11. His work is showcased online athttps://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/peter-van-agtmael
Appalachian Ghost
Raymond Thompson Jr.
The University Press of Kentucky
www.kentuckypress.com
9780813198996, $45.00, HC, 136pp
https://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Ghost-Photographic-Reimagining-Disaster/dp/0813198992
Synopsis: In the early days of the Great Depression, the search for steady work drove thousands of migrant laborers (manyof whom were African American) from all over Appalachia to a rural area near Fayetteville, West Virginia. Union CarbideCorporation had begun construction on a three-mile tunnel to divert the New River, and many hands were needed.
Toiling for five years in confined spaces with poor ventilation, no means of dust control, and limited use of personalbreathing protection, the workers were repeatedly exposed to pure silica dust. Many developed silicosis, an incurable anddebilitating lung disease that is estimated to have caused the deaths of nearly eight hundred workers, two-thirds of whomwere Black. Soon after, the US House of Representatives Committee on Labor classified silicosis as an occupationalhazard.
Despite the disaster's impact, information about its severity was largely suppressed -- a decision that ensured the event fadedquickly from public memory. Aside from a small plaque at Hawk's Nest State Park, which inaccurately admits to only 109victims, there is little to mark the site of the worst industrial accident to date in the United States.
With the publication of "Appalachian Ghost: A Photographic Reimagining of the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster",academician, and photojournalist Raymond Thompson Jr. explores the possibilities of that tragedy by reviving the faces andspaces of Hawk's Nest. Using primary source materials to re-create the workers' experiences in photographs, Thompsonrecontextualizes archival images to present a counter-archive that positions the Black experience at Hawk's Nest within thelarger story of the American labor landscape.
Thompson's photographs and poetry give voice to the silenced, resisting revisionist narratives that often ignore the sacrificesof African Americans and erase their instrumental role in the development of America's infrastructure.
Critique: This large format (9.9 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches, 1.55 pounds) hardcover edition of "Appalachian Ghost: A PhotographicReimagining of the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster" from the University of Kentucky Press is classic photojournalism at itsbest. The visual impact is truly memorable and moving. Of particular value to readers with an interest in African-Americanhistory, eco-tourism, and photography, "Appalachian Ghost" is especially recommended for personal, professional,community, and college/university library collections. It should be noted that "Appalachian Ghost" by Raymond ThompsonJr. is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $45.00) as well.
Editorial Note: Raymond Thompson Jr. (www.raymondthompsonjr.com) is an Assistant Professor of Photojournalism atUniversity of Texas at Austin. He is an artist, educator, and visual journalist who holds an MFA in photography from WestVirginia University and an MA in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. He has worked as a freelancephotographer for The New York Times, The Intercept, NBC News, NPR, Politico, ProPublica, the Nature Conservancy, theACLU, WBEZ, Google, Merrell, and the Associated Press.
Utah Splendor
Dennis William Linnehan
Sweetgrass Books
c/o Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591523284, $29.95, HC, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Utah-Splendor-Dennis-William-Linnehan/dp/1591523281
Synopsis: "Utah Splendor" features 200 stunning photos of the Beehive State. It is Dennis Linnehan's 8th photography bookand displays inspiring images of Utah national parks, Utah state parks, views of majestic mountains and dramatic waterfallscenery near Provo and Salt Lake City and extraordinary wilderness in mesmerizing light.
Linnehan has photographed Utah for over 20 years usually near sunrise or sunset. His photos also include scenes of MountNebo and Mirror Lake Scenic Byway in early fall with a touch of snow. Near Salt Lake City Dennis has photographed theRed Butte Garden formal gardens in their breathtaking beauty.
From iconic rock formations, fins, pinnacles, crimson-colored hoodoos, canyons, domes, natural sandstone arches, andrivers flowing through steep red cliffs. "Utah Splendor" will transport the armchair traveler to this enchanting landscapethrough Dennis Linnehan's unique perspective.
Critique: This large format (9781591523284, 2.5 pounds) hardcover edition of Dennis Linnehan's "Utah Splendor" fromSweetgrass Books is visually spectacular and of particular interest to amateurs and professional on the subject of LandscapePhotography. Packed from cover to cover with beautifully rendered and captioned full color photographs, "Utah Splendor"is an ideal and solidly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryContemporary American Photography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Dennis William Linnehan, a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography, is an accomplishedphotographer and dedicated hiker. With 32 years of invaluable experience at Eastman Kodak Company, Dennis honed hisphotographic artistry, eventually becoming a prominent member of the Kodak Travel Club, where he presented fourcaptivating travelogue shows. His passion for photography and the great outdoors converge in his 8th photography book,Utah Splendor, inviting readers to experience the stunning landscapes and remarkable vistas that have fueled his lifelonglove for the art of photography.
The Camera Bag Companion
Benedict Brain
Ilex Press
www.ilex.press
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781781579299, $26.99
https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Bag-Companion-Personal-Photography/dp/1781579296
The Camera Bag Companion: Your Personal Photography Tutor joins a host of camera how-to guides on the market - butwith a major difference. Yes, it comes from an award-winning photographer; but that doesn't mean it's filled with technicalconfusion. Benedict Brain's purpose is to provide easy access to tips, tricks, and keys to success that the professionals use.His tips cover the latest camera technology, from smartphones to HDR photography, smoothing the gap betweenprofessional and novice picture-takers. No collection or aspiring photographer should be without The Camera BagCompanion. Above and beyond other introductions, it should be pulled from or added to one's camera bag first.
The Cookbook Shelf
Nava Atlas, author
Hannah Kaminsky, photographer
BPC
c/o The Book Publishing Company
www.BookPubCo.com
9781737133414, $24.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Soups-Stews-All-Seasons/dp/1737133415
Synopsis: With the publication of Nava Atlas' "Vegan Soups and Stews for All Seasons" from BPC, the classic vegan soupcookbook is back in a new and expanded 5th edition -- and features 20 new recipes and dozens of gorgeous full-colorphotos by Hannah Kaminsky. The staying power of "Vegan Soups and Stews for All Seasons" is a testament to the universallove for soups.
From hearty, warming stews to fruity dessert soups, food author and recipe developer Nava Atlas ladles out more than 120delectable recipes. Each chapter highlights the best produce available in its season: Fall celebrates the harvest, winterfocuses on comfort, spring lifts the palate, and summer is all about freshness. That said, with seasonality having stretchedfar beyond what it was not long ago, cooks can ignore the calendar and choose whichever soup or stew will satisfy thecraving of the moment.
Whether you're looking for a colorful global stew or a refreshing cold elixir, there's something for every vegan (andnon-vegan!) soup lover in these pages.
Critique: Featuring full color, full page photos of the various soups and stews showcased in "Vegan Soups and Stews for AllSeasons" this very special, "kitchen cook friendly', and unreservedly recommended culinary resource is fully recommendedfor personal, family, professional, and community library Vegan/Vegetarian cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Nava Atlas's first book was Vegetariana, originally published in 1984 and most recently updated in 2021.She has written many vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including American Harvest, Plant-Powered Protein, 5-IngredientVegan, Wild About Greens, and Vegan Holiday Kitchen. Nava also creates trade and limited-edition visual books onwomen's issues, notably, Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life and Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife. Visit herwebsites, The Vegan Atlas (www.theveganatlas.com) and Literary Ladies Guide (www.literaryladiesguide.com).
Editorial Note #2: Hannah Kaminsky's love of desserts compelled her to start experimenting in the kitchen at a young age tocreate incredible, cruelty-free treats. Her online blog, www.BitterSweetBlog.com, features creative crafts, delicious treats,and mouth-watering photography. In addition to her own cookbooks, Hannah is a professional photographer whose workappears in a number of vegan cookbooks.
Asian Vegetables: A Cook's Bible
Wendy Hutton, author
Chen Choi, illustrator
Masano Kawana, photographer
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857437, $19.99, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Asian-Vegetables-Descriptions-Illustrations-Including/dp/0804857431
Synopsis: A complete guide to purchasing and preparing Asian vegetables and plant-based food products, "AsianVegetables: A Cook's Bible" showcases descriptions and illustrations of 139 vegetables, including dried and preservedvarieties with 145 authentic Asian recipes.
Featuring 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, "Asian Vegetables: A Cook's Bible" featuresattractive watercolor illustrations and photos, that will helps you to easily identify 139 different Asian vegetables and plantproducts.
The 145 recipes and 139 different vegetables range from small to large dishes, sauces, soups and so much more, rangingfrom Indian Chickpeas in Spicy Tomato Sauce; Malaysian-style Cabbage Stewed in Coconut Milk; Blanched Water Spinachand Tofu with Spicy Peanut Sauce; and Sri Lankan Breadfruit Curry; to Stir-fried Loofah with Oyster Sauce; Thai WildPepper Leaf Parcels; Chinese Garlic Chive Pancakes; Fresh Tuna Baked in Konbu Seaweed; and Spice IndianCauliflower.
Critique: A delight to browse through and a pleasure to plan truly memorable menus with, "Asian Vegetables: A Cook'sBible" will have a special appeal to family cooks with an interest in vegan, vegetarian, and Asian cuisine. Inspiring,informative, and a prized pick for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be notedthat "Asian Vegetables: A Cook's Bible" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Wendy Hutton is a writer specializing in food and travel, who lived in Southeast Asia for more than fivedecades. She has written widely on the cuisines of Southeast Asia, including cookbooks such as Green Mangoes and LemonGrass, Tropical Asian Cooking and the highly acclaimed Singapore Food.
Editorial Note #2: Sui Chen Choi is a Malaysian artist who specializes in botanical subjects, drawing them from real life.His illustrations appear in the "Plants" and "Animals" volumes of Encyclopedia of Malaysia
Editorial Note #3: Masano Kawana is one of the most exciting food, interior and landscape photographers in Asia today.Born in Japan and based in Singapore, Kawana has traveled, lived and surfed throughout the region, photographing a widevariety of subjects for books and lifestyle magazines. His books include Shunju, which won the prestigious James BeardAward in 2004.
Japanese Style Plant-Based Cooking
Yumiko Kano
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317457, $18.99, HC, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Style-Plant-Based-Cooking-Macrobiotic/dp/4805317450
Synopsis: Yumiko Kano is one of Japan's best-known macrobiotic chefs and food writers. She has devoted her life tocelebrating the flavor, versatility and nutritional benefits of a plant-based diet. "Japanese Style Plant-Based Cooking:Amazing Vegan Recipes from Japan's Leading Macrobiotic Chef and Food Writer" is the latest in a series of over 30cookbooks featuring her "no meat, no eggs, no dairy, no sugar" recipes -- and the first to appear in English!
With the publication of "Japanese Style Plant-Based Cooking", Yumiko Kano shares 80 delicious, easy-to-make plant-basedrecipes, illustrated with mouthwatering photographs, including:
Sweet Potatoes in Spicy Sichuan Sauce
Miso-Stuffed Baked Tomatoes
Herb-Roasted Daikon Radish
Mini Broccoli Burgers with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Traditional Kyoto-style Eggplant Pickles
Creamy Yoghurt Soup with Fermented Cucumber Pickles
Yumiko Kano's recipes turn everyday vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin, cabbage, zucchini and potatoes intoculinary delights through the use of traditional fermented Japanese ingredients like soy sauce, miso, sake and mirin.
Of special note is the inclusion of a chapter devoted entirely to pickling and fermenting vegetables, with explanations of theequipment and processes used, along with 20 easy-to-make pickling recipes. In addition, Yumiko Kano provides manyvaluable tips on traditional Japanese cooking methods including boiling, sauteing and grilling.
Critique: Featuring a full color photo for each finished dish showcased in "Japanese Style Plant-Based Cooking", thislandmark reference to Japanese cuisine is one that every vegan and vegetarian cook will want to have on their shelf! Apleasure to browse through and a delight to plan menus with, "Japanese Style Plant-Based Cooking" will prove a highlyprized pick for personal, professional, and community library Ethnic & Vegan/Vegetarian cookbook collections. It shouldbe noted that "Japanese Style Plant-Based Cooking" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49).
Editorial Note: Yumiko Kano has published over 30 books on plant-based cooking in her native Japan. She is well-knownin the West and has been featured in food and restaurant review columns in the New York Times. Born into a farmingfamily, she always loved natural foods which has led her to a lifelong study of vegan and vegetarian cuisine. From 2000 to2012, she cooked vegetarian Kaiseki cuisine at her award-winning restaurant Sen in Tokyo. Now, in addition to her writing,she teaches cooking classes all over Japan.
A Day in Tokyo: A Japanese Cookbook
Brendan Liew & Caryn Ng, co-authors
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781923049048, $29.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-day-in-tokyo-brendan-liew/1144720703
Synopsis: Co-authored by the culinary team of Brendan Liew and Caryn Ng, "A Day in Tokyo: A Japanese Cookbook" is aculinary journey through one of Japan's most vibrant cities.
From the bustling streets of Shinjuku to the hidden corners of Ueno, "A Day in Tokyo: A Japanese Cookbook" is a deliciousculinary adventure from breakfast through to dinner, showcasing the diverse tastes and ingredients of Japanese cuisine. Startthe day with unbelievably fluffy Funwari Hottokeki, dive into some Tokyo-born Yakisoba Pan for a much-earned middaybreak and end the night with crunchy and tender Tonkatsu.
Capture the delicious flavors of Tokyo at home with 96 recipes and insider tips on where to find the best local eats. "A Dayin Tokyo" is the ultimate book for food and travel enthusiasts.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photography, "A Day in Tokyo: A JapaneseCookbook" is a combination travel guide and cookbook that makes authentic Japanese cuisine fully and easily accessible toan American family cook. A pleasure to browse through and a delight to plan memorable menus with, "A Day in Tokyo: AJapanese Cookbook" is an especially recommended acquisition choice for personal, family, professional, and communitylibrary Ethnic & Asian Cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Brendan Liew and Caryn Ng have spent more than a decade travelling to Japan, traversing its cities and ruralcountryside to explore, learn, and live the local culture and cuisine.
In 2016, they established a pop-up Japanese restaurant, Chotto, in Melbourne, bringing traditional ryokan-style breakfasts tothe city. The cafe transported diners to Japan on a cultural and culinary journey spanning old and new, inspired byeverything from countryside dinners on the Nakasendo trail, to the food of Japan's far north and deep south, and theanimated feasts of Studio Ghibli.
A chef by training, Brendan has worked at restaurants including Kadeau in Copenhagen and Benu in San Francisco, and thethree-Michelin-starred Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He studied the craft of ramen making in Osaka beforesettling on specialising in kappo and modern kaiseki cuisine.
Sushi: More Than 60 Simple-to-Follow Recipes
Ryland, Peters & Small
www.rylandpeters.com
9781788795821, $16.95, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sushi-More-simple-follow-recipes/dp/1788795822
Synopsis: The Japanese term 'sushi' is used for dishes based on 'sumeshi', which is meaning vinegared rice, the most vitalpart of sushi-making.
"Sushi" from the staff of Ryland, Peters & Small begins by explaining how to cook the rice perfectly and then introducessimple rolled sushi using classic ingredients such as cucumber, tuna or salmon. Once you've mastered these easy ones youcan explore more adventurous variations.
The recipes use easy-to-source ingredients, including everything from spinach, asparagus and carrots to prawns, crab andsmoked salmon. There are also recipes for related raw bar dishes such as sashimi and poke, as well as others for makinggreat accompaniments, like fabulous pickles and three ways with wasabi.
With "Sushi" as your menu planning resource, you can have parties where you provide the ingredients and guests make uptheir own hand rolls from their favourite ingredients, or you can do it for them - it takes no time at all! This is really easyparty food, healthy snack food -- and great fun for kids too, to make and to eat.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated with color photographs of finished sushi dishes, and featuring more than 60simple-to-follow recipes, "Sushi" will enable even the most novice kitchen cooks to turn out professional quality sushidishes suitable for all manner of dining opportunities. An inspiring pleasure to browse through one memorable recipe at atime, "Sushi" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbookcollections.
Editorial Note: "Sushi" is a new collection of beautifully photographed recipes, collaboratively compiled by the expert foodand drink editors at Ryland Peters & Small, and originally created by their highly-regarded cookery authors.
Taste of Home Ultimate 5 Ingredient Cookbook
Taste of Home
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889770183, $19.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Ultimate-Ingredient-Cookbook/dp/B0C99K1C5W
Synopsis: With the promise of saving time, money, and avoiding stress, "Your Best Home-Cooked Meal is Only 5Ingredients Away" by Taste of Home is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly culinary collection that brings you family-favoriterecipes that are easy to make and guaranteed to please.
The dishes all come together with a handful of ingredients so you can spend less time at the market, less money on yourgrocery bill and less time in the kitchen. Satisfying main dishes, soups and sandwiches, snacks and appetizers, side dishes,salads, soups, desserts... they're all here, and all made with a few items. Plus, there is a bonus chapter on grilling guaranteesthat you'll always have the perfect menu on hand for backyard cookouts, block parties, family reunions and otherwarm-weather get-togethers.
Critique: Finished dishes beautifully presented with full color photography, "Taste of Home Ultimate 5 IngredientCookbook" is an ideal reference resource for crating memorable menus for any and all dining occasions from breakfast tobanquet. An inspiring delight to page through and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "Tasteof Home Ultimate 5 Ingredient Cookbook" will prove a welcome and popular pick for personal, professional, andcommunity library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Taste of Home Ultimate 5 Ingredient Cookbook" is alsoreadily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking andentertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands ofsubscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site isa top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has morethan 6.3 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.6 million Pinterest followers and receives more than28 million unique monthly visitors.
Deliciously Chocolatey Cakes & Bakes
Victoria Glass
Ryland, Peters & Small
www.rylandpeters.com
9781788795838, $24.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Deliciously-Chocolatey-Cakes-Bakes-indulgent/dp/1788795830
Synopsis: Showcasing 100 indulgent recipes for a treat is needed for celebration or consolation, with the publication of"Deliciously Chocolatey Cakes & Bakes", food writer and recipe developer Victoria Glass features original ideas that willbe appreciated by all chocolate cake lovers, with child-friendly recipes that use exciting ingredients like popping candy andhomemade marshmallows, afternoon offerings for ladies who lunch, cakes to impress a new love interest, and recipes for theultimate birthday cake.
Clear step-by-step instructions make even the most complicated recipes feel achievable at home and there are guides on howto present your chocolate cakes and bakes as the ultimate eye candy.
From cookies and small bakes to larger cakes, pastries and desserts, Victoria Glass charts the delicious range of some of ourmuch-loved classics with a chocolatey twist. Smaller bakes such as Orange and Choc Chip Madeleines and Chocolate andMint Teacakes feature alongside indisputable classics such as Chocolate Mud Cake, Torta Caprese, and Caramelized WhiteChocolate Cheesecake. Also included are recipes for delicate and decadent petit fours, such as Chocolate and WhiskeyTruffles, Chocolate Marshmallows, and White Chocolate and Champagne Nougat.
Whatever the occasion, chocolate cakes never go out of fashion!
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with full page, full color images of finished chocolate cakes and baked treats,"Deliciously Chocolatey Cakes & Bakes" is a culinary delight to browse through from cover to cover -- and will prove aprized and appreciated pick for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections in general -- andchocolate cake lovers every where in particular!
Editorial Note: Victoria Glass (https://app.ckbk.com/people/victoria-glass) is a London-based food writer and recipedeveloper. She has made cakes for, among others, The Prince's Trust and The Royal British Legion, and was the Roald DahlMuseum's first ever Gastronomic Writer in Residence. She has written six cookbooks, including Deliciously VintageBaking & Desserts, Baking Mash-up, and Boozy Shakes for Ryland Peters & Small.
At Nonna's Table
Paola Bacchia
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922754745, $35.00, HC, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/At-Nonnas-Table-Italian-Familys/dp/1922754749
Synopsis: "At Nonna's Table: One Italian Family's Recipes, Shared with Love" by Paola Bacchia is an impressive andillustrated compendium of authentic Italian cuisine.
Inspired by her Mamma Livia's cherished recipes, Paola presents 60 delicious dishes that celebrate the best of Italian homecooking. From soups and appetizers through to main courses, sides, desserts, and pickles and preserves, this book is atreasure trove of traditional and contemporary Italian dishes made with love and care.
Complete with beautiful photography to accompany each delicious recipe, "At Nonna's Table" showcases the freshingredients, bold flavors, and simple techniques that make Italian food so beloved. From the hearty Peperonata conmelanzane e pomodori (Eggplant and Tomato Stew) to the crowd-pleasing Pollo Ripieno (Celebration Chicken) and theindulgent Torta arancia e cocco con albicocche (Orange Cake with Apricots), alongside heartfelt stories from Paola'schildhood and her mum's life, this book will delight lovers of food and family.
Critique: A prized addition to personal, professional, and community library Ethnic/Italian cook book collections, "AtNonna's Table: One Italian Family's Recipes, Shared with Love" is an ideal choice for novice family cooks and has much tooffer even experienced chefs. "At Nonna's Table" is the ideal, step-by-step, DIY guide to creating authentic Italian dishes forall dining occasions. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "At Nonna's Table) isunreservedly recommended!
Editorial Note: Paola Bacchia (www.italyonmymind.com.au) was born to Italian migrant parents and into their food culture.Her award-winning blog, Italy On My Mind, explores the connection between family memories and food through stories,photos, and recipes. She returns to Italy every year to expand her knowledge of Italian food and traditions. Previously, Paolahas published Adriatico (2018), Istria (2021) and Italian Street Food (2021) -- all with Smith Street Books.
End of the Trail Eats
Natalie Bright
Publicity Department
TwoDot Books / Globe Pequat
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781493076994, $24.95, PB, 172pp
https://www.amazon.com/End-Trail-Eats-Cowboy-Approved-Favorites/dp/149307699X
Synopsis: In the yesteryear of the American West, life in the saddle tested the toughest men on the cattle drive trail and thefood they consumed during the greatest controlled movement of Texas Longhorns was equally as hearty. Tired of beans andsourdough biscuits, dining establishments located at the railhead shipping points swarmed with trail-weary wranglers eagerfor a fine meal. "End of the Trail Eats: Cowboy-Approved Recipes from the Cowtown Cafe to the Saloon" by Natalie Brightoffers authentic and original trail driving cooking at its finest.
No matter where you are, whether a campsite pit, grill, or home stove using your grandmother's best cast iron, the recipescomprising "End of the Trail Eats" are imminently suitable for the modern kitchen.
Discover the iconic taste of the American West with these 80 wrangler-tested and approved recipes from mule-poweredchuck wagons to cowtown cafes. In End of the Trail Eats, Natalie Bright has compiled a collection of dishes from ranchkitchens, saloons, supply stations, cowtown cafes, and cook shacks. Sprinkled with archival photographs, Old West history,first-hand accounts, and profiles of the cooks who keep the traditions alive, this cookbook has something for everyone.
Critique: Unique, illustrated throughout with B/W historical photos, "End of the Trail Eats: Cowboy-Approved Recipesfrom the Cowtown Cafe to the Saloon", with recipes that range from South Dakota Farm Pancakes, Homemade Hot Sauce,Chocolate Pound Cake, and Sweet Onion Corn Bread, to Simple Hash, Turnips and Pork, Arizona Pot Stew, and TraditionalWhisky Toddy, is a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and communitylibrary cookbook collections. It should be noted for family kitchen cooks that "End of the Trail Eats" is also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $23.50).
Editorial Note: Natalie Bright (https://nataliebright.com) is a freelance writer, blogger, and author of twenty books for kidsand adults. Her first cookbook for TwoDot, Keep 'Em Full and Keep 'Em Rollin', won a first place Will Rogers MedallionAward. She serves on the Board of Directors of Western Writers of America and is a member of Women Writing the Westand the American Chuck Wagon Association. Texas High Plains Writers honored her with its 2022 lifetime achievementaward.
BBQ Pit Boys Book of Real Guuud Barbecue
BBQ Pit Boys
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105114, $24.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Book-Real-Guuud-Barbecue/dp/0228105110
Synopsis: With over 2.2 million subscribers, and more than 1 billion views, the BBQ Pit Boys are by far the most-watchedbarbecue cooks on YouTube. And they are Facebook's number 1 BBQ show. They have millions of people in their onlineBBQ "community" (the largest in the world) and there are good reasons for that.
Dressed casually in black T-shirts, jeans and sunglasses, the BBQ Pit Boys are the antithesis of your typical cooking-showhost with their usual fast patter and gleaming kitchen countertops. Instead they show backyard grillers how to make greatBBQ with a few simple elements: charcoal, a grill, a sharp knife and marinades or rubs. And they do it in a low-key,Southern-inflected and confident way, with blues music in the background and an average-joe script.
Their videos have taught millions of people how to grill and slow-barbecue steaks, fish, pork shoulder, lamb and sides likeonion wedges and ears of corn -- and make it fun. Those viewers go back to the BBQ Pit Boys content over and over. Theyare a loyal audience who will strongly identify with a book.
"BBQ Pit Boys Book of Real Guuud Barbecue" is their first book and it is derived from the thousands of recipes andlive-action infotainments featured on their YouTube channel. It contains recipes and methods for almost every backyardgriller's experience and desires, with full-color photos throughout and a design that will resonate with the BBQ Pit Boys'identity and appeal.
Ready for the prime barbecue season, Mother's and Father's Day, and any time you'd like to learn how to make "guuudeatin,"BBQ Pit Boys Book of Real Guuud Barbecue" will be a solid choice for summer fun.
Critique: From Grilling, Slow Roasting and Smoking, to Beer-can Burgers and Fireball Whiskey Meatballs, to PopcornChicken, Venison Stew, Stuffed Alligator, Rubs, Marinades and more, this large print (8 x 0.75 x 10 inches, 2.3 pounds)paperback edition of "BBQ Pit Boys Book of Real Guuud Barbecue" from Firefly Books is a 'must have' for the legions ofdedicated BBQ practitioners and aspiring BBQ masters. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full colorphotography, "BBQ Pit Boys Book of Real Guuud Barbecue" is fun to browse through and a delight to plan BBQ basedmenus with -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community librarycookbook collections.
Saladology
Theo Kirwan
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729158, $26.99
https://www.amazon.com/Sprout-Co-Saladology-Delicious-Salads/dp/1784729159
Saladology: Fresh Ideas for Delicious Salads pairs lovely color photos by Matt Russell with recipes that come from Sprout& Co., a Dublin restaurant co-founded by author Theo Kirwan and his brother Jack.
Over a hundred recipes feature salads which move from side dishes to main dish affairs, offering ingredients that move farbeyond the usual lettuce-centric creation with such creative ideas as Crispy Bombay Cauliflower; Thai Crispy Salad withonions, ginger, and bulgur wheat; or Peppers & Tofu with Lime-Butter Pine Nuts.
The heady blend of international influences and redefined notions of what defines a 'salad' make Saladology both a standoutand a main dish heartily recommended for vegetable cooks seeking to expand their repertoire of original, creative fare.
The Wildlife Shelf
Kyle Horner
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228104667, $29.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turtles-of-north-america-kyle-horner/1144278230
Synopsis: Turtles are among the most fascinating, attractive, easily recognized and loved vertebrates on the planet. Yet, ofthe hundreds of species worldwide, well over half are in danger of becoming extinct due to habitat loss, road mortality,disease, commercial fishing, harvesting for food or sale as pets. Turtles need our help to survive; this book describes someof these common threats to turtles, and how we can take positive action to help them survive and thrive.
Turtles have been around since the time of the dinosaurs - over 230 million years. They have an amazing ability to heal frominjuries that would kill many other species as well as incredible physiological capabilities. From tunneling deep into theearth and making kilometer-deep oceanic dives, to full-body freezing in winter and tolerating hot sandy beaches, turtles haveremarkable abilities that are belied by their slow-and-steady public image.
Turtles of North America begins with an introduction to turtle biology, how they diversified over time and how we classifythe groups of turtles that exist today. A section about anatomy details their basic body plan, and how it varies to takeadvantage of different environments. A section about behavior covers how they live, from what they eat to what eats them,and their importance in the environment.
Fully illustrated species accounts describe the 64 species of turtles that inhabit the continental United States and Canada andthe oceans that surround them. For each turtle there are photographs and text that show how to identify the species and giveinformation about its life history. A range map shows where each turtle may be found. To complete this comprehensiveguidebook, numerous additional pages highlight interesting or unusual aspects of North American turtle species, and asection about turtle conservation tells you how to protect and support turtles.
Critique: This large format (7.5 x 0.63 x 9.5 inches, 1.75 pounds) soft cover edition of Kyle Horner's "Turtles of NorthAmerica: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Turtles of the Continental United States and Canada" from Firefly Books isinformatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of full color photographs, a one page Glossary, a threepage Index, and an Introduction by Sue Carstairs. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Turtles of North America" isvery special and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryNorth American Wildlife collections in general, and supplemental Turtle Identification curriculum studies lists inparticular.
Editorial Note #1: Kyle Horner (http://kylehorner.com) is a naturalist and environmental educator who has taught at parks,zoos, botanical gardens, non-profits and the University of Guelph. He was introduced to birds at an early age by his fatherbut has a particular interest in fostering appreciation for some of nature's less-beloved creatures.
Editorial Note #2: Sue Carstairs (BSc, DVM) is the executive and medical director at the Ontario Turtle ConservationCentre in Peterborough, Ontario. She also teaches a wildlife course to veterinary technicians at Seneca College.
The American History Shelf
Becky M. Nicolaides
Oxford University Press
www.oup.com/us
9780197578308, $35.00, HC, 576pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Suburbia-Diversity-Suburban-Angeles/dp/0197578306
Synopsis: America's suburbs have been transforming. The conventional story of suburbs as bastions of white, middle-classhomeowners no longer describes the suburbs of America's cities. Today they house a more typical cross-section of thenation -- rich, poor, Black American, Latino, Asian, immigrant, the unhoused, the lavishly housed, and everyone in between.Stories of everyday suburban life, in the process, have taken on new inflections.
Nowhere are these changes more vivid than in Los Angeles. In this suburban metropolis and global powerhouse, lily whitesuburbs have virtually disappeared, and over two-thirds of the County's suburbs have become majority minority. Examiningthis vanguard of change from the postwar to the present, "The New Suburbia: How Diversity Remade Suburban Life in LosAngeles after 1945" follows the Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latinos who moved into white neighborhoods thatonce barred them. They bought homes, enrolled their children in schools, and began navigating suburban life. They faced achoice: would they remake the suburbs, or would the suburbs remake them?
In places like Pasadena, San Marino, South Gate, and Lakewood, suburbanites faced the challenges of living together indifference. With the publication of "The New Suburbia", historian Becky Nicolaides explores a range of communityexperiences, from internal resegregation to suburban poverty, an embrace of law-and-order culture to police brutality,friendly neighbors to social withdrawal. In some communities, diverse residents continued longstanding habits of exclusionand perpetuated metropolitan inequality. In others, they embraced more inclusive, multicultural suburban ideals. Through itall, the common denominators of suburbia remained -- low-slung landscapes of single-family homes and families seekingthe good life.
An authoritative work based on a half-century of quantitative data and unpublished oral histories and interviews, "The NewSuburbia" explores vital landscapes where the American dream has endured, even as the dreamers have changed.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking study, "The New Suburbia: How Diversity Remade Suburban Life in Los Angelesafter 1945" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with 114 pages of Notes and a 33 page Index. Of special andparticular interest to readers concerned with non-white demographic urban/suburban studies, "The New Suburbia" isespecially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections.It should be noted for students, academia, political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readerswith an interest in the subject that "The New Suburbia" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$17.99).
Editorial Note: Becky M. Nicolaides (www.beckynicolaides.com) is a research affiliate at the Huntington-USC Institute onCalifornia and the West. She is also the author of "My Blue Heaven: Life and Politics in the Working-Class Suburbs of LosAngeles, 1920-1965" and the co-editor of "The Suburb Reader". She has served on the LA Mayor's Office Civic MemoryWorking Group and is a lifelong Angeleno.
Street Fight: The Chicago Taxi Wars of the 1920s
Anne Morrissy
The Lyons Press
www.lyonspress.com
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493068678, $29.95, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Street-Fight-Chicago-Taxi-1920s/dp/1493068679
Synopsis: Bricks and bottles of acid through the windshield. Bullets shot from the running boards of racing cabs, passengersscreaming in the backseat. Bombs exploding in garages, beneath parked cars, on the front porches of jurors' homes.Accusations of favoritism and collusion with city leaders and law enforcement; bribery and extortion and grand juryinvestigations. Mysterious accidents and brutal attacks and devastating fires, leaving a trail of widows in their wake. Thesewere Chicago's Taxi Wars, a violent and deadly battle for supremacy of the city's new and lucrative taxi industry during theJazz Age.
In 1915, at the dawn of the automobile era, visionary car salesman John D. Hertz (better remembered today for hissuccessful foray into rental cars) and his partner, Walden W. Shaw, founded Chicago's Yellow Cab Company. This wildlysuccessful venture would go on to inform and inspire the modern taxi industry as we know it today in Chicago andthroughout the United States.
But as the Roaring Twenties glamorized lawlessness on the city's streets, Yellow Cab's meteoric rise invited increasinglyaggressive competitors. Cab drivers battled each other in the streets over fares, allegiances and turf claims, their skirmishesescalating from sophom*oric pranks to cold-blooded murder, mass shootings, and acts of domestic terrorism.
In the 1920s, one rival in particular ascended to pose a threat to Yellow Cab's dominance: the Checker Taxi Company.Behind the scenes, pulling the strings at Checker, was Morris Markin, who was desperate to expand his influence even asChicago's gangsters attempted to wrest his control away.
Working from extensive research and interviews with descendants and experts, author Anne Morrissy vividly recreatesChicago's Taxi Wars, bringing to print for the first time this deeply compelling but nearly forgotten story.
Buffeted by a supporting cast of colorful combatants and larger-than-life Jazz Age characters that included Johnny Torrio,Al Capone, Joe Kennedy, Gene Tunney, Jack Dempsey, and Chicago mayor William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson, "StreetFight: The Chicago Taxi Wars of the 1920s" reveals the history these deadly wars that played out on the city's streets acentury ago, endangering the lives of passengers and passersby, while at the same time forming the regulatory foundationthat still governs cab, limo and rideshare transportation in the 21st century.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking study, "Street Fight: The Chicago Taxi Wars of the 1920s" by Anne Morrisy isinformatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a sixteen page section of B/W historical photos, eighteen pagesof Notes, and a ten page Index. Extraordinary, fascinating, and offering immense appeal to readers with an interest in thehistory of organized crime, the history of Chicago, and automotive/transportation history, "Street Fight" is recommended aprized and singularly unique addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections. Itshould be noted for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Street Fight" is also readily availablein a digital book format (Kindle, $21.49).
Editorial Note: Anne Morrissy (https://annemorrissy.com) is a writer and magazine editor with a passion for narrativehistory. Her first book, Running the Reds: The First 100 Years of the Water Safety Patrol, 1920-2020, was published in2019. A graduate of Kenyon College, she splits her time between Chicago and Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
Making the Frontier Man
Matthew C. Ward
University of Pittsburgh Press
https://upittpress.org
9780822947875, $60.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Frontier-Man-Authority-Backcountry/dp/0822947870
Synopsis: For western colonists in the early American backcountry, disputes often ended in bloodshed and death. With thepublication of "Making the Frontier Man: Violence, White Manhood, and Authority in the Early Western Backcountry",Matthew C. Ward (Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Dundee in Scotland.) examines early life and the originsof lawless behavior in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio from 1750 to 1815. It provides a key to understandingwhy the trans-Appalachian West was prone to violent struggles, especially between white men.
Traumatic experiences of the Revolution and the Forty Years War legitimized killing as a means of self-defense (ofproperty, reputation, and rights) transferring power from the county courts to the ordinary citizen. Backcountry men wagedwar against American Indians in state-sponsored militias as they worked to establish farms and seize property in the West.And white neighbors declared war on each other, often taking extreme measures to resolve petty disputes that ended withinfamous family feuds.
"Making the Frontier Man" focuses on these experiences of western expansion and how they influenced American cultureand society, specifically the nature of western manhood, which radically transformed in the North American environment. Insearch of independence and improvement, the new American man was also destitute, frustrated by the economic andpolitical power of his elite counterparts, and undermined by failure. He was aggressive, misogynistic, racist, and violent, andlooked to reclaim his dominance and masculinity by any means necessary.
Critique: An original, seminal and groundbreaking study, "Making the Frontier Man: Violence, White Manhood, andAuthority in the Early Western Backcountry" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a thirtypage Bibliography, twenty-eight pages of Notes, and a five page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,"Making the Frontier Man" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/universitylibrary American History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,and non-specialist general readers with an interest in American frontier history that "Making the Frontier Man" from theUniversity of Pittsburgh Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $57.00) as well.
Tombstone, Arizona Mystique
David D. de Haas, author
Donald Chaput, author
Caxton Press
https://www.caxtonpress.com
9780870046483, $26.95, HC, 440pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tombstone-Arizona-Mystique-David-Haas/dp/0870046489
Synopsis: Ed Schieffelin's 1877 discovery of silver in the dangerous southeastern Arizona desert set in motion a whirlwindseries of events which ended up creating what would emerge as history's most influential mining camp, that of Tombstone,Arizona.
The subsequent happenings which were to follow in the ensuing 146 years of the town's history would make Tombstoneiconic, legendary, and forever in the world's psyche -- as well as one of the few old west mining camps which has evolvedand thriving to this day.
Through the years, multiple boom-bust cycles, and five different distinct eras, Tombstone would continue reimagining itselfto stay alive and relevant. "Tombstone, Arizona Mystique" tells the history of how Tombstone, and its mystique, all cameabout, and the extraordinary influence it has had on the world since its founding in 1877.
Critique: History that reads with all the inherent drama of a finely crafted novel, "Tombstone, Arizona Mystique",co-authored by David D. de Haas and Donald Chaput is an impressively informative, exceptionally comprehensive, deftlywritten, organized and presented history that is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of twoAppendices (Tombstone's Boom-Bust-Boom Timelines & For Some, A final Common Meeting Ground), thirty-eight pagesof Notes, a ten page Bibliography, a two page listing of Illustrations, and a seventeen page Index. Of special and particularvalue to readers with an interest in the Old West in general, and the vivid and entertaining history of Tombstone, Arizona inparticular, "Tombstone, Arizona Mystique" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,community, and college/university library American History and Arizon History collections and supplemental curriculumstudies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Don Chaput is a curator emeritus of the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles. He is a consultant to theDictionary of Canadian Biography and has been a contributor to the Smithsonian's Handbook of North American Indians.He has written on mining and law and order in the American West as well as in the Philippines, Australia, Canada, andMexico. His books on the Southwest include biographies of the Earp brothers, lawman-train robber Burt Alvord, andfrontier surgeon Dr. George Goodfellow and also co-authored Cochise County Stalwarts and most recently (2020) TheEarps Invade Southern California.
Editorial Note #2: David D. de Haas, MD received his BS degree in Biochemistry from UCLA in 1979, his MD at theChicago Medical School in 1983, and became board certified in both emergency medicine and internal medicine aftercompleting a dual residency at the Kern Medical Center (UCLA affiliate) in 1987. After practicing emergency (and someinternal) medicine for nearly 40 years he retired in 2021. He has published numerous medical and Wild West articles and isthe moderator of the highly popular "Wild West Collectors" Facebook page. In 2020 he coauthored his first book, The EarpsInvade Southern California, with Donald Chaput.
Unburied Lives
Laurie A. Wilkie
University of New Mexico Press
www.unmpress.com
9780826362995, $65.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Unburied-Lives-Historical-Archaeology-1869-1875/dp/0826362990
Synopsis: According to the accounts of two white officers, on the evening of November 20, 1872, Corporal DanielTalliafero, of the segregated Black 9th cavalry, was shot to death by an officer's wife while attempting to break into hersleeping apartment at the military post of Fort Davis, Texas. Historians writing about Black soldiers serving in the Westhave long accepted the account without question, retelling the story of Daniel Talliafero, the thwarted "rapist".
With the publication of "Unburied Lives: The Historical Archaeology of Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Davis, Texas, 1869-1875",Professor Laurie A. Wilke takes a different approach, demonstrating how we can "listen" to stories found in thingsneglected, ignored, or disparaged in the form of documents not consulted, architecture not studied, material traces preservedin the dirt.
With a focus on Fort Davis, Professor Wilkie brings attention to the Black enlisted men and non-commissioned officers. Inher archaeological accounting, Wilkie explores the complexities of post life, racialized relationships, Black masculinity, andcitizenship while also exposing the structures and practices of military life that successfully obscured these men's stories forso long.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking study, "Unburied Lives: The Historical Archaeology of Buffalo Soldiers at FortDavis, Texas, 1869-1875" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit by Professor of Anthropology & Social ScienceLaurie A. Wilkie with the inclusion of Illustrations, Tables, a Prologue & Epilogue, twenty pages of Notes, a twenty pageBibliography, and an eight page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Unburied Lives: TheHistorical Archaeology of Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Davis, Texas, 1869-1875" is especially and unreservedly recommendedfor personal reading lists and college/university library 19th Century American History, Black Studies, and CulturalAnthropology collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, andnon-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Unburied Lives: The Historical Archaeology of BuffaloSoldiers at Fort Davis, Texas, 1869-1875" is also available in a paperback edition (9780826365675, $34.95) and in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $34.95).
Editorial Note: Laurie A. Wilkie (https://anthropology.berkeley.edu/laurie-wilkie) is the Richard and Rhoda GoldmanDistinguished Professor of Social Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. Her books include Strung Out onArchaeology: An Introduction to Archaeological Research, The Lost Boys of Zeta Psi: A Historical Archaeology ofMasculinity at a University Fraternity, and The Archaeology of Mothering: An African-American Midwife's Tale.
The World History Shelf
John D. Grainger
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781526766045, $34.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Imperial-Succession-John-Grainger/dp/1526766043
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Roman Imperial Succession", historian John D Grainger analyses the Romanimperial succession, demonstrating that the empire organized by Augustus was fundamentally flawed in the method it usedto find emperors. Augustus' system was a mixture of heredity, senatorial and military influences, and these were generallyantagonistic.
Consequently the Empire went through a series of crises, in which the succession to a previous (and usually dead) emperorwas the main issue.
The infamous 'Year of the Four Emperors', AD 69, is only the most famous of these crises, which often involved bouts ofbloody and destructive civil war, assassinations and purges. These were followed by a period, usually relatively short, inwhich the victor in the 'crisis' established a new system, juggling the three basic elements identified by Augustus, but whichwas as fragile and short lived as its predecessor; these 'consequences' of each crisis are discussed.
The lucid and erudite text found in "The Roman Imperial Succession" is effectively supported by numerous genealogicaltables and dozens of depictions of emperors.
Critique: "The Roman Imperial Succession" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of B/Willustrations, a five page List of Emperors, ten pages of Notes, and a four page Index. A seminal and comprehensive work ofhistory that reads with the inherent interest level of a well crafted novel, "The Roman Imperial Succession" is a welcomeand unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library AncientRoman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this edition of "The RomanImperial Succession" from Pen & Sword Books is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781399021432, $24.95)and in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: John D. Grainger is a former teacher and historian of great experience with a particular interest in Classicaland Hellenistic Greek history.
Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments
Paul Roberts
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500025680, $39.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Rome-Fifty-Monuments-Roberts/dp/0500025681
Synopsis: As the old saying goes -- Rome wasn't built in a day. It was constructed, developed, and expanded over severalcenturies and under many different emperors. This story of continual creation and renewal lies at the heart of "AncientRome in Fifty Monuments" by museum curator Paul Roberts.
Rome's history has been explored by countless classicists, historians, poets, and authors, but until now, it was a rareoccasion to its history being recounted through the building programs of its emperors -- building programs whichtransformed a small village in Italy into the apogee of empire.
With the publication of "Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments', Roberts draws upon his experience as a curator for theAshmolean Museum in Oxford, England as he takes the reader on an historical tour of ancient Rome that ranges from theluxurious bathhouses of Caracalla and Diocletian, the rowdy Circus Maximus, and the Colosseum, to monuments such asthe Column of Trajan that celebrated Rome's imperial project. Roberts expertly weaves together the latest archaeologicalresearch with social and cultural history, vividly evoking the story of a city always in some way rising, falling, and beingrebuilt.
Roberts tells this story emperor by emperor, seeking out the personalities behind the great building projects and the veryhuman motivations that gave rise to their construction -- and destruction. When and why were they built? What did they addto the lives of the people who used them? What impact did they have on the shape of the city? Often the importance of amonument lies not intrinsically in the structure itself, but instead in the political, social, or cultural developments at itsfoundations.
Through these monuments and the emperors who built them, Rome's mythical and real past are intertwined, reflecting theempire's triumphant yet often turbulent history.
Critique: Beautifully and informatively enriched for the reader's benefit with 150 color illustration, as well as the inclusionof a two page Plan of Rome, a two page bibliography of Further Readings, and a four page Index, this large format (7.7 x1.2 x 10.1 inches, 2.38 pounds) hardcover edition of "Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments" from Thames & Hudson is aunique and very welcome contribution to the ever growing library of Imperial Roman History. Exceptionally well organizedand presented, "Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments" is an extraordinary and unreservedly commended addition to personal,professional, community, and college/university library History of Rome collections and supplemental Roman Historycurriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Paul Roberts (www.ashmolean.org/people/paul-roberts) is research keeper of the department of antiquities atthe Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. He has curated numerous popular exhibitions, including "Life and Death in Pompeii andHerculaneum" at the British Museum in 2013 and "Last Supper in Pompeii" at the Ashmolean in 2019 - 2020.
The Civil War Shelf
Derrick Lindow
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611216684, $32.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/We-Shall-Conquer-Die-Partisan/dp/1611216680
Synopsis: Western Kentucky during the American Civil War was the scene of a deadly and expensive 'war within a war'which raged there behind the front and often out of the major headlines. In 1862, the region was infested with guerrillaactivity that pitted brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor in a personal war that recognized few boundaries.The raiding and fighting took hundreds of lives, destroyed or captured millions of dollars of supplies, and siphoned awaythousands of men from the Union war effort.
With the publication of "We Shall Conquer or Die: Partisan Warfare in 1862 Western Kentucky", Derrick Lindow tells thislittle-known story for the first time.
Confederate Col. Adam Rankin Johnson and his 10th Kentucky Partisan Rangers wreaked havoc on Union supply lines andgarrisons from the shores of southern Indiana, in the communities of western Kentucky, and even south into Tennessee. Hisrangers seemed unbeatable and uncatchable that second year of the war because Johnson's partisans often disbanded andmelted into the countryside (a tactic relatively easy to execute in a region populated with Southern sympathizers). Once itwas safe to do so, they reformed and struck again.
In the span of just a few months Johnson captured six Union-controlled towns, hundreds of prisoners, and tons of Unionarmy equipment. Union civil and military authorities, meanwhile, were not idle bystanders. Strategies changed, troopsrushed to guerrilla flashpoints, daring leaders refused the Confederate demands of surrender, and every available type offighting man was utilized, from Regulars to the militia of the Indiana Legion, temporary service day regiments, and evenbrown water naval vessels. Clearing the area of partisans and installing a modicum of Union control became one of theNorthern high command's major objectives.
This deadly and expensive war behind the lines was fought by men who often found themselves thrust into unpredictablesituations. Participants included future presidential cabinet members, Mexican War veterans, Jewish immigrants, some ofthe U.S. Army's rising young officers, and the civilians unfortunate enough to live in the borderlands of Kentucky.
Lindow spent years researching through archival source material to pen this important, groundbreaking study. His accountof partisan guerrilla fighting and the efforts to bring it under control helps put the Civil War in the northern reaches of theWestern Theater into proper context. It is a story long overdue.
Critique: A seminal and ground breaking contribution to the ever expanding library of American Civil War histories, "WeShall Conquer or Die: Partisan Warfare in 1862 Western Kentucky" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit withthe inclusion of a number of B/W historical photos, a seven page Bibliography, a seven page Index, a high value and prizedpick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental American Civil Warcurriculum studies lists. Also readily available for students, academia, Civil War buffs, and non-specialist general readerswith an interest in the subject, "We Shall Conquer or Die: Partisan Warfare in 1862 Western Kentucky" is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Derrick Lindow (www.kentuckycivilwarauthor.com/home) teaches 8th grade United States history inOwensboro, Kentucky. He graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College (2010) with a BA in history and holds an MA inEducation from the University of the Cumberlands. In 2023, he earned his MA in history from Western KentuckyUniversity. He is the 2015 Dr. Tom and Betty Lawrence National History Teacher Award recipient from the NationalSociety of the Sons of the American Revolution and the 2019 James Madison Fellow for the state of Kentucky. Derrick isthe creator and co-administrator of the Western Theater in the Civil War website, which brings together authors andhistorians to write about that crucial area of the war.
The Confederate Navy Medical Corps
Guy R. Hasegawa
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476694511, $39.95, PB, 245pp
https://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Navy-Medical-Corps-Organization/dp/1476694516
Synopsis: The Confederate Navy's medical service is usually overlooked in histories of the American Civil War, yet it wasvital in maintaining the fighting strength of the South's navy and marine corps.
Confederate medical officers not only manned war vessels, they staffed navy yards and land-based hospitals, gatheredsupplies, participated in raids, examined recruits, and even served at defensive shore batteries.
Many such officers had served in the United States Navy, while others were recruited from civil life. Enlisted personnel andcivilian physicians also helped the navy provide medical care -- used in managing battle wounds and other injuries but moreoften devoted to preventing and treating disease. Malaria was particularly common among sailors and marines stationed inthe swampy regions of the South.
"The Confederate Navy Medical Corps: Organization, Personnel and Actions" by Guy R. Hasegawa is the first publishedstudy devoted entirely to the medical corps of the Confederate navy. It provides a carefully researched look at the men,structure, facilities, and activities of the organization. Of special note is the inclusion of a complete list of men known tohave been commissioned as naval medical officers is included.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of two Appendices (Commissioned MedicalOffices in the C&N; Duties of Medical Officers), twenty-two pages of Chapter Notes; a ten page Bibliography, and an eightpage Index, "The Confederate Navy Medical Corps: Organization, Personnel and Actions" is a seminal historical study anda uniquely recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil WarHistory collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and dedicated CivilWar history buffs that "The Confederate Navy Medical Corps: Organization, Personnel and Actions" is also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Guy R. Hasegawa is a retired editor and pharmacist living in suburban Maryland. He has publishednumerous scholarly articles and books on Civil War medicine and is a frequent contributor to Civil War Navy--TheMagazine. (www.civilwarmed.org/people/hasegawa)
The Military History Shelf
Forrest L. Marion
Naval Institute Press
www.nip.org
9781682472392, $39.95, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Up-Space-Force-Transforming/dp/1682472396
Synopsis: Although the United States won the race to the moon, the Soviets were far more active in space than Americansduring the decade that followed. By the 1980s, some space experts feared the United States was in danger of beingsurpassed in space, including dual-use systems that might be employed offensively in a military confrontation. A fewexperts, looking ahead, recommended a space force within roughly two decades.
With the publication of "Standing Up Space Force: The Road to the Nation's Sixth Armed Service", Forrest L. Marion hasorganized the creation of such an American space force chronologically by presidential administration, beginning in themiddle of the Clinton years and progressing through the Trump administration. During the Clinton and George W. Bushyears, the move to national security space was incremental. The Obama presidency witnessed the rise of NewSpaceentrepreneurs whose impressive space activities facilitated their initial partnering with U.S. government National SecuritySpace (NSS) missions helping the United States keep pace with China and Russia.
During the Trump administration, all necessary elements finally came together. Most significantly,presidential-congressional leadership and bipartisan support that eventually produced the fiscal 2020 national defenseauthorization act (NDAA). Because the NDAA authorized and provided for the Space Force, when the President signed thedefense bill on 20 December 2019, at the same moment he officially established the nation's sixth armed service.
Critique: The birth of the Space Force as arguably the sixth branch of the American military is an inherently fascinating onethat is exceptionally well laid out and presented in the pages of "Standing Up Space Force: The Road to the Nation's SixthArmed Service" from the Naval Institute Press. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a sixpage Appendix (Space Policy Directive 4, 19 February 2019), fifty-eight pages of Notes, a twenty page SelectedBibliography, and a thirteen page Index, "Standing Up Space Force: The Road to the Nation's Sixth Armed Service" isunreservedly recommended as a unique and timely pick for personal, professional, community, and college/universitylibrary American Military Aviation History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted forstudents, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Standing Up Space Force: TheRoad to the Nation's Sixth Armed Service" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Forrest L. Marion (www.usni.org/people/forrest-marion) graduated from the Virginia Military Institute incivil engineering and earned a master's degree in military history from the University of Alabama and a doctorate in U.S.history from the University of Tennessee. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve officer and served as staff/oral historian(federal civil service) at the Air Force Historical Research Agency from 1998 to 2023, including three overseas deployments(two in military status) and two stateside deployments. Marion is the author of three military history works. From 2011 to2015, he worked primarily for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Historical Office on a coauthored history of the reservecomponents.
Great Battles of the Early Roman Empire
Simon Elliott
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399069830, $36.95, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Battles-Early-Roman-Empire/dp/1399069837
Synopsis: With the publication of "Great Battles of the Early Roman Empire", archaeologist and historian Simon Elliottdescribes eight of the greatest, most decisive battles of the Roman Empire of the first to third centuries.
The list includes battles fought from the highlands of Scotland and the forests of Germany to the deserts of the Middle East.They show how the vaunted Roman legions adapted to extremes of terrain and climate as well as a wide array of verydifferent foes, from the wild Caledonian tribes to the sophisticated, combined-arms armies of Sassanid Persia with their warelephants and superb cavalry. Some of the battles even pit the Roman legions against their own kind in brutal civilwars.
After an introductory chapter on the Imperial Roman army, detailing its organization, equipment, tactics and doctrine, theauthor moves on to describing each battle in detail. Dr. Elliot sets the strategic context and background of the chosenengagement before analyzing the size and composition of the opposing forces, also detailing the nature of the enemy faced.The maneuvers leading up to the battle are described, followed by deployment and the course of the fighting itself. Finally,the aftermath and implications of the battles outcome are assessed. The well-researched and engaging text is supported byclear maps.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Introduction and a Conclusion, "GreatBattles of the Early Roman Empire" also features a twenty-two page Appendix (The Principate Roman Military), a six pageBibliography, and a three page Index. Fascinating, detailed, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style, organization andpresentation, "Great Battles of the Early Roman Empire" is an extraordinary and highly prized pick for personal,professional, community, and college/university library Ancient Rome History/Military collections and supplementalcurriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest inAncient Rome that this outstanding study is also readily available from Pen & Sword Books in a digital book format(Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Dr Simon Elliott (www.simonelliott20.com) is an archaeologist, historian and broadcaster. He has writtennumerous books on themes related to the classical world and military history, and frequently appears on broadcast media asa presenter and expert. Amongst others, his books published by Casemate Publishers include Ancient Greeks at War (2021),Old Testament Warriors (2021) and Romans at War (2020). He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent,Trustee of the Council for British Archaeology, Ambassador for Museum of London Archaeology, President of the Societyof Ancients, and Guide Lecturer for Andante Travels and Hidden History Travel.
Fort Monmouth
Melissa Ziobro
Brookline Books
c/o Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781955041225, $24.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fort-Monmouth-Armys-House-Magic/dp/1955041229
Synopsis: The history of Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, begins in May 1917 when, as part of its wartime mobilization, theArmy authorized four training camps for signal troops. One camp, located in central NJ, would eventually be known as"Fort Monmouth," in honor of the soldiers of the American Revolution who fought and died at the nearby battle ofMonmouth.
This camp was located on the site of an old racetrack and luxury hotel, remnants of the famed Gilded Age at the JerseyShore. Though much of the site was overgrown and infested with poison ivy, it afforded the Army significant advantages:proximity to the port of Hoboken and a train station, good stone roads, and access to water.
Corporal Carl L. Whitehurst was among the first men to arrive at Camp Little Silver. He later recalled that the site appearedto be a "jungle of weeds, poison ivy, briars, and underbrush." The Army Signal Corps carved a camp out of that wilderness,and trained thousands of men for war there. The Signal Corps also built laboratories that worked on pioneeringtechnologies, like air to ground radio, from their very inception. Though the base was supposed to be temporary, it woundup outliving the war. It was for decades known as the "Home of the Signal Corps," and, until its closure in 2011, was stillinnovating some of the most significant communications and electronics advances in military history.
The US Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), which left Fort Monmouth in 2011, for AberdeenProving Ground, Maryland, can trace its roots to the establishment of the Signal Corps training camp and research anddevelopment laboratory at Fort Monmouth in 1917, and Netflix, the site's next owner, has a powerful legacy to live upto.
From celebrity homing pigeons to the radars that detected the incoming Japanese planes at Pearl Harbor to early spacecommunications and night vision technologies, Fort Monmouth, once called the "Army's House of Magic," was thebirthplace of innovation and technological revolution and the home of a uniquely diverse group of military and civilianheroes and scientists.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Introduction and a Conclusion, thirty-onepages of Notes, and a three page Select Bibliography, "Fort Monmouth: The US Army's House of Magic" is a seminal,precise and exceptionally well presented American military history. While available for personal reading lists in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $14.95), "Fort Monmouth: The US Army's House of Magic" is an unreservedly recommended additionto personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental American Military History& Strategy curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Melissa Ziobro is the Director of Public History at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. She alsoserves as the Curator of the campus's Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music. She was the lastCommand Historian at Fort Monmouth prior to the base's closure in 2011.(www.monmouth.edu/directory/profiles/melissa-ziobro)
Pathfinder Pioneer
Colonel Raymond E. Brim, USAF (Ret.)
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636244631, $24.95, PB, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Pioneer-Memoir-Bomber-Pilot/dp/1636244637
Synopsis: "Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a Lead Bomber Pilot in World War II" is an engaging personal story of howan 18-year-old miner shoveling ore from deep in the ground in Utah suddenly found himself, only two years later, 30,000feet in the air over Nazi Germany, piloting a Flying Fortress in the first wave of America's air counteroffensive inEurope.
Like thousands of other young Americans, Ray Brim was plucked by the U.S. Army to be a combat flyer, and was quicklypitted against the hardened veterans of the Luftwaffe. Brim turned out to have a natural knack for flying, however, and wasassigned to the select squadron developing lead Pathfinder techniques, while experimenting with radar. He was among thefirst to test the teeth of the Luftwaffe's defenses, and once those techniques had been honed, thousands of other bombercrews would follow into the maelstrom, from which 80,000 never returned.
"Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a Lead Bomber Pilot in World War II" gives the reader vivid insights into the genesisof the American air campaign, told with the humor, attention to detail and humility that captures the heart and soul of our"Greatest Generation."
Brim was one of the first Pathfinder pilots to fly both day and night missions leading bomb groups of 600-plus bombers totheir targets. At the onset of his missions in the spring of 1943, B-17 crews were given a 50-50 chance of returning. Each ofhis raids were nerve-wracking forays into the unknown; with struggles to survive the damage to his plane due to flak andGerman fighter attacks, in order to bring his 10-man crew home, often wounded but still alive.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of fourteen pages of historic B/W photographs, and aninformative Introduction by Rebecca Saywell, "Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a Lead Bomber Pilot in World War II" isan extraordinary story and a highly prized addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryWorld War II Military Aviation History/Memoir collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Originally publishedby Casemate in a hardcover edition (2016), it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readerswith an interest in the subject that "Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a Lead Bomber Pilot in World War II" is also nowavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Raymond E. Brim was born in 1922 in the mining town of Dividend, Utah where he grew up the son of thebookkeeper and the town's only nurse. He studied political science at the University of Utah but dropped out to enlist in theArmy Air Corps. He trained as a fighter pilot; however was assigned to a B-17 bomber, 482nd Squadron, where he flewmissions over Germany during 1943 and 1944. As a Pathfinder pilot Ray pioneered radar technology leading both day andnight raids as far as Berlin. Colonel Ray Brim died in 2019 at the age of 96 in the company of family and friends.
Invasion On
Stephen M. Rusiecki
Naval Institute Press
www.nip.org
9781682479209, $39.95, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Invasion-D-Day-Making-American-Narrative/dp/168247920X
Synopsis: With the publication of "Invasion On: D-Day, the Press, and the Making of an American Narrative", Stephen M.Rusiecki describes the process of how and why Americans developed a standing narrative of the World War II operationknown as D-Day based upon a common, press-enabled, thematically framed narrative.
This story of June 6, 1944 is the one which has endured for more than seven decades. How did this early, single narrative ofthe D-Day landings, hastily though deliberately constructed in real time by America's radio networks and newspapers, cometogether on 6 June 1944 to become the story of that event in the years and decades after World War II? This version is whathas dominated the imaginations and consciousness of Americans ever since.
Ultimately, "Invasion On" explains how America's collective understanding of D-Day (essentially the American D-Daystory) was born. Rusiecki explores in detail the mechanics of precisely how radio broadcasts and newspapers in the 24-hourperiod surrounding 6 June 1944 gathered and then communicated facts, images, impressions, attitudes, and meaning thatformed for all Americans nearly simultaneously a common narrative organized around four thematic themes.
These four themes (the significance and grand scale of the operation, the sacralization of the event, the gifted and talentednature of the Allied senior leaders, and the purity and valor of the average American soldier) would remain fixed in theAmerican consciousness for decades to come in any discussion of June 6, 1944.
By addressing the news-making process during D-Day, "Invasion On" further explores what information was available tothe press; how the press assigned meaning to, or perceived, that information; and what information remained unavailable tothe press on 6 June 1944 due to censorship or procedural breakdowns caused by the friction of war.
In the end, "Invasion On" is about the process by which the print and broadcast media constructed a very specific storylineof D-Day in the moment, a narrative that granted D-Day a unique and war-defining status in the minds of the Americanpublic or the sort enjoyed by few events in American military history.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking study, "Invasion On: D-Day, the Press, and the Making of an American Narrative"is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an eighteen page Introduction (The Birth of anAmerican Narrative), a twelve page section of B/W historical photos, thirty-six pages of Notes, a sixteen page Bibliography,and a thirteen page Index. A welcome and unique contribution to the growing body of World War II histories, "Invasion On:D-Day, the Press, and the Making of an American Narrative" is a highly prized and definitively recommended addition topersonal, professional, community, and college/university library WWII collections and supplementalCommunications/Media Studies curriculum lists. It should be noted for students, academia, military history buffs, andnon-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Invasion On: D-Day, the Press, and the Making of anAmerican Narrative" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.75).
Editorial Note: Lt. Col. Stephen M. Rusiecki is the Dean of Academics of the U.S. Army Inspector General School at FortBelvoir, Virginia, and the author of two other books on the European Theater in World War II.
Men of God - Men of War
Robert C. Doyle
Naval Institute Press
www.nip.org
9781682474181, $34.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Men-God-War-Chaplains-Ministers/dp/1682474186
Synopsis: With the publication of "Men of God, Men of War: Military Chaplains as Ministers, Warriors, and Prisoners",Robert C. Doyle tells the stories of chaplains who have served in America's wars. In his exploration of military chaplaincy,Doyle poses questions about their brand of service to the United States. He examines the complexities of the chaplains'vocation -- the types of services they performed, the roles they assumed in combat and as prisoners of war, and how theyinteracted with the military personnel they served and supported. Doyle also explores the high price many paid for theircommitment to their unique type of service.
"Men of God, Men of War" illuminates the histories of chaplains who did their duty selflessly to God, to their country, tothe soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen with whom they found themselves in very dire circ*mstances over the past threehundred years. Chaplains throughout American history have served bravely and selflessly at home and in the field, bothunder fire and "behind the wire". Chaplains also served as sources of motivation, inspiration, and peace for militarypersonnel in times of hardship, especially in captivity. Doyle vividly illustrates that while they are now treated asnon-combatants, chaplains' vital role as leaders cannot be underestimated or understated.
Additionally, "Men of God, Men of War" examines how chaplains performed under fire in hostile environments, beginningwith the Revolutionary War through the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. The chaplains of the Revolution werepatriots first, soldiers second, and men of God third. From the Civil War to modern times, these men gave hope to thehopeless, absolution to those soldiers who stood before their Maker before battles, and faith in themselves and theircomrades so necessary for men in combat. Doyle's research shows that military chaplains have always remained necessary tomen at war, even in a modern secular military.
Critique: A unique, seminal, and ground-breaking study, "Men of God, Men of War: Military Chaplains as Ministers,Warriors, and Prisoners" features an informative Preface, a ten page Bibliography, twenty pages of Notes, and a sixteen pageIndex. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Men of God, Men of War: Military Chaplains as Ministers,Warriors, and Prisoners" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended contribution to community andcollege/university library American Military History/Biography collections. It should be noted for the personal reading listsof students, academia, military buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Men of God,Men of War: Military Chaplains as Ministers, Warriors, and Prisoners" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,$27.19)
Editorial Note: Robert C. Doyle became a Fulbright professor at the Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat in Germany in 1994and later taught at the Universite Strasbourg II in France for three years. He taught American History at FranciscanUniversity of Steubenville from 2000 and retired as Professor Emeritus of History in 2022. He worked on severaldocumentary projects and also provided research consultancy for the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (USAF). He is alsothe author of several books on prisoners of war, including, A Prisoner's Duty: Great Escapes in Military History (1997).
The Biography Shelf
Mickey Mayhew
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399083720, $36.95, HC, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Boleyn-Bible-Mickey-Mayhew/dp/1399083724
Synopsis: Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 or 1507 - 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife ofKing Henry VIII. The circ*mstances of her marriage and execution by beheading for treason, made her a key figure in thepolitical and religious upheaval that marked the start of the English Reformation.
Today, almost 500 years later Anne Boleyn still sells, but she sells in segments; a biography here,
a study over there on her guilt and something else yonder concerned with where she lived or what she liked to wear. Withthe publication of "The Anne Boleyn Bible", historian and biographer Mickey Mayhew covers not just her life in TudorEngland, but her life onscreen, in theater, on TV and also the impact of the first black actress to play her, is the definitive,all-encompassing story of Anne Boleyn from 1501 (or thereabouts) to 2023.
Having examined the ardent fandom of Anne Boleyn for his doctorate, Dr Mickey Mayhew is in a unique position to offersomething new to say on this much-discussed 'tragic' Tudor queen and is not afraid to tackle some of the less palatableaspects of her life.
Also, "The Anne Boleyn Bible" is the first to examine with authenticity the reality of Anne's relationship with the mostimportant man in her life, the man whose name she repeated in comfort while facing the Swordsman of Calais on thescaffold, having spent her life promulgating his doctrine; Jesus Christ himself. As for the aforementioned executioner, DrMayhew's research in Calais and Saint-Omer can now lift a lid on a few of the particulars of this elusive and yet essentialfigure of Anne Boleyn mythos; and yes, now he even has a name as well.
Critique: A simply fascinating and impressively informative work of seminal and ground breaking scholarship of a subjectthat has been extensively (even exhaustively) studied in the past, "The Anne Boleyn Bible" also features a sixteen pagesection of B/W photos, a seven page Bibliography, a two page Filmography, and a four page Index. While a very special andunreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library 16th CenturyEnglish Royal History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, andnon-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Anne Boleyn Bible" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Lifelong Londoner Mickey Mayhew recently completed his PhD on the cult surrounding 'tragic queens'Anne Boleyn and Mary Queen of Scots. In that time, he was also co-author on three books relating to Jack the Ripper,published by The History Press. His first non-fiction work, The Little Book of Mary Queen of Scots, was also published byThe History Press in January 2015; I Love the Tudors, by Pitkin Publishing, arrived in 2016. He has a column in the journalof The Whitechapel Society, having previously been a film and theatre reviewer for various London lifestyle magazines.Through 2018/2019, he was an assistant researcher on several projects for London South Bank University.
The Real Coco Chanel
Rose Sguelglia
White Owl
c/o Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781526761019, $34.95, HC, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Coco-Chanel-Rose-Sgueglia/dp/1526761017
Synopsis: Coco Chanel lived her own life as a romantic heroine. Fueled by 19th century literature, she built a life which waspartly myth and partly factual. She was the fashion designer everyone admired. The business woman whose fortune wasimpossible to track. She was also a performer, lover of many high profile intellectuals and, as believed by many, a Nazispy.
Her life was, extraordinarily, affected by history (the Nazi movement and World War II), symbolism and literature. "TheReal Coco Chanel" by Rose Sgueglia is a compelling biography that explores her life from her troubled and poor past to theopening of her first hat shop, passions and secrets. "The Real Coco Chanel" draws parallelisms between myths and facts andhow, and if ever, they match at all.
"The Real Coco Chanel" also features chapters on the Chanel Maison and the creation of her iconic trademark as well as her'little black dress' and 'Chanel No 5'.
Finally, "The Real Coco Chanel" ends with a reflection on how the myth of Coco Chanel is represented today in popculture.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and memorable read from start to finish, "The Real Coco Chanel" is exhaustivelyresearched, exceptionally well written, and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/universitylibrary 20th Century Women's Biography collections. It should be noted that "The Real Coco Chanel" is also readilyavailable in a paperback edition (9781526799739, $24.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Rose Sgueglia (https://wikitia.com/wiki/Rose_Sgueglia_(author)) is a writer and marketing consultant basedin Cardiff, Englnd. She is founder and director of Miss Squiggles, a magazine, marketing agency and online shop. As part ofher role at Miss Squiggles, she works with clients on their social media, digital marketing and PR strategies. Rose is also afreelance journalist. Her work has been published in different publications including GQ, La Repubblica, and Yahoo. Sheholds a BA in Journalism, Film and Media and a Post Graduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism from CardiffUniversity.
Nora Ephron: A Biography
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
Chicago Review Press
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781641603751, $30.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nora-Ephron-Kristin-Marguerite-Doidge/dp/1641603755
Synopsis: With the publication of "Nora Ephron: A Biography", Kristin Marguerite Doidge provides the first comprehensiveportrait of the Manhattan-born girl who forged a path of her own, earning accolades and adoration from critics and fansalike.
Journalist, cultural critique, academician and biographer Kristin Marguerite Doidge explores the tremendous successes anddisappointing failures Ephron sustained in her career as a popular essayist turned screenwriter turned film director. Sheredefined the modern rom-com genre with bestselling books such as Heartburn and hit movies including When Harry MetSally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Julie & Julia. Doidge also examines the private life Ephron tried to keep in balance with herinsatiable ambition.
Based on rare archival research and numerous interviews with some of Ephron's closest friends, collaborators, andaward-winning colleagues including actors Tom Hanks and Caroline Aaron, comedian Martin Short, composer GeorgeFenton, and lifelong friends from Wellesley to New York to Hollywood (as well as interviews Ephron herself gavethroughout her career) Doidge has written a captivating story of the life of a creative writer whose passion for the perfectone-liner and ferocious drive to succeed revolutionized journalism, comedy, and film.
Critique: Nora Ephron (May 19, 1941 - June 26, 2012) was one of the most popular, accomplished, and beloved writers inAmerican journalism and film. "Nora Ephron: A Biography" by Kristin Marguerite Doidge is the first in-depth biography toexplore the complex themes that ran through Ephron's literary work and to examine why so many of them still grab theattention of readers today. Enhanced for the reader's beneft with copious Notes, a Selected Bibliography, Book ClubQuestions, and an Index, "Nora Ephron: A Biography" is unreservedly recommended for community and college/universitylibrary 20th Century American Women's Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be notedfor the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers that "Nora Ephron: A Biography"from the Chicago Review Press is also available in a paperback edition (9781641609531, $19.99) and in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $11.49).
Editorial Note; Kristin Marguerite Doidge (https://www.kristinmarguerite.com) is an award-winning journalist, professor,and speaker based in Los Angeles. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Marie Claire, FORTUNE, xoJane, Bustle,KCRW/NPR, Time Out Los Angeles, GOOD magazine, ETOnline.com, GIRLBOSS, and the Los Angeles BusinessJournal. She earned multiple NAEJ Awards and Los Angeles/Southern California Press Club Award nominations. She has amaster's degree in specialized journalism from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School of Journalism andteaches journalism and strategic public relations at Loyola Marymount University.
The Political Activism of Anthropologist Franz Boas, Citizen Scientist
Alan H. McGowan
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
https://www.cambridgescholars.com
9781527566859, $82.00, Hardcover
https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-6685-9
(Use PROMO25 when ordering, for a 25% discount)
The Political Activism of Anthropologist Franz Boas, Citizen Scientist comes from a professor who devoted over a decadeof research to his subject. From this, and the publication of this book by Cambridge Scholars, readers might anticipate a dryand droll examination; but the delight of this treatise lies as much in its lively delivery as in the wealth of facts that reflectthe life and times of Franz Boas.
From the start, the account lures readers with the dramatic embellishments of a novel, capturing a realistic atmosphere thatsurrounds the anthropologist's life: "On June 20th, 1883, a young German scholar with a freshly minted Ph.D. in physicsboarded a small two-masted schooner named the Germania on its way to Baffin Island, a part of the Arctic archipelagowhose permanent residents were Indigenous people then called Eskimos, plus traders, whalers and people in a few scientificoutposts from Europe, Canada and the United States. That scholar, not quite 25 years old, was Franz Uri Boas. It was avoyage that was not only going to change the young man, but also the world of anthropology."
Readers who anticipate a singular life focus will also be challenged and delighted by the close examination afforded to theprejudices, preconceptions, and anthropological methodology of the times: "The very notion of putting actual Indigenouspeople on display, which both Boas and Putnam supported and organized, would raise serious issues now, and did eventhen. Of course, the Chicago event was not the first, nor would it be the last, to put people on display."
The opportunities for not just enlightenment, but debate about anthropological processes, depictions, prejudice, and racismafford much material for classroom discussion and debate not only in anthropology courses and settings, but in readinggroups devoted to examining historical trends, precedents, and attitudes.
Alan H. McGowan achieves more than capture the influential and revealing life of Franz Boas. He highlights the authorityand pressures of the times in not just scientific study and research, but the fostering and presentation of facts aboutindigenous peoples and others. The account moves from anthropological and scientific waters to delve into the politicalcirc*mstances of his times, his ideals and struggles with the U.S., and the war which reached out to affect his efforts andattitude: "I cannot visualize how reasonable people and nations which are 'leaders of civilization' can conjure up such aterrible war. If Germany loses, such hatred will be created that it will stir up her nationalism for years to come; if she isvictorious, such arrogance, that it will lead to the same consequence. If people would only realize what a source of hatredand misfortune the highly praised patriotism represents!"
By drawing close connections between scientific processes, social attitudes, and political activism through the lens of oneanthropologist's life, McGowan crafts a powerful synthesis of purpose and political involvement. This book should be onthe reading lists of any group or individual interested in how Boas's work linked scientists to political issues.
Libraries that choose The Political Activism of Anthropologist Franz Boas, Citizen Scientist for their collections will wantto highly recommend it above and beyond an audience of scientific thinkers alone, reaching out to activists, historians, andanyone involved in social and political transformation efforts.
The General Fiction Shelf
Julia Jarman
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781785130397, $17.99, PB, Large Print, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Widows-Wine-Path-Julia-Jarman/dp/1785130390
Synopsis: Viv, Janet and Zelda know all about facing the wobbly first year of becoming a widow due to their friendshipbeing forged when they ran away from the same dreary support group. Forming instead The Muscateers -- a much morelively widows' wine club, and welcoming Libby with open arms as a new member.
Libby feels lost without Jim, her husband of more than thirty years, but the warmth, friendship and fun the women wrap herup in inspires her to begin to look to the future. When a solo trip to the theatre brings a blast from the past back into her life,things are looking up.
But as cravat-wearing, smooth-talking Monty Charles sweeps Libby off her feet, the women of the Muscateers smell a rat.They know only too well that the first year of widowhood is prime for making mistakes, and they're determined to protecttheir friend. And as Monty soon finds out to his cost, never underestimate a Widow on the Wine Path...
Critique: A brilliant, entertaining, deftly crafted, and simply fun read from start to finish, author Julia Jarman's Widows onthe Wine Path"is an original story of love and laughter, friendship and finding your feet. Of special interest to fans ofwomen's friendship themed novels, this large print edition of "Widows on the Wine Path" from Boldwood Books is certainto be a welcome and prized addition to personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Julia Jarman (https://juliajarman.com) describes herself as an author of books for all ages. Her books arelisted on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Jarman.
Nothing Can Erase You
Michel Bussi, author
Sam Taylor, translator
Amazon Crossing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662509049, $16.99, PB, 463pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Can-Erase-You-Thriller/dp/1662509049
Synopsis: Maddi Liberi is a successful doctor living an idyllic life in the South of France. On the morning of her son's tenthbirthday, they walk to the beach together. The boy presses for a quick swim, but when the surf is too rough, she sends himoff to buy a baguette instead.
He never returns.
Ten years later, Maddi stands at the spot where she last saw her son. A pilgrimage of sorts. And she can't believe her eyes.There, standing at the water's edge, is a young boy -- and he looks exactly like her son. Same face, same suit -- and even thesame birthmark!
Rattled, Maddi becomes obsessed with the boy. She upends her life to get closer to him. And the more she learns about herson's doppelganger, the more unhinged she becomes. Dangerous secrets brought to light put people's lives at risk, and plottwists reveal truths you'll never see coming.
Critique: A riveting thriller of a read from start to finish, the reader should be aware that "Nothing Can Erase You" is afinely crafted novel by French novelist Michel Bussi and contains a few occurrences of upside-down text. Ably translatedinto English for an American readership by Sam Taylor, "Nothing Can Erase You" is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for both community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should benoted for personal reading lists that "Nothing Can Erase You" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note #1: With over thirteen million copies of his books sold in France, Michel Bussi is one of the most successfulFrench authors of all time. Known as "the master of the plot twist," he has published seventeen suspense novels with Pressesde la Cite. Three of his books have already been adapted for French TV. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Bussi)
Editorial Note #2: Sam Taylor is a British novelist and literary translator. He is the 2017 Fiction Winner of theFrench-American and Foundation Florence Gould Translation Prize for his translation of The Heart by Maylis deKerangal.
The Education of Aubrey McKee
Alex Pugsley
Biblioasis
www.biblioasis.com
9781771965835, $18.95, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Education-Aubrey-McKee-Alex-Pugsley/dp/1771965835
Synopsis: The scene is Toronto, early 1990s, and at a house party the young writer Aubrey McKee falls in love with abewitching stranger who talks him into stealing a piece of cake. This woman (a poet named Gudrun Peel) rapidly becomesthe person for whom he would do anything at all.
Together, Aubrey and Gudrun make a life of delirious idiosyncrasy. Surrounded by friends, frenemies, lovers, and rivals inthe underground arts scene, the possibilities of their destiny remain radically open. But as their relationship deepens, andtheir creative and professional lives stumble, stall, and then suddenly blow up, Aubrey and Gudrun struggle against theirown inexperience -- as well as each other.
The much-anticipated sequel to Canadian author's Alex Pugsley's first novel, "Aubrey McKee", this edition of "TheEducation of Aubrey McKee" from Biblioasis is a campus novel in which the city of Toronto is the institute of highereducation and the setting for a glittering story about the incandescence of first love.
Critique: A fun and fascinating read from start to finish, "The Education of Aubrey McKee" continues to showcase authorAlex Pugsley's genuine flair for original, distinctive, and narrative driven storytelling style. While of particular interest tofans of 'city life' fiction laced through and through with humor and acute observation, "The Education of Aubrey McKee" isunreservedly recommended for community and college/university Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should benoted for personal reading lists that "The Education of Aubrey McKee" is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $11.49).
Editorial Note: Alex Pugsley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Pugsley" is the author of the novels "Aubrey McKee" and"The Education of Aubrey McKee", as well as the short story collection "Shimmer". Following the publication of "AubreyMcKee", he was named one of CBC's Writers to Watch. He has been nominated for Canadian Comedy Awards, GeminiAwards, Hot Doc Awards, National Magazine Awards, and is a winner of the Writers' Trust Journey Prize. His feature filmDirty Singles is available on Apple TV and Prime Video. His next novel, "Silver Lake", is the third book in a series aboutAubrey McKee, and is forthcoming from Biblioasis.
The Lies Among Us
Sarah Beth Durst
Lake Union Publishing
9781662514722, $16.99, PB, 333pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Among-Us-Novel/dp/1662514727
Synopsis: After her mother dies, Hannah doesn't know how to exist without her. Literally. In fact, Hannah's not even certainthat she does exist. No one seems to see or hear her, and she finds herself utterly alone. Grief-stricken and confused, hersense of self slowly slipping away, Hannah sets out to find new purpose in life -- as well as answers about who (and what)she really is.
Hannah's only remaining family is her older sister, Leah. Yet even Leah doesn't seem to notice her. And while Hannah cansee and hear her sister, she also sees beautiful and terrible things that don't (or shouldn't) exist. She learns there's much moreto this world than meets the eye and struggles to make sense of it all.
When Hannah sees Leah taking the same dangerous path that consumed their own mother (where lies supplant reality) she'sdesperate to get through to her. But facing difficult truths is harder than it looks.
Critique: An extraordinary and deftly scripted novel by an obviously talented author, "The Lies Among Us" by Sarah BethDurst is impressively original and will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in stories about family,friendship, and the psychological impact of domestic trauma. While very highly recommended for community libraryWomen's Domestic/Family Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Lies Among Us" isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Sarah Beth Durst (www.sarahbethdurst.com) is the author of over twenty books for adults, teens, and kids,including "The Bone Maker", "Drink Slay Love", and "Spark". She won an American Library Association Alex Award anda Mythopoeic Fantasy Award and has been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Nebula Award three times.
The North Line
Matt Riordan
Hyperion Avenue
c/o Buena Vista Books
9781368100076, $27.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/North-Line-Matt-Riordan/dp/1368100074
Synopsis: Everyone believes Adam to be something he's not. Sometimes that's because he's told them a story. Sometimeshe's told himself one. But when Adam joins an Alaskan fishing crew that's promising quick money, the dangerous work andharsh lifestyle strip away all fabrications and force a dark-hearted exploration of who he really is.
On the unforgiving Bering Sea, Adam finds the adventure and authenticity of a fisherman's life revelatory. The laborrequired to seize bounty from the ocean invigorates him, and the often crude comradery accompanies a welcome,hard-earned wisdom. But when a strike threatens the entire season and violence stalks the waves, Adam is thrust into astruggle for survival at the edge of the world, where evolutionary and social forces collide for outcomes beyond anyone'scontrol.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "The North Line" is author Matt Riordan's debut as a novelist, hisgenuine flair for the kind of distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style makes for a fun and thoughtfully reflectiveread from start to finish. Original, exceptional, and a truly compulsive page turner of a novel, "The North Line" is especiallyand unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library contemporary psychological suspensethrillers. It should be noted that "The North Line" is also readily available from Hyperion Adventure in a digital book format(Kindle, $13.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Matt Riordan (www.mattriordanbooks.com) grew up in Michigan but spent his early twenties working oncommercial fishing boats in Alaska. After college, Matt drifted from commercial fishing through a variety of jobs beforelanding in law school. He then became a litigator in New York City, where he practiced for twenty years. He now lives withhis family in Australia.
Christa Comes Out of Her Shell
Abbi Waxman
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593198780, $18.00, PB, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Christa-Comes-Out-Her-Shell/dp/0593198786
Synopsis: After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Barnet has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studyingsea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famousfather (long thought dead after a plane crash) turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends.
The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren'tenough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both wantto act on... if they can just keep a lid on it.
When her father's story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and (mostimportantly) any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.
Critique: "Christa Comes Out of Her Shell" continues to demonstrate author Abbi Waxman as a master storyteller with agenuine flair for originality, complex characters, unexpected plot twists, and providing her readers with the kind of fun readthat would especially appeal to readers with an interest in contemporary women's fiction. A prime and recommended pickfor community library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of Abbi Waxman fans that "ChristaComes Out of Her Shell" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Abbi Waxman (www.abbiwaxman.com) was born in England in 1970, the oldest child of two copywriterswho never should have been together in the first place. Once her father ran off to buy cigarettes and never came back, hermother began a successful career writing crime fiction. Naturally lazy and disinclined to dress up, Abbi went intoadvertising, working as a copywriter and then a creative director at various advertising agencies in London and New York.Eventually she quit advertising, had three kids and started writing books, mostly in order to get a moment's peace.
A Better World
Sarah Langan
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781982191061, $28.99, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Better-World-Novel-Sarah-Langan/dp/1982191066
Synopsis: You'll be safe here. That's what the tour guide tells the Farmer-Bowens when they visit Plymouth Valley, awalled-off company town with clean air, pantries that never go empty, and blue-ribbon schools. On a very trial basis, thecompany offers to hire Linda Farmer's husband, Russell (a numbers genius) and relocate her whole family to this bucolicparadise for the .0001 percent.
Though Linda will have to sacrifice her medical career back home, the family jumps at the opportunity. They'd be crazy notto take it. With the outside world falling apart, this might be the Farmer-Bowens' last chance.
But fitting in takes work. The pampered locals distrust outsiders, snubbing Linda, Russell, and their teen twins. And theresidents fervently adhere to a group of customs and beliefs called Hollow...but what exactly is Hollow?
It's Linda who brokers acceptance, by volunteering her medical skills to the most influential people in town through their petcharity, ActHollow. In the months afterward, everything seems fine. Sure, Russell starts hyperventilating through a paperbag in the middle of the night, and the kids have become secretive, but living in Plymouth Valley is worth sacrificing theirfamily's closeness, isn't it? At least they'll survive.
The trouble is, the locals never say what they think. They seem scared. And Hollow's ominous culminating event, thePlymouth Valley Winter Festival, is coming.
Linda is warned by her husband and her powerful new friends to stop asking questions. But the more she learns, the morefrightened she becomes. Should the Farmer-Bowens be fighting to stay, or fighting to get out?
Critique: Original, timely, and a clarion call for what the very near future could bring giving the expanding divide betweenthe ultra wealthy and the other 99% -- "A Better World" by novelist Sarah Langan is a piercing indictment and keenly feltanalysis of the looming dangers representing by wealth inequality, power inequality, and inequality privilege timely in itsdepiction of a self-destructing world -- and a clarion call prescient warning to us all. A prophetic novel in the ranks ofprophetic literary works as George Orwell's "1984"). A riveting and thought-provoking read from start to finish, "A BetterWorld" is highly recommended for community and college/university Contemporary Literary Fiction collection. It should benoted for personal reading lists that "A Better World" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as acomplete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797176512, $44.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Sarah Langan (https://sarahlangan.com) grew up on Long Island and now lives in Los Angeles with herfamily. She got her MFA from Columbia University, and her MS in Environmental Toxicology from NYU. She writesgenre, literary, and everything in between.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
Alison Cochrun
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781668021194, $17.99, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Here-We-Go-Again-Novel/dp/1668021196
Synopsis: A long time ago, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be friends. They spent their childhood summersrunning through the woods, rebelling against their conservative small town, and dreaming of escaping. But then an incidentthe summer before high school turned them into bitter rivals. After graduation, they went ten years without speaking.
Now in their thirties, Logan and Rosemary find they aren't quite living the lives of adventure they imagined for themselves.Still in their small town and working as teachers at their alma mater, they're both stuck in old patterns. Uptight Rosemarychooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker.Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself fromanything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other (and their complicated past) they keep crashing into each other.Including with their cars.
But when their beloved former English teacher and lifelong mentor tells them he has only a few months to live, they'reforced together once and for all to fulfill his last wish: a cross-country road trip. Stuffed into the gayest van west of theMississippi, the three embark on a life-changing summer trip from Washington state to the Grand Canyon, from the GulfCoast to coastal Maine. A trip that will chart a new future and perhaps lead them back to one another.
Critique: An LGBTQ+ contemporary romance novel that is laced through and through with smile inducing humor, "HereWe Go Again" by author Alison Cochrun is a fun read from start to finish. Original, deftly crafted, and memorable, "HereWe Go Again" is an especially recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library collections. It should benoted that "Here We Go Again" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete andunabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797170763, $39.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Alison Cochrun (www.AlisonCochrun.com) is a former high school English teacher and a current writer ofqueer love stories, including The Charm Offensive and Kiss Her Once for Me. She lives outside of Portland, Oregon, withtwo giant dogs, her small wife, and too many books. You can find her online on Instagram as @AlisonCochrun
The Literary Fiction Shelf
John Newman
Sweet Grass Press
c/o Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591523123, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Dreamers-Novel-John-Newman/dp/1591523125
Synopsis: For Sam Comstock, a young Iraq war vet with PTSD, the need to find a way to heal his wounded soul is a matterof life or death. His Marine sniper skills lead him to Montana on a mission to help manage an infamous wildlife challenge:killing migratory buffalo outside Yellowstone Park that are presumed to carry an infectious disease for cattle.
This places Sam seriously at odds with a renegade band of Indian warrior-dreamers who are determined to save the buffalofrom slaughter. Thrown together and isolated in the Montana wilderness, meanwhile relentlessly pursued by the combinedforces of military, law enforcement, and the cattle industry, Sam and his native compatriots must depend upon one anotherfor survival.
Along the way, Sam becomes enmeshed in the way of the buffalo, confronting his suicidal pain and emerging from a longtrail of suffering.
Through Sam, we come to understand that we have much to learn from our native neighbors. We may even discover ourown inner buffalo spirit.
Critique: Impressively original, eloquently crafted, fully entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "BuffaloDreamers" by novelist John Newman is a fascinating and unreservedly recommended addition for community andcollege/university library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of contemporaryNative American themed fiction fans that "Buffalo Dreamers" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$9.99).
Editorial Note: John Newman studied creative writing at Stanford University. His interest in native affairs and culture beganat an early age when he helped construct the Ishi trail to honor the last surviving member of the Yahi tribe. He also studiedthe Washoe language with the tribe near Lake Tahoe, their ancestral home, and for many years served as Chairman of theMuseum of the American Indian in Marin County, California. While ranching in Montana he became acquainted with theneighboring Cheyenne tribe, sweated with families, and was invited to participate in the 400-mile Ft Robinson break-out runfrom Nebraska through Pine Ridge and back to reservation in Lame Deer. His goal as a writer is to create character-basedstories set principally in Montana and the west, where natives and anglos confront a spiritually infused world in whichpredators and prey uneasily coexist, and humans are on equal terms with other creatures; a present day that is primordial onevery level. In the process, his characters learn from one another and overcome personal demons and historical trauma.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Georgina Troy
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804261279, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 387pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wedding-bells-by-the-sunflower-cliffs-georgina-troy/1144585631
Synopsis: Event planners Izzy and Jess are badly let down when a Jersey socialite hires them for the busiest weeks of theseason and then cancels at the last minute. The girls are left with no bookings and no money. Feeling despondent, they agreeto a night out to cheer themselves up and meet the captivating and aristocratic Ed. He invites them on a luxury yacht cruiseto Nice, together with his two brothers and some friends. Romance builds through heady days of blue skies and warm seas,but when a last-minute wedding booking is offered, the girls must return to Jersey, and real life has to begin again... or hasit?
Critique: The stuff of which Hallmark Channel movies are made, "Wedding Bells By The Sunflower Cliffs" by GeorginaTroy is now available in a large print trade paperback edition from Boldwood Books. With her distinctive and narrativedriven storyteller style, Troy has created a fun and original read that will fully entertain readers with an interest in romancenovels with memorable characters, a wealth of unexpected plot twists and turns, and an truly satisfying and cleverlypresented 'happy ending'. "Wedding Bells By The Sunflower Cliffs" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommendedaddition to both personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is an extensive listing of novels by Georgina Troy on line athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7224225.Georgina_Troy
A Man and a Maid
Anne Stenhouse
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852684, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 318pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-maid-and-a-man-anne-stenhouse/1144840121
Synopsis: Edinburgh, 1819. Tabby Royce, an apothecary's daughter, is turned out to domestic service when her father dies.As a lady's maid in the Edinburgh home of a surgeon, she meets the doctor's man, Cal Morrison. There, she is drawn intothe intrigue and underworld of surgical anatomy dissections! Will Tabby turn them in? Or will she fulfil her dreams and jointhem?
Critique: A deftly crafted and memorably entertaining historical romance from start to finish by novelist Anne Stenhouse,"A Man and a Maid", this large print paperback edition from the Linford Romance Library series is an ideal andunreservedly recommended pick for community library Historical Romance collections and the personal reading lists of alldedicated romance fiction fans.
Editorial Note: As a novelist and storyteller, Anne Stenhouse enjoys writing dialogue-rich historical romance with lashingsof humor and a swirl of thematic mystery. Her heroines defy and manipulate the conventions of their time with sparklingwit. Heroes with a touch of arrogance must be ripe for comeuppance and that's what her ladies are about.
One Last Word
Suzanne Park
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063216099, $18.99, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/One-Last-Word-Suzanne-Park/dp/0063216094
Synopsis: Sara Chae is the founder of One Last Word, an app that allows you to send a message to anyone you want afteryou die. Safeguards are in place so the app will only send when you're definitely, absolutely, 100% dead, but when anotherwoman with the name Sara Chae dies and her obituary is posted online, Sara discovers that drafted messages she haddrunkenly uploaded on one night have been released -- one each to her emotionally charged mother, to her former bestfriend who ghosted her, and to her unrequited high school crush, Harry Shim.
Still reeling from this disaster, Sara finds out she's been accepted into a venture capital mentorship program -- and that thementor she's been assigned to is none other than Harry, who's now a major VC superstar. With her life going from uncertainto chaotic overnight, Sara has to deal with the havoc that ensues and reopen wounds from the past to find a true pathforward.
Critique: An original and a fun read from start to finish, "One Last Word" is romantic comedy at its best and reveals authorSuzan Park as having a genuine flair for the genre with her distinctive storytelling style, wit and humor. While an especiallyappreciated pick for community library Contemporary Romantic Comedy collections, it should be noted for personalreading lists that "One Last Word" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete andunabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212902021, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Suzanne Park is a Korean American writer who was born and raised in Tennessee. In her former life as astand-up comedian, she appeared on BET, was the winner of the Seattle Sierra Mist Comedy Competition, and placed as asemi-finalist in NBC's "Stand Up For Diversity" showcase in San Francisco. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
If the Boot Fits
Karen Witemeyer
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764242892, $29.99, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boot-Fits-Texas-Ever-After/dp/076424289X
Synopsis: Convinced that his stepmother and half brothers have been wrongfully evicted by cattle king Eli Dearing, AsherEllis uses the cover of an extravagant ball to break into the Three Cedars' ranch house to search for proof. On the verge ofdiscovery, he flees, but a boy's cry compels him to make a daring rescue.
Spunky and independent Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting is nothing more than amatrimonial ambush. Taking a break from unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the strangerends up saving her brother's life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind (his boot) and resolves to find himherself.
When Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. Ashervalues family above wealth, a rare trait that opens her heart. Afraid she will discover his past misconduct, Asher tries tokeep his distance, but when a series of suspicious accidents befall her, he vows to protect her, even though saving her lifecould mean losing her love.
Critique: An utterly charming and fun read from start to finish, "If The Boot Fits" continues to showcase author KarenWitemeyer's genuine flair for deftly crafted and original historical romance novels. Memorable characters, an engagingstoryline, and a distinctive, narrative driven storytelling style, "If The Boot Fits" is a welcome and recommended pick forcommunity library Historical Romance collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of Karen Witemeyer fans that"If The Boot Fits" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764240423, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,$9.99).
Editorial Note: Karen Witemeyer (www.karenwitemeyer.com) writes warmhearted historical romance novels with a flair forhumor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 byFamily Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Dirk Hawkman
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852950, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 252pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-barrelled-dirk-hawkman/1130920558
Synopsis: The money, the looks, the brains - rich banker Abdon Timpson has it all...and he knows it. But his arrogancedoesn't help him when the sheriff cuffs him and locks him up for the night. But now there's a gunman on the loose, and thisoutlaw is a dead ringer for Abdon. The shootings don't stop when Abdon's in jail, though. And it looks like his folks havebeen hiding something from him. Abdon will learn a thing or two about himself - and it isn't going to be pretty.
Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "Double-Barrelled" by Dirk Hawkman was first published as a Black HorseWestern in 2020. It is now newly available as part of the Linford Western Library series in a large print paperback edition. Aprized selection, "Double-Barrelled" is highly recommended personal pick for the legions of action/adventure western novelfans and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition for community library Western Fictioncollections.
Editorial Note: Dirk Hawkman is also the author of "Texan Secrets" and "Vulture Wings".
Time of Reckoning
Colin Bainbridge
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852929, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 228pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-of-reckoning-colin-bainbridge/1130920548
Synopsis: Ry Tyler is in no doubt; he has recently seen his old friend Slim Freeman alive and kicking. So how comeFreeman's grave is on Boot Hill?
Tyler's search for the truth leads him into a world of intrigue and danger, where nothing is as it seems. What about themarshal and his deputy? What about Sadie Roundtree and the oldster, Diamondback Casey? Can he count on anybody? Andthat's before the notorious Lassiter gang arrives in town. Are they involved somehow? Does the island in the middle ofGreen Fork River with its decaying riverboat wreck hold a clue to the answers?
Tyler must follow a long and dangerous trail till he arrives at the final time of reckoning.
Critique: First published as a Black Horne Westerns in 2019, "Time of Reckoning" by Colin Bainbridge is now available toa new generation of action/adventure western fans from the Linford Western Library series. Colin Bainbridge (who alsowrites under the pseudonyms of Emmett Stone, Jack Dakota, and Vance Tillman) is a master of the western genre and his"Time of Reckoning" novel, which is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Western Fictioncollections, is a 'must' for all dedicate western fans.
Editorial Note: There is an extended listing of novels by Colin Bainbridge online athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1570982.Colin_Bainbridge
The Bolas
Caleb Rand
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852936, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 270pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bolas-caleb-rand/1130920596
Synopsis: Will Chalk and his partner set out to deliver horses to a US Army post near the New Mexico border. But whenthey meet a fellow Texan being troubled by a ruthless land-grabber, their thoughts of returning home are put aside.
From the timberline of Condor Pass, Bruno Ogden is defiling the ranchland of Hog Flats to such an extent that grazinglivestock becomes impossible. Furthermore, in nearby White Mesa, a few influential townsfolk are also involved in adramatic scheme to drive ranchers off their land, and that includes Mollie Broad and her waterless ranch.
When unnecessary and cowardly killings take place, Will suddenly finds himself involved. With his tough old partner and acouple of loyal Bluestem workers, he attempts to turn the tables on Ogden and the spread of his Bolas company. But Willknows that mercenary gunfighters are more dangerous opponents than cowboys and hoe-men.
Critique: Originally published in 2019 as a 'Black Horse Western, and now available in a new large print paperback editionfrom the Linford Western Library series, "The Bolas" by veteran western novelist Caleb Rand will prove a popular andappreciated addition to both personal reading lists of action/adventure western fans and community library Western Fictioncollections.
Editorial Note: Carl Bernard worked for 25 years in High Education before retiring to write full time. He has written more45 Black Horse Westerns under the pseudonyms of Abe Dancer and Caleb Rand.
Jack Parker Comes of Age
Ed Roberts
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852943, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 228pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jack-parker-comes-of-age-ed-roberts/1130920588
Synopsis: Jack Parker, the fifteen-year-old son of the sheriff of Benton County, does not enjoy a close and lovingrelationship with his father. But when a vicious range war erupts in the area, the two are drawn closer when they findthemselves fighting against an incursion by a band of Texan freebooters. And it looks as though the youngster is destined tofollow in his father's footsteps...
Critique: A fun read from first page to last, this large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library series of"Jack Parker Comes of Age" by western novelist Ed Roberts will prove a prized pick for the personal reading lists of allaction/adventure western fans and an ideal addition to community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Simon Webb (www.simon-webb.com) is the author of more than 30 westerns that are published under bothhis own name and also a number of pseudonyms, including Ed Roberts, Ethan Harker, Brent Larssen, Harriet Cade, andFenton Sadler. In addition to westerns, he has written many nonfiction books, chiefly on the subjects of social history andeducation.
The Pinfire Lady
P. J. Gallagher
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852981, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 252pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pinfire-lady-pj-gallagher/1130920561
Synopsis: Abigail, Lady Penraven is an Englishwoman who became set adrift in the wilderness of the Great AmericanDesert. But she is made of stern stuff, has skill with firearms, and establishes herself as a gunfighter and wagon master.During a trek westwards, seeking the inheritance left by her deceased father, she encounters numerous perils that will testher mettle to the full.
Critique: The first of three original and simply outstanding western novels starring Lady Abigail Penraven, this large printpaperback edition of P. J. Gallagher's "The Pinfire Lady" from the Linford Western Library collection is action packed and athrill of a read from beginning to end. Highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library WesternFiction collections, the other two titles in this outstanding trilogy include "The Pinfire Lady Strikes Back" and "The Returnof the Pinfire Lady".
Editorial Note: P.J. Gallagher served in the British Army. He has written and had published close on 20 articles for TheJournal of the Royal Artillery. He has competed for the past 20 years in Cowboy Action Shooting and is a collector ofantique firearms. He lives in Woodville, Ontario.
Gunsmoke Express
Gillian F. Taylor
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852974, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 198pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gunsmoke-express-gillian-f-taylor/1130920547
Synopsis: Thanks to a tip-off, Sheriff Alec Lawson and his deputies fight and capture the notorious outlaw Saul York. Butthe trouble doesn't end there.
Alec falls desperately ill and when he recovers, he finds that York's lawyer has got him out on bail. Although still weakenedby his illness, Alec is determined to get back to work.
He soon finds himself in the action again, but fatigue leads to a terrible mistake and he begins to doubt his abilities. Will hisfrailty endanger his friends? York is still out there somewhere, protected by his ambitious lawyer.
When York becomes his prime suspect in a murderous robbery, Alec Lawson must push himself to close the net on theelusive outlaw. He'll have to face down a lynch mob, the killer outlaw and his own doubts to get the job done, whatever thecost to himself.
Critique: The stuff of which classic westerns are made, "Gunsmoke Express" by Gillian F. Taylor is a simply riveting readfrom start to finish. A 'must' for the personal reading lists of all dedicated western fiction fans, this large print edition of"Gunsmoke Express" from the Linford Western Library collection is a highly prized pick for community library WesternFiction collections.
Editorial Note: There is a lengthy listing of books by Gillian F. Taylor readily available online athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/3092231.Gillian_F_Taylor
Deadly Carnage
Edwin Derek
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852967, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 252pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-carnage-edwin-derek/1130920569
Synopsis: When the train carrying him is derailed, Confederate prisoner-of-war Jeff Kyle is surprised when a Yankeesergeant helps him escape. However, the sergeant is actually Confederate scout Mike Avison in disguise. Together, the twohatch a plan to escape to freedom; but fate intervenes in the shape of Clara Marston, who has in her possession a key to amysterious strongbox at a bank in Independence, which she believes will make her fortune. Soon the three are joined ontheir journey by widowed homesteader Pollyanna Cooper, and so begins a journey full of peril and intrigue.
Critique: A fun read from start to finish, "Deadly Carnage" showcases author Edwin Derek's flair for narrative drivenstorytelling and fully engages the reader from first page to last. This large print paperback edition of "Deadly Carnage" fromthe Linford Western Library series is highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Western Fictioncollections.
Editorial Note: There is a lengthy listing of books by Edwin Derek readily available online athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/75241.Edwin_Derek
Gunman's Pledge
Ethan Flagg
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852998, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 234pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gunmans-pledge-ethan-flagg/1130920578
Synopsis: Infamous gunslinger Wes Longbaugh is heading for his next job in Utah when he comes across a traveler castafoot in Nevada's arid Humboldt Sink. Never one to turn the other cheek when help is needed, Wes intercepts the staggeringloner.
It turns out that Mace Farlow was the sole outlaw to survive a stagecoach robbery that had gone badly awry. All the otherrobbers had been gunned down due to the treachery of a turncoat. Mace tags along with his savior but is determined to trackthe double-crosser down.
Fate, however, takes a hand when trouble in the next town leads to flight and a stand off in a lonely canyon where Mace iskilled. Before he dies, the aging outlaw makes his young sidekick promise to abandon the precarious life of a gunslinger.But this is far harder to achieve than Wes could ever have imagined.
Critique: Dedicated western fiction fans be warned, once started reading Ethan Flagg's "Gunman's Pledge" it will be verydifficult to stop until the last page of this superbly crafted action/adventure novel is finished. Now available from theLinford Western Library collection in a large print paperback edition, "Gunman's Pledge" is a riveting and recommendedpick for both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Ethan Flagg is the pen-name of Graham Dugdale. He acquired his interest in American Western historyfollowing a period working as a teacher in New Mexico. He also compiles crossword puzzles for a weekly country sportsnewspaper and has produced 11 walking guides all based in the north of England. There is an online listing of his books athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/673765.Graham_K_Dugdale
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Kate Finnemore
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444852707, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 210pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystery-at-the-chateau-kate-finnemore/1144840124
Synopsis: The Chateau de la Fee Morgane is a once magical castle abandoned that is now left to rot after a devastating fire.But eccentric Aristide de Montfaucon is determined to restore it to its former glory.
The school year gets off to a good start for university student Lexi, working as an assistant when she finds herself fallinghappily in love with English teacher Romain. Then her grandmother Darriel Dayton, the world-renowned star of stage andscreen on holiday nearby, receives a chilling poison-pen letter.
Critique: A deftly blended novel of romance and cozy mystery, "Mystery At The Chateau" by Kate Finnemore is a fun readfrom start to finish. This large print edition of "Mystery At The Chateau" rises to the level of literary elegance and isunreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Kate Finnemore is also the author of "An Impossible Love" (2019) and "Never To Be Told" (2020) bothpublished in the Linford Romance Library large print series.
Murder on the Dance Floor
Katie Marsh
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781785139208, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 432pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-on-the-dancefloor-katie-marsh/1144371753
Synopsis: They DID promise her a killer hen weekend... Jeanie's getting married, and (despite her completely impossiblefour sisters) her best friends Clio and Amber are determined to give her a bachelorette weekend to remember.
They're in matching pink T-shirts and the drinks are flowing... But the night turns out to be unforgettable for all the wrongreasons when a girl turns up dead on the dancefloor. And - even though she's a stranger - she is wearing one of Jeanie's henT-shirts.
Who is she? And why are the police convinced that the hens are involved? Can the newly formed Bad Girls DetectiveAgency solve the murder? And in time to get Jeanie up the aisle?
Critique: A fun read for 'whodunnit' mystery fans from start to finish, this large print trade paperback edition of KatieMarsh's new novel, "Murder on the Dancefloor" from Boldwood Books is original, riveting, and a mystery lover's delight.Memorable characters, a wealth of unexpected plot twists, and a dramatic finale, "Murder on the Dancefloor" will prove aprized pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and personal reading lists.
Editorial Note: Katie Marsh (https://katie-marsh.com) wrote romantic fiction before turning to crime. Her debut novel was aWorld Book Night pick and her books are published in ten languages. Katie loves to talk to her readers on Instagram@katiemarshauthor
Death By The Thames
Anita Davison
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835188705, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 525pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-by-the-thames-anita-davison/1144389945
Synopsis: Flora Maguire's life is perfect - a beautiful home in Belgravia teeming with servants, a loving husband, and newbaby Arthur to enjoy. But when she is invited to tour St. Philomena's Children's Hospital in a deprived area near London'snewly-built Tower Bridge, she is shocked. Because there she uncovers a scandal with a dark heart -- poor children are goingmissing from the hospital.
The police seem either unable or unwilling to investigate, so Flora teams up with the indomitable matron of the hospital,Alice Finch, to try to get to the bottom of it. Soon Flora is immersed in the seedy, dangerous underbelly of criminal London,and time is running out to save the children. Will they get to them in time, or was their fate decided the day they wereborn...
Critique: A Flora Maguire mystery from cozy mystery novelist Anita Davison, this large print trade paperback edition of"Death by the Thames" from Boldwood Books is an impressively crafted and riveting read from start to finish. Fascinating,original, memorable, "Death by the Thames" is a highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and will prove awelcome and popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Anita Davison is also the author of Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from BoldwoodBooks. Murder in the Bookshop was released in August 2023, and the second in the series, Murder in the Library, isscheduled for early 2024. A listing of her books in available athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/13735328.Anita_Davison
Murder in Moscow
Kelly Oliver
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804832011, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 321pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-moscow-kelly-oliver/1144395477
Synopsis: 1918 Moscow -- Will following her heart mean losing her head? At the very least it could mean losing herjob.
Fiona Figg trails her nemesis Fredrick Fredricks to Moscow. But when she arrives at the grand Metropol Hotel, the bounderhas vanished. After Fiona doesn't show up for work at the War Office, Kitty Lane raises a red flag and tracks her to Russia.Seeking haven at the British Embassy, Kitty and Fiona become embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Bolshevikgovernment.
But the plot turns deadly when Fiona goes undercover as a governess in the household of Iron Viktor, the Bolsheviks' Headof Secret Police. And when Viktor turns up dead in his study, Fiona finds herself wanted for murder and on the lam. CanFiona and Kitty find the real killer and escape the Kremlin before it's too late? Or will this dangerous game of Russianroulette be their last?
Critique: A brilliant blend of mystery and foreign intrigue, "Murder in Moscow" by Kelly Oliver is an historical cozymystery set in the early and turbulent times of the Bolshevik/Communist takeover of Russia at the end of World War I. Thislarge print trade paperback edition of "Murder in Moscow" from Boldwood Books is especially and enthusiasticallyrecommended for the personal reading lists of cozy mystery fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Kelly Oliver (https://kellyoliverbooks.com) is the author of three award-winning bestselling mystery seriesand dozens of nonfiction books.
Death on a Train
Anita Davison
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835188804, $17.99, PB, Large Print, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Train-Anita-Davison/dp/183518880X
Synopsis: 1905 London is a heady mix of unimaginable wealth and simmering political tensions, and with war looming, allFlora Maguire wants is to keep her family safe.
But when a body is found on a train bound for Paddington and her beloved charge Viscount Edward Trent is accused ofmurder, she's determined not to leave the investigation to the police. Flora has trodden the path of amateur sleuth before, butwith so much at stake, this time it's personal.
Slowly the body of the victim starts giving up its secrets, and Flora and her husband Bunny become mired in a murky worldof spies, communists and fraudsters. And with the police more sure than ever that Edward is their murderer, Flora mustwork fast, if she's going to save him, and ensure a murderer doesn't remain on the loose!
Critique: Originally published as "The Bloomsbury Affair", this new large print edition of novelist Anita Davison's cozymystery from Boldwood Books has been re-titled "Death on a Train" and is a fascinating and fun read from start to finish forall 'whodunnit' cozy murder mystery fans. Simply stated, "Death on a Train" will prove an immediate and welcome additionto personal reading lists and community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Anita Davison (www.fantasticfiction.com/d/anita-davison) is also the author of Miss Merrill and AuntViolet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books in a large print format. Murder in the Bookshop was released in August2023, and the second in the series, Murder in the Library, is scheduled for early 2024. The Flora Maguire series of fiveEdwardian mysteries from Boldwood Books was released from between October 2023.
Lost Birds
Anne Hillerman
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063344785, $30.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Birds-Leaphorn-Manuelito-Novel/dp/0063344785
Synopsis: Joe Leaphorn may be long retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, but his detective skills are still sharp, honed byhis work as a private detective. His experience will be essential to solve a compelling new case: finding the birth parents ofa woman who was raised by a bilagaana family but believes she is Dine based on one solid clue, an old photograph with aclassic Navajo child's blanket. Leaphorn discovers that his client's adoption was questionable, and her adoptive family notwhat they seem. His quest for answers takes him to an old trading post and leads him to a deadly cache of long-buriedfamily secrets.
As that case grows more complicated, Leaphorn receives an unexpected call from a person he met decades earlier. CecilBowleg's desperation is clear in his voice, but just as he begins to explain, the call is cut off by an explosion and Cecildisappears. True to his nature, Leaphorn is determined to find the truth even as the situation grows dangerous. Investigationof the explosion falls in part to Officer Bernadette Manuelito, who discovers an unexpected link to Cecil's missingwife.
Bernie also is involved in a troubling investigation of her own: an elderly weaver whose prize-winning sheep have beenruthlessly killed by feral dogs.
Exploring the emotionally complex issues of adoption of Indigenous children by non-native parents, Anne Hillermandelivers another thought-provoking, gripping mystery that brings to life the vivid terrain of the American Southwest, itspeople, and the lore and traditions that make it distinct.
Critique: An absolutely recommended read for the growing legions of Anne Hillerman fans, "Lost Birds" is the latest JoeLeaphorn mystery novel and certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community libraryMystery/Suspense collections. A fun read for dedicated 'whodunnit' murder mysteries from start to finish, it should be notedfor personal reading lists that "Lost Birds" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Of particularinterest to fans of police procedurals with a Native American twist, librarians should also note that there is a large printpaperback edition of "Lost Birds" (9780063360433, $34.00) as well.
Editorial Note: Ann Hillerman (www.annehillerman.com) is the author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. "LostBirds" is her ninth novel in the series, which was created by her father, Tony Hillerman.
Death in the Details
Katie Tietjen
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639107186, $29.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Details-Novel-Katie-Tietjen/dp/1639107185
Synopsis: Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. But when she discoversthat Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only wayshe knows how: by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start -- until Maple discovers her firstcustomer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn.
Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determinedto help them see "what's big in what's small," Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesomescene in miniature: death in a nutshell.
With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of hersleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret -- and a grudge. But when her nosy neighbor goes missing and sheherself becomes a suspect, it'll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details -- and put him behind bars.
Critique: Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering her readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery to be solved byan amateur female sleuth cozy mystery style, -- and all the more impressive when considering that "Death in the Details" isauthor Katie Tietjen's debut novel (which was inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee),"Death in the Details" is a deftly crafted and thoroughly entertaining read for the dedicated mystery buff from start to finish.While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete and unabridgedaudio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874769277, $45.95, CD), "Death n the Details" is a prized pick for community libraryMystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Katie Tietjen (www.katietietjen.com) is an award-winning writer, teacher, and school librarian. A dedicatedFrances Glessner Lee enthusiast, she has traveled thousands of miles to visit her homes, see her nutshells, and even attendher birthday party. Katie lives in New England with her husband and two sons.
The Mayfair Dagger
Ava January
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639107513, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mayfair-Dagger-Novel-Ava-January/dp/1639107517
Synopsis: London, 1894. Albertine Honeycombe never wanted a husband and certainly not the one with fifteen children thather cousin, Aubrey, is trying to marry her off to. She reinvents herself as Countess Von Dagga, a private detective aiding theupper echelons of women in society. As the Countess, she is a married woman, with a conveniently absent husband whodoesn't exist, which allows her far more freedom than being single.
When Lord Grendel, from whom she has recovered blackmail letters, is murdered, Albertine is suspect number one --having been the last person to see him. And when the Duke of Erleigh comes looking for her utterly fictitious husband, sherealizes she has landed herself in hot water, without a tea bag. When Albertine also becomes the prime suspect in herfictional husband's death, things are looking grim.
Critique: A fun and compelling read from start to finish, novelist Ava January's "The Mayfair Dagger" clearly confirms theauthor's full mastery of the cozy mystery genre. An historical mystery set in a yesteryear England and featuring a memorablycrafted amateur female sleuth suddenly thrust into having to defend herself from a murder charge by finding out 'whodunnit'amid a wealth of unexpected plot twists and turns, "The Mayfair Dagger" is especially and unreservedly recommended forcommunity library collections. It should be noted for dedicated cozy mystery fans that "The Mayfair Dagger" is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Ava January (www.avajanuary.net) is an historical writer with a passion for mystery, and when she's notfound soaking up the Queensland sun with her two young sons, she can be found eavesdropping on conversations in cafesand making up entire backstories (and murderous intents) for unsuspecting bystanders. When she grows up, she'd like to beMiss Marple.
The Last Word
Taylor Adams
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063222892, $30.00, HC, 252pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Word-Novel-Taylor-Adams/dp/0063222892
Synopsis: Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her golden retriever Laika, house-sitting an old beachfront home on therainy Washington coast. Her only human contact is her enigmatic old neighbor, Deek, and (via text) the house's owner,Jules.
One day, she reads a poorly written (but gruesome) horror novel by the author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review thatdrags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur atnight. To Emma, this can't just be a coincidence. It was strange enough for this author to bicker with her online about alousy review; could he be stalking her, too?
As Emma digs into Kane's life and work, she learns he has published sixteen other novels, all similarly sad*stic tales ofstalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of?
Critique: A master of the psychological suspense/thriller genre, and with the publication of "The Last Word" novelist TaylorAdams continues to showcase his genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven, starkly atmospheric, and truly memorableplot twists and turns. Also available in a paperback (9781399717977, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99),"The Last Word" will prove to be of particular interest to fans of deftly crafted mysteries and a popular pick for communitylibrary Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Taylor Adams (https://tayloradamsauthor.com/books) is the author of several acclaimed thrillers includingHairpin Bridge and No Exit. No Exit has been published in 32 languages and was recently released as a Hulu Originalfilm.
Hot Stage
Anita Nair
https://anitanair.net
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781913394967, $17.95, PB, 416pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Stage-Inspector-Gowda-3/dp/1913394964
Synopsis: When elderly Professor Mudgood, a well-known rationalist and fervent critic of right-wing forces in India, isfound dead in his home in Bangalore by his daughter, Assistant Commissioner of Police Borei Gowda is quite certain thatthis is a homicide.
Although all evidence points to the murder being politically motivated, the more Gowda delves into the case, the moreconvinced he is that it isn't an assassination. As he and his team launch a parallel investigation, they stumble upon a secretand murky world where there are no rules or mercy.
When Gowda's hand is forced, he takes a calculated risk and infiltrates the sinister domain to bring the truth out into theopen... Will he succeed? And at what price?
Critique: "Hot Stage" is the third book in novelist Anita Nair's 'The Inspector Gowda Mystery Series and is 'vivid with detailand taut with suspense'. With the author's distinctive use of a narrative driven style of storytelling, "Hot Stage" will have aparticular interest to fans of police procedural crime novels, international mystery novels, and contemporary novels set inthe culture and milieu of India. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, itshould be noted for personal reading lists that "Hot Stage" is also available from Bitter Lemon Press in a digital book format(Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Anita Nair is one of India's most acclaimed authors. Her oeuvre ranges from literary fiction to noir tochildren's literature. Her books have been translated into thirty-two languages around the world. Anita is the recipient ofseveral prizes and honours, including the Indian National Film Award in 2013 and the Central Sahitya Akademi award. Hernovel Ladies Coupe, first published in the US ten years ago, is a feminist classic. The other two novels in the InspectorGowda series are Cut-Like Wound and Chain of Custody.
Bone Whispers
Rosalind Brackenbury
Coffeetown Press
c/o Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684921454, $16.95, PB, 228pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Whispers-Rosalind-Brackenbury/dp/1684921457
Synopsis: Nessa, a woman who is now in her seventies, is back in England from the US to take care of her inherited houseon the coast of Dorset. She arrives to hear news of human bones (a woman's bones) has been dug up on the beach afterexposure from a cliff fall.
As she walks the paths of her childhood again, memories begin to return. Whose bones are these? Why does she have thegrowing feeling that they are connected with her? How does the present echo the past? What place do guilt andrecrimination take in her present life-and who, apart from her childhood love, Ted, can help her find the truth of what reallyhappened?
Critique: A carefully crafted mystery that will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in stories that feature anamateur female sleuth working their way through a wealth of unexpected plot twists and turns, "Bone Whispers" byRosalind Brackenbury is a an original and read from start to finish. While an extraordinary and unreservedly recommendedpick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all cozymystery fans that "Bone Whispers" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.49) as well.
Editorial Note: Rosalind Brackenbury (https://rosalindbrackenbury.com) has been writing all her life and has publishednovels and collections of poetry, as well as award-winning short stories. She was Creative Writing Fellow at the College ofWilliam and Mary, Williamsburg VA, in 2006 and 2012. In Key West she has run yearly poetry and prose workshops at TheStudios of Key West and she has been featured both as panelist and moderator at the Key West Literary Seminar. She wasKey West's second Poet Laureate in 2014-15.
The Father She Went to Find
Carter Wilson
Poisoned Pen Press
c/o Sourcebooks Inc.
www.sourcebooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781728293479, $16.99, PB, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Father-She-Went-Find-Novel/dp/1728293472
Synopsis: Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That's par for the course when you're a savant -- one of less thanone hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there's one mystery Penny'snever been able to solve: why did her father leave when she was in a coma at age seven, and where is he now?
On Penny's twenty-first birthday, she receives a card in the mail from him, just as she has every year since he left. But thisbirthday card is different. For the first time ever, there's a return address. And a goodbye.
Penny doesn't know the world beyond her mother's house and the special school she's attended since her unusual abilitiesrevealed themselves, but the mystery of her father's disappearance becomes her new obsession. For the first time ever shedecides to leave home, to break free of everything that has kept her safe, and use her gifts to answer the questions that havealways eluded her.
What Penny doesn't realize is she might not be able to outsmart a world far more complicated and dangerous than she'd everimagined!
Critique: A proven master of the psychological suspense/thriller genre, Carter Wilson's latest novel, "The Father She WentTo Find" is another compulsively riveting, impressively original, and deftly crafted story from start to finish. Whileunreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, "The Father She Went To Find" is alsoreadily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99) and as a complete and unabridged audiobook (Blackstone Audio, 9798874747336, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Carter Wilson (https://carterwilson.com) has written nine critically acclaimed, standalone psychologicalthrillers, as well as numerous short stories. He is an ITW Thriller Award finalist, a five-time winner of the Colorado BookAward, and his works have been optioned for television and film. Additionally, he is the host of the Making It Up podcastand founder of the Unbound Writer company, which provides coaching services, writing retreats, and online classes.
Moscow Exile
John Lawton
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802158031, $18.00, PB, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Moscow-Exile-Wilderness-Novel-Novels/dp/080215803X
Synopsis: In his latest novel, "Moscow Exile", author John Lawton departs from his usual stomping grounds of England andGermany to jump across the Atlantic to Washington, D.C., in the fragile postwar period where the Red Scare is growingnoisier every day.
Charlotte is a British expatriate who has recently settled in the nation's capital with her second husband, a man who looksintriguingly like Clark Gable, but her enviable dinner parties and soirees aren't the only things she is planning. Meanwhile,Charlie Leigh-Hunt has been posted to Washington as a replacement for Guy Burgess, last seen disappearing around thecorner and into the Soviet Union. Charlie is soon shocked to cross paths with Charlotte, an old flame of his, who, thanks toall her gossipy parties, has a packed pocketbook full of secrets she is eager to share.
Two decades or so later, in 1969, Joe Wilderness is stuck on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, held captive by the KGB, achip in a game way above his pay grade -- but his old friends Frank and Eddie are going to try to spring him out of thetoughest prison in the world. All roads lead back to Berlin, and to the famous Bridge of Spies.
Critique: A master of the suspense/thriller/espionage genre, and featuring crackling dialogue, brilliantly plotted Cold Warintrigue, and the return of beloved characters, including Inspector Troy, "Moscow Exile" by John Lawton is a is a fun readfrom start to finish. Populated by larger-than-life personalities in a Cold War plot that feels strangely in tune with ourpresent day tensions between Russia and American, "Moscow Exile" will prove an enduringly popular pick for communitylibrary fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the growing legions of John Lawton fans that"Moscow Exile" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: John Lawton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lawton_(author)) has written previous novels starring JoeWilderness (Then We Take Berlin, The Unfortunate Englishman, and Hammer to Fall), as well as eight Inspector Troythrillers, one standalone novel, and a volume of history. His novels have been named Best Books of the Year by the NewYork Times, Los Angeles Times, and New York Times Book Review. He lives in England and Italy.
King of New York
Kathy Iandoli
Kingston Imperial
https://kingstonimperial.com
9781954220539, $29.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/King-New-York-Kathy-Iandoli/dp/1954220537
Synopsis: With the publication of "King of New York: A New Mafia Tale" by novelist Kathy Iandoli, the reader will stepinto the shadowy corners of New York City, where the mafia's influence has long been a fixture in its storiedunderworld.
An electrifying mafia thriller that follows the story of Jimmy Martello, a man who is thrust into the highest ranks oforganized crime after a series of family tragedies. As the new Don, Jimmy must master the complex art of mob leadership,from strategic killings to the murky alliances that hold his empire together.
Set in the ever-volatile landscape of New York City's crime network, Jimmy's journey weaves through the dark alliances andbrutal betrayals that define the mafia world. Engage with notorious factions such as the Russian Mob, the Yakuza, theCartel, and the Black Mafia Family. Each page crackles with action and strategic maneuvering as Jimmy seeks to claim histitle and solidify his power.
"The King of New York" is the ultimate mafia narrative, blending high-stakes drama with a deep dive into the criminalunderworld. It's a must-read for fans of mob lore, true crime enthusiasts, and lovers of action-packed narratives.
In the pages of "King of New York", you will discover a world where the title of Don is synonymous with power and fear,and where becoming the King of New York is the most coveted, and dangerous, achievement.
Critique: Fully on par with Mario Puzo's "The Godfather Perfect" and Mark Seal's "Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli",readers who enjoy mafia thrillers, organized crime dramas, crime boss biographies, underworld non-fiction, mob warfare,crime syndicate histories, tales of organized crime power struggles in general, and New York City crime sagas in particular,"King of New York: A New Mafia Tale" is a simply terrific read from start to finish and the stuff of which block bustermovies are made. While unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for community library Organized Crime/MafiaFiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "King of New York: A New Mafia Tale" is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Kathy Iandoli (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Iandoli) is a critically acclaimed journalist and author.Her first book, God Save The Queens: The Essential History of Women In Hip-Hop (2019, Dey Street Books /HarperCollins) was named an NPR Best Book Of the Year. She is also the author of the biography Baby Girl: Better KnownAs Aaliyah (2021, Atria Books / Simon & Schuster), as well as the co-author of rapper Lil' Kim's upcoming memoir TheQueen Bee (2023, Hachette Books). Kathy has written about music and gender for two decades, with bylines in VIBE, TheSource, XXL, Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Pitchfork, BUST, Teen Vogue, PAPER, Playboy, i-D,Cosmopolitan, Maxim, The Guardian, VICE, and many others. Kathy is Professor of Music Business at New YorkUniversity, and has served as a pundit (television, radio, and panels) for discussions on hip-hop and gender.
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 wifefears 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 dangerouswaters. She turns to her confidante and handsome suitor, Daniel McAdam, for help. To exonerate Samuel, Kat and Danielmay have to expose the unseemly financial dealings of prominent aristocrats and government officials, and even thoseworking to bring down the royal family. Kat will risk everything to protect the man who has sacrificed so much for herdaughter, even if it means endangering herself and the friends she has come to love.
Critique: Historical cozy mystery at its very best, with the publication of her new novel, "Speculations in Sin" confirmsJennifer Ashley to be a master of the genre. A fun read from start to finish for the legions of cozy mysteryfans,"Speculations in Sin" will prove to be a prized pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspensecollections, it should be noted that "Speculations in Sin" is also available in a Library Binding edition ($38.95) and in adigital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Jennifer Ashley (http://allysonjames.com) is also the author of the Below Stairs Mysteries, the ShiftersUnbound paranormal romances, and the Mackenzies historical romances. She also writes under the pen name of AshleyGardner (https://gardnermysteries.com).
Off the Air
Christina Estes
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781250863850, $28.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Off-Air-Novel-Christina-Estes/dp/1250863856
Synopsis: Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, splitting her time between covering general assignments(anything from a monsoon storm to a newborn giraffe at the zoo) and special projects. Stories that take more time toresearch and produce. Stories that Jolene wants to tell.
When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene and other journalists swarm the scene, intent on reporting thefacts first. The body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host, who died under suspiciouscirc*mstances. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long.
As the story heats up, so does the competition. Jolene is determined to solve this murder. It's an investigation that couldmake or break her career -- if it doesn't break her first.
Critique: Deftly combining a traditional detective murder mystery with the elements of cozy mystery in the form of anamateur female sleuth, "Off The Air" is a fun read from beginning to end. It is impressively clear how well author ChristinaEstes (a journalist/reporter) has drawn upon her life experiences to create and craft a fully entertaining and plausible work offiction that quite realistic and plausible. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community libraryMystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Off The Air" is also available in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9798874743116, $45.95,CD).
Editorial Note: Christina Estes (www.christinaestes.com) is a journalist who has spent more than 20 years covering crime,public policy, and business in Phoenix, Arizona. Her reporting has been heard on National Public Radio (NPR) andappeared in the Arizona Republic, Arizona Business Gazette, and Phoenix Business Journal. Christina's career inspired Offthe Air, which won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest.
What Cannot Be Said
C. S. Harris
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593639184, $28.00, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/What-Cannot-Said-Sebastian-Mystery/dp/0593639189
Synopsis: July 1815: The Prince Regent's grandiose plans to celebrate Napoleon's recent defeat at Waterloo are thrown intoturmoil when Lady McInnis and her daughter Emma are found brutally murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in achilling imitation of the stone effigies once found atop medieval tombs. Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoyimmediately turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help with the investigation. For as Devlin discovers,Lovejoy's own wife and daughter were also murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in the same bizarre postures. Atraumatized ex-soldier was hanged for their killings. So is London now confronting a malicious copyist? Or did Lovejoyhelp send an innocent man to the gallows?
Aided by his wife, Hero, who knew Lady McInnis from her work with poor orphans, Devlin finds himself exploring a hostof unsavory characters from a vicious chimney sweep to a smiling but decidedly lethal baby farmer. Also coming underincreasing scrutiny is Sir Ivo McInnis himself, along with a wounded Waterloo veteran (who may or may not have beenLaura McInnis's lover) and a charismatic young violinist who moonlights as a fencing master and may have formed adangerous relationship with Emma. But when Sebastian's investigation turns toward man about townBasil Rhodes, hequickly draws the fury of the Palace, for Rhodes is well known as the Regent's favorite illegitimate son.
Then Lady McInnis's young niece and nephew are targeted by the killer, and two more women are discovered murdered andarranged in similar postures. With his own life increasingly in danger, Sebastian finds himself drawn inexorably toward aconclusion far darker and more horrific than anything he could have imagined.
Critique: An historical murder mystery by novelist C. S. Harris that rises to an impressive level of literary excellence, "WhatCannot Be Said" is another in her Sebastian St. Cyr series. Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read for dedicated mysterybuffs from start to finish, "What Cannot Be Said" will prove an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition tocommunity library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated historicalmystery fans that "What Cannot Be Said" is also very readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: C. S. Harris (https://csharris.net) is the author of more than twenty-five novels, including the Sebastian St.Cyr Mysteries; as C. S. Graham, a thriller series coauthored by former intelligence officer Steven Harris; and sevenaward-winning historical romances written under the name Candice Proctor.
The Blood of Patriots and Traitors
James A. Scott
Oceanview Publishing
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608095261, $27.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Patriots-Traitors-Geller-Thriller/dp/1608095266
Synopsis: Former CIA Russia expert Max Geller is recovering from an intense mission while lying low in Australia,enjoying his sudden wealth in the company of his new girlfriend. But his beachy bliss is short-lived when Max, whilerelaxing by the ocean, is ambushed by the CIA.
He soon learns that his girlfriend, Vanessa, is being used as blackmail by his former CIA boss, Rodney, to convince Max togo to Moscow. His mission? Smuggle out a defector with knowledge of a secret Kremlin war plan. Max is wanted by theRussians, so the defector could be bait to lure him into the hands of his old enemy, FSB Colonel Zabluda. But it's eitherMax or Vanessa who must go, so Max takes the bait and heads off.
When Max is spotted in Moscow, Zabluda launches a manhunt, pursuing him and the defector across country lines. Maxand the defector race to evade countless attacks and attempts at capture as they escape to the United States.
Will they make it in time? And what happens when the defector reveals crucial information that indicates U.S. democracycould be in peril? Max must figure out a way to avoid capture and halt imminent attacks -- before it's too late.
Critique: A deftly crafted international action/adventure spy thriller of a read from start to cliff-hanger finish, "The Blood ofPatriots and Traitors" is the second novel in author James A. Scott's 'Max Geller Spy Thriller Series' and follows "ThePresident's Dossier" -- which was named the 2020 Best Thriller/Adventure Novel by American Book Fest. While especiallyand unreservedly recommended for community library Espionage/Political suspense thriller collections, it should be notedfor personal reading lists that "The Blood of Patriots and Traitors" is also readily available in a paperback edition(9781608096053, $18.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).
Editorial Note: James A. Scott (https://jamesscottnovels.com) is a former Army officer, a paratrooper, and combat veteranwith Pentagon experience in oversight of Army intelligence operations. For twenty years, he lived in Europe and travelled toRussia, North Africa, and the Far East. His first novel, The Iran Contradictions, is an international historical thriller and wasa finalist for the Foreword Book of the Year Award and USA Best Book Award.
The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane
Michelle Griep
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
Oasis Audio
www.oasisaudio.com
9781636097947, $15.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sleuth-Blackfriars-Lane/dp/1636097944
Synopsis: Wife. Mother. Homemaker. Detective. Kit Forge wears many hats, and if that's not enough, she's partnered withher father to open a new detective agency. It's hard to be all things to all people, but Kit never shies away from theimpossible. Despite her hard work and good intentions, some things fall through the cracks. -- Namely, her husband.
But Jackson barely notices. He's too busy putting out his own fires. As the new chief inspector of a busy London station, hemust salvage the disaster left behind by the former police chief -- an obstacle made all the harder when the superintendentbreathes an ultimatum down his neck.
Against her father's advice, Kit takes on a case involving a missing child, one in which she and Jackson become a little tooemotionally involved. . .and end up endangering their own little girl in the process.
Can Kit and Jackson learn that just because they can say yes doesn't mean they should?
Critique: A fun read from start to finish, "The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane" by novelist Michelle Griep will be of specialinterest to fans of the cosy mystery genre. Original, deftly crafted, wonderfully entertaining, "The Sleuth of BlackfriarsLane" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Christian Historical Mystery/Romancecollections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book ( Oasis Audio, 9781685924881, $37.99,CD).
Editorial Note: Michelle Griep (www.michellegriep.com) is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: ATale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper's Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart,Brentwood's Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporarywith the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Cath Lauria
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839082917, $16.95, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Sacrifices-Regency-Cthulhu-Novel/dp/1839082917
Synopsis: When Cassandra Wright's father was accused of murder her whole life fell apart, leaving her with no prospects,no money, and a broken engagement. But Cassandra always suspected foul play. Five years later, she's determined todiscover the truth.
With her childhood friend Thomas reluctantly acting as her new husband-to-be, Cassie must talk her way into the home ofher former fiance, who she's convinced knows more than he ever let on. Once inside she'll have to navigate the pitfalls ofpolite society while attempting to dig deep into her father's life.
There are dark, twisted secrets lurking in the shadows, and Cassie must unravel them before they can consume her.
Critique: Of special interest to fans of historical fantasy, dark fantasy, regency romance, and the arcane world of H. P.Lovecraft, "Secrets & Sacrifices" by Cath Lauria is a deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and solidly entertaining read fromstart to finish. Inspired by the game, 'Call of Cthulhu', and readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format(Kindle, $9.95), "Secrets & Sacrifices" is a solid pick for community and college/university library Fantasy Fictioncollections.
Editorial Note: Cath Lauria (https://cathlauria.com) is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She prefers books toTV shows, has a vast collection of beautiful, edged weapons, and could totally survive in the wild without electricity orrunning water, but would really prefer not to. She loves writing speculative fiction of all genres, and has a long list ofpublications under her belt as romance author Cari Z.
Interstellar Medic: The Long Run
Patrick Chiles
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781982193287, $18.00
Interstellar Medic: The Long Run tells of medic Melanie Mooney, who happens upon an unusual accident in the woods thatleads her into a galaxy-hopping journey of unprecedented opportunity and danger. The premise takes a seasoned medic intoalien territory as the first human in the Galactic Union Medical Corps, assigned with tending to aliens who need a medic...any medic. As she extends the concept of emergency medicine far beyond terrestrial boundaries, the adventure and alienculture encounters power a vivid tale that blends wry humor with action that sci-fi readers will find refreshingly differentfrom traditional genre reads, and hard to put down.
The Icarus Job
Timothy Zahn
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781982193256, $28.00
https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Icarus-Job/dp/B0CNKX4TXQ
Gregory Roarke and alien partner Selene are tasked with transporting an assassin in the course of their work for the IcarusGroup, a secret government organizations searching for space portals. What does this have to do with a criminal's transport?Plenty, because the offer involves giving one of these rare portals to the Icarus Group if the duo will transport passengerNikki, who holds her own ambitions and agenda in contrast to her prisoner status. Fast-paced action marks a multilayeredstory of hunter and hunted which places not one but multiple encounters in the realm of a vivid space mystery and dilemmawhich test Roarke and Selene in new and unusual ways. Libraries and readers seeking action-packed encounters from theirsci-fi reading will find The Icarus Job a vivid seat-of-your-pants read.
The Poetry Shelf
Alison C. Rollins
Copper Canyon Press
https://www.coppercanyonpress.org
9781556597008, $22.00, PB, 136pp
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Bell-Alison-C-Rollins/dp/1556597002
Synopsis: Inspired by the nineteenth century image of an enslaved woman wearing iron horns and bells, the poetrycomprising Alison C. Rollins's "Black Bell" from Copper Canyon Press continues an exploration of cataloging individualexperience and collective memory.
As Rollins sets out to resuscitate and embody the archive, we see a chorus of historical figures like Eliza Harris, Henry"Box" Brown, and Lear Green; readers can listen in as Phillis Wheatley takes a Turing test or venture through Dante'sInferno remixed with Wu-Tang Clan's 36 Chambers.
The poems of Alison Rollins travel across time and space, between the eighteenth century and futuristic fabulations,vibrating with fugitive frequencies, sounds of survival, and nerve-wracking notes tuned toward love and liberation.
Black Bell navigates what it means to be both invisible and spectacle, hidden and on display, allowing lyric language tobecome the material for fashioning wearable sculptures akin to Nick Cave's "soundsuits." Integrating performance artpractices, metalwork, and sonic, Black Bell becomes multimedia meditation on freedom seeking, furthering the possibilitiesof both the page and the canvas of the poet's body.
Critique: Sweeping from the eighteenth century to futurist fabulations, "Black Bell" showcases the elegant, eloquent, deftlycrafted, memorable poetry and clearly marks her as an accomplished and gifted wordsmith of the first order. Unreservedlyrecommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Poetry collections, it should be notedfor personal reading lists that "Black Bell" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.20).
Editorial Note: Alison C. Rollins (www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/alison-c-rollinsr) is the author of "Library of SmallCatastrophes", a 2020 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy Award nominee. She is a recipient of fellowships with CaveCanem, Callaloo, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The Poetry Foundation, Rollins was awarded support from theRadcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and Brown University'sArtist Grant. Her work has been published in American Poetry Review, Iowa Review, The New York Times Magazine, andelsewhere. She has held faculty and librarian appointments at institutions including the School of the Art Institute ofChicago, Colorado College, and Pacific Northwest College of Art.
A Muckleshoot Poetry Anthology
Susan Landgraf
Washington State University Press
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9780874224283, $10.00, PB, 91pp
https://www.amazon.com/Muckleshoot-Poetry-Anthology-Confluence-Rivers/dp/0874224284
Synopsis: When Susan Landgraf received an Academy of American Poets' Laureate in 2020, her project proposal includedteaching more than a dozen workshops on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation that would culminate in a Muckleshootpoetry book.
A journalist and poet, Landgraf sees writing as both opening oneself to vulnerability and to a feeling of empowerment. Shebelieves that poetry can save lives, and worked to facilitate a teaching environment that welcomed each voice. Herexercises, prompts, and discussions sparked creativity and critical thinking, and invited young people and elders to reflect ontheir history, culture, and current lives in a meaningful way.
Ultimately, fifty-four poets (most from the Muckleshoot Tribal School) participated in the collection. Expressive andmoving, their pieces are about searching and belonging. Loss and finding. The writers range from elementary school age toadult, but all share a common theme--a reaching back and a reaching forward--sometimes in the same poem. Their workhighlights Muckleshoot history and culture, but also spotlights individual histories, lessons, and beliefs.
Muckleshoot is the Native name for the prairie on which the 6.128 square-mile reservation was established in 1857.Federally recognized as descendants of the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup people who inhabited Central Puget Soundthousands of years before non-Indian settlement, approximately 3,600 people live on the reservation, making theMuckleshoot Indian Tribe one of the largest Native American tribes in Washington State.
Critique: Eloquent, memorable, unique, "A Muckleshoot Poetry Anthology: At the Confluence of the Green and WhiteRivers" will be of immense interest to readers with an affinity for poetry in general, and Contemporary Native Americanpoetry in particular. This unique compendium of free verse from Native American perspectives, experiences, andobservations, is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/universitylibrary Contemporary American Poetry collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Poet and journalist Susan Landgraf is the author of What We Bury Changes the Ground and The InspiredPoet, a book of writing exercises. Her newest title is Crossings. She has taught at Highline College and Jiao Tong Universityin Shanghai, as well as the Port Townsend Writers' Conference. She served as Poet Laureate of Auburn, Washington, from2018 to 2020. (https://poets.org/poet/susan-landgraf)
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Kasey Lansdale, author
Joe R. Lansdale, author
Tom Serra, illustrator
Dead Sky Publishing
https://deadskypublishing.com
9781639511648, $14.99, PB, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Case-Bleeding-Wall-Kasey-Lansdale/dp/1639511644
Synopsis: Author/storyteller Joe R. Lansdale (Hap & Leonard, Bubba Ho Tep) and his daughter, author/country singerKasey Lansdale (Creepshow, Impossible Monsters), join forces with award-winning artist Daniele Serra (Hellraiser, TheCrow) and colorist Tom Napolitano (Batman/Spawn, We Have Demons) to bring you Dana and Jana -- the new dynamicduo of supernatural -- er, supernormal sleuthing with the publication of "The Case of the Bleeding Wall" from Dead SkyPublishing.
Dana Roberts, seasoned investigator of the supernormal, is called to Italy by an ex-lover to investigate a strangephenomenon -- the mystery of a bleeding wall. Due to an odd experience of her own, Jana Davis attends a book signingevent focused on strange occurrences. The twosome meet, team up and together head to Italy in search of answers.
Are they dealing with a haunted house? A demon perhaps? Or a vengeful specter from the other side? Dana has battledangry jinns, malevolent shadows, ancient travelers, and soul-sucking shapeshifters, but in "The Case of the Bleeding Wall",she and her new sidekick, Jana, will face their most dangerous challenge yet.
Critique: This graphic novel edition of "The Case of the Bleeding Wall" is a compilation of the comic book issues 1-4 fromDead Sky Publishing. A compellingly scripted, aptly illustrated, and original story, "The Case of the Bleeding Wall" willhave a special attraction for readers with an interest in mystery and horror themed graphic novels. Highly recommended forcommunity and college/university library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "TheCase of the Bleeding Wall" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note #1: Kasey Lansdale is the author of several short stories & novellas from Harper Collins, Titan Books, &others. Lansdale is also the editor of assorted anthology collections and her collaboration, THE COMPANION was adaptedfor the 2019 TV remake of Shudder TV' s, CREEPSHOW.
Editorial Note #2: Joe R. Lansdale is the author of more than fifty novels, including the popular, long-running Hap andLeonard series. Many of his cult classics have been adapted for television and film, most famously the films Bubba Ho-Tepand Cold in July and the Hap and Leonard series on Sundance TV and Netflix.
Editorial Note #3: Daniele Serra is an Italian illustrator. Three-time winner of the British Fantasy Award as Best Artist(2012, 2017 & 2021) and finalist at the World Fantasy Award 2021, his work includes covers, internal illustrations andcomic adaptations for such highly esteemed authors as Stephen King, Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, Joe R. Lansdale andJoyce Carol Oates. His main influences and inspiration come from the world of weird and horror literature from H.P.Lovecraft and William H. Hodgson, Ridley Scott's films, Japanese horror and the works of Clive Barker.
The Library CD Shelf
Daniel Janke Winter Trio
danieljanke.com
Chronograph Records
chronographrecords.com
$12.99 CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Available-Light-Daniel-Janke-Winter/dp/B0CXG35H7D
Available Light is an international collaboration between three talented music artists - pianist Daniel Janke (Canada),drummer Ariel Tessier (France), and bassist Basile Rahola (Spain). Daniel Janke personally composed the originalcontemporary jazz tracks (there are also three tracks of traditional music), which flow with vibrant beauty to craft animmersive soundscape. Available Light is an excellent choice for personal and public library music collections, and alsomakes a wonderful gift. The tracks are Song for Margaret, Available Light, Giant, Blessed Assurance (Traditional), Man ofConstant Sorrow (Traditional), Eleanor's Waltz, River Ice (Traditional), Cafe Bonton, and Gospel for Betty.
Valley of Silence
The Brenan Brothers
craigbrenan.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $TBA digital
https://open.spotify.com/album/6WbJYItVQY1d96SmGDEzmg
Valley of Silence is a contemporary jazz album of arrangements and original compositions by The Brenan Brothers (CraigBrenan on trombone and Jim Brenan on tenor and soprano saxophones), with contributions from David Lavoie on trumpet,Sean Craig on alto and baritone saxophones, Earl MacDonald on piano, Rubim De Toledo on bass, and Dave Laing ondrums. In keeping with the album's title, the pieces promote reflection and meditative thought. Valley of Silence is a choicepick for connoisseurs of soulful jazz and public library music collections, highly recommended. The tracks are Blackbird,Rosewood, Tri Seamair, Serenity, Theme for Maxine, Valley of Silence, Fly With the Wind, and 49th Parallel.
Magpie
Sarah Jerrom
sarahjerrom.com
TPR Records
tprrecords.ca
$TBA CD / $10.32 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV32RC6R
Sarah Jerrom presents Magpie, a chamber jazz suite that balances storytelling and music, created with contributions from adiversity of vocalists and performers on woodwinds, horns, piano, bass, drums, and more. Inspired by the folkloric nurseryrhyme "One for Sorrow", Magpie explores themes of feminism, infertility, grief, hope, and love. Profound and powerful,Magpie is an emotional treasure highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The tracks are Part I:The Road, Part II: For Joy, Part III: Circling Feathers, Part IV: The White Elk, Part V: Nest Predator, Part VI: Carrion, PartVII: The Mountain Cries, and Part VIII: Crystallization.
Horns of Hope
Aimee-Jo Benoit with The New Assembly
Chronograph Records
chronographrecords.com
$9.99 CAD digital
https://aimee-jobenoit.bandcamp.com/album/horns-of-hope
Horns of Hope is a vocal jazz album featuring Aimee-Jo Benoit performing vocals, Carsten Rubeling on trombone, MarkDeJong on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Andre Wickenheiser on trumpet, Daniel Gaucher on drums, Mark Limacheron piano and Rhodes synthesizer, and Jon Wielebknowski on upright bass and electric bass. Inspired by the concept of "thehorns of the dilemma", Horns of Hope is about perseverance in spite of pain and loss. Intense, powerful, and ultimatelyuplifting, Horns of Hope is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks areBarefoot, Bird on a Wire, A Soft Place to Land, Little Green, Moon at the Window, Where Will I Be?, You Were Here, andFree.
Unfoldings
Ian Wardenski Quintet featuring Tamara Tucker
ianwardenski.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $4.95 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX6PRSW2
Unfoldings is a five-movement musical suite composed by guitarist Ian Wardenski and performed by the Ian WardenskiQuintet, featuring Tamara Tucker's beautiful voice (as a wordless instrument in select compositions), Mercedes Beckman onalto sax, Savino Palumbo on piano, Amy Shook on bass, and Frank Russo on drums. An extraordinary, emotionally movingjazz combo that will entice and delight connoisseurs of the genre, Unfoldings is highly recommended for both personal andpublic library music collections.
I Can Be Two People at Once
Touching
wearetouching.com
Privately Published
$10.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://wearetouching.com/shop
Touching (a.k.a. Michael Falk) presents I Can Be Two People at Once, an original electronic jazz album, showcasing hisgift for vocals, keyboards, guitars, and sound design. Created with contributions from an eclectic array of talented musiciansproviding vocals and performances on drums, saxophones, flute, guitar, drums, and more, I Can Be Two People at Once isan inspirational work that entices the listener to experience a creative journey. Highly recommended! (It should be notedthat the songs "Feeling Swell", "Jitterbug", and "Harvest in the Time of Children" contain explicit language.) The tracks areIt's So Hard to Change, Ocean of Smiles, Geoff's Twitter Account, Blue Shoes aka David Duchovny's Dirty Laundry,Feeling Swell, Cauldron, Rickshaw... and Gone, Jitterbug, Scattershot, Stand Inside, Oil + Water, and Harvest in the Timeof Children.
Window
Kari van der Kloot
karivanderkloot.com
TPR Records
tprrecords.ca
$15.00 US CD / $10.00 CAD digital
https://karivanderkloot.bandcamp.com/album/window
Kari van der Kloot personally composed and sings the vocals for her third album Window, supported by Elsa Nilsson onflutes, Jamie Reynolds on piano and synthesizers, Gary Wang on bass, and Nathan Ellman-Bell on drums. A dulcet beautifulmedley of contemporary jazz, embellished with elements from various other musical genres, Window is a multifaceted workof emotion, highly recommended for jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are Outside, Trust Exercise, Tiny Threads, Sprout,Tattoo, Cost, Snow Angels, In Between, Totem, and Keeping Quiet (words by Pablo Neruda).
Revolutions
Dan Loomis
danloomismusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $15.00 digital
https://danloomis.bandcamp.com/album/revolutions
Revolutions is an original musical suite composed by Dan Loomis, featuring rousing lyrics celebrating the ideals of theHaitian Revolution and the South American liberation from Spain. Dan Loomis performs bass and vocals, withcontributions from Taina Ligonde performing additional vocals, Owen Broder on clarinet, Sebastian Noelle and Jeff Mileson guitar, Rodrigo Reccabarren on drums, and Ches Smith on tanbou (a type of barrel drum from Haiti). Bold, powerful,and passionate, Revolutions is a memorable tribute to the people who put their lives on the line to free their nations, andhighly recommended. The tracks are "...every revolution makes a new world...", "Americas Overture", "...a conversion ofheat into light...", "Skies", "...the spark of liberty...", "Toussaint", "...simon's choice...", "Over the Andes", "...a ride throughthe night...", "The Road", "...a new mix of peoples ready to become itself...", "Centaur of the Plains", "...spring back fromthe roots...", "The Trunk of Liberty", "...where the light comes in...", "Ember", "...from slavery to the formation of anation...", "Dessalines", "...the cost...", and "Hay Una Mujer".
Hodges: Front and Center, Vol. 2
Owen Broder
owenbroder.com
Outside In Music
$TBA CD/ $8.00 digital / $30.00 vinyl
https://owenbrodermusic.bandcamp.com/album/hodges-front-and-center-vol-2
Saxophonist Owen Broder presents Hodges: Front and Center, Vol. 2, a second tribute album to the great alto saxophonistJohnny Hodges. Additional selections from Hodges' songbook are brought to vibrant life through the performances of OwenBroder on saxophone, Riley Mulherkar on trumpet, Carmen Staal on piano, Barry Stephenson on bass, and Bryan Carter ondrums. Jazz connoisseurs will thoroughly enjoy both Hodges: Front and Center, Vol. 2 and the first album Hodges: Frontand Center as worthy celebrations of a legend. Highly recommended! The tracks are Used To Be Duke, Wabash Blues, BackBeat, Big Smack, St. Louis Blues, Shady Side, Stompy Jones, and The Star-Crossed Lovers.
Standards II
Noah Haidu, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart
noahhaidu.com
$12.98 CD / $9.00 digital
https://noahhaidu.bandcamp.com/album/standards-ii
Jazz pianist Noah Haidu, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Billy Hart combine their talents in Standards II, a jazzperformed with passion, expertise, and the joy of improvisational freedom. Standards II is a worthy follow-up to Haidu's2023 album Standards, a treasure for jazz connoisseurs, and highly recommended. The tracks are Over The Rainbow,Someone to Watch Over Me, Up Jumped Spring, Obsesion, Days of Wine and Roses, After You've Gone, and I Got It Bad(And That Ain't Good).
Being
Chris Rottmayer
chrisrottmayer.com
Shifting Paradigm Records
shiftingparadigmrecords.com
$13.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Being-Chris-Rottmayer/dp/B0CQPH9LBP
Jazz pianist Chriss Rottmayer presents his fourth album Being, a set of his original compositions superbly performed alongwith Russ Johnson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Matt Endres on drum set, and Rufus Reid on acoustic bass. Rottmayercreated five of the songs in the process of studying jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller; the other five songs are previouslyunrecorded originals written about the city of Paris. Being is vivacious, emotional, outgoing, and highly recommendedespecially for jazz piano connoisseurs! The tracks are On The Street Where Woody Lives, Re-United, Pigalle, Chatelet,Autumn Evening, Song of Modes, Ballerina Dance, La Seizieme, Pont Neuf, and Rue des Lombards.
The Library DVD Shelf
IFC Films
www.ifcfilms.com
2 h 15 min., 2024 (PG-13)
Rent HD $4.99, Buy HD $14.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0K4LRESATXWU8BAJC952DFGJW1
Synopsis: "The Taste of Things" is set in France, 1889. The story of Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, the finegourmet who she has been working for over the last 20 years, their simmering passions inevitable erupt in a luxurious andlavishly filmed historical period love story.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and entertaining film that has been raised to the level of cinematic excellence by thecollaborative work of director Anh Hung Tran, co-writers Marcel Rouff & Anh Hung Trans, and starring Juliette Binoche,Benoit Magimel, and Emmanuel Salinger. "The Taste of Things" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,community, and college/university library Film/Cinema DVD collections.
Destroy All Neighbors
Shudder
www.shudder.com
1 h 25 min., 2024 (18+)
Rent HD $4.99, Buy HD 14.99
https://www.amazon.com/Destroy-All-Neighbors-Alex-Winter/dp/B0CP8L7TR7
Synopsis: "Destroy All Neighbors is the bizarre story of struggling prog-rock musician William Brown who finds himself ina living nightmare when he accidentally kills Vlad, his neighbor from hell.
Critique: Shudder has an unbeatable collection of edge-of-your-seat programming, from Hollywood favorites and cultclassics to critically-acclaimed new releases you won't find anywhere else. "Destroy All Neighbors" is just one of their newtitles added weekly to their website and highly recommended fun viewing for mature audiences ages 18 and older. Inaddition to the movie itself, this DVD edition from Shudder also features exclusive behind the scenes clips, interviews withAlex Winter and Jonah Ray, as well as Cast Commentaries.
The Art Shelf
Sandra Orme
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781782219897, $23.95, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Painting-Skies-Pastel-atmospheric-skyscapes/dp/1782219897
Synopsis: A sky can make or break a landscape painting. With the publication of "Painting Skies in Pastel: CreatingDramatic Clouds and Atmospheric Skyscapes", award-winning artist Sandra Orme teaches aspiring artist working withpastels just how to create a broad range of skies in pastel, from sunsets and sunbeams, rain and storms, through to delicatedusks and dawns. Containing:
An invaluable guide, all the essential materials and techniques are clearly explained and "Painting Skies in Pastel alsoincludes a section on color theory focuses on those aspects key to painting skies: how to retain vibrancy; how to avoidmuddy colors through the use of 'bridging' colors; and how many pastels to use for best effect.
With "Painting Skies in Pastel" the art student will learning to build skills gradually through 6 step-by-step demonstrationsof particular skies worked from photographs, each looking at a particular sky effect, from the bright clouds on a fresh,blustery day to rich sunsets. Each main stage is shown both before and after blending for clarity.
Sandra's 'sky clinic' offers more specialist and technical help on some of the common problems readers might encounterwhen painting skies in pastel. Also featured is a kind of "first-aid course" in how to identify and correct commonproblems.
Replete with numerous handy tips and many examples of Sandra's stunning landscapes throughout, and assuming no priorknowledge, she both instructs and inspirse you to create beautiful, realistic skies with confidence.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, and enhanced with a wealth of instructive visual examples, this largeformat (8.63 x 0.38 x 11.06 inches, 1.21 pounds) paperback edition of Sandra Orme's "Painting Skies in Pastel: CreatingDramatic Clouds and Atmospheric Skyscapes" from Search Press is an ideal and recommended addition to personal,professional, community, art school, and college/university library Pastel Drawing & Landscape/Seascape Paintinginstructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Painting Skies in Pastel" is also available in a digital book format(Kindle, $16.69).
Editorial Note: Sandra Orme is an associate artist with Unison Colour and has her own sets of sky pastels that she sells atworkshops and online. She is also a member of the art collective, Peak District Artisans (www.peakdistrictartisans.co.uk).She regularly exhibits at local and national shows as well as galleries, and has exhibited with The Pastel Society at The MallGalleries in London. (www.galleryinthegardens.co.uk/sandra-orme)
She has published 'how to' articles with both the SAA and The Artist magazines, and runs online video tutorials. Sandra hasa website, www.sandraorme.com, with an online shop. She is active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Painting into the Light
Jenny Aitken
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800921276, $25.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Painting-into-Light-atmospheric-paints/dp/1800921276
Synopsis: With the publication of "Painting into the Light: How to Work Atmospheric Magic with Your Oil Paints" byJenny Aitken, aspiring artists will learn how to successfully paint scenes that vividly capture magical effects of light frombehind the subject. Good contre-jour (painting into the light) artworks cause the viewer to squint, with light seeming to glowfrom the canvas. They can look like a kind of magic, with their hazy light and colour singing out. "Painting into the Light"demystifies lighting in oils, and provides a practical guide to the process, showing exactly how to create the illusion.
Inside "Painting into the Light" is to be found a wealth of information on simplification, tonal control, capturing accuratecolor, working both indoors and outdoors, painting landscapes and still life, creating atmospheric depth, and even masteringthe illusion of space. Through detailed step-by-step demonstrations and beautifully illustrated techniques, professional artistand art teaching Jenny Aitken reveals how to infuse every painting with vibrant, lifelike light. Of special note is a section ontroubleshooting tricky paintings will show the aspiring artist that every painting is salvageable, but with an understanding oflight and color, that it is much more likely that they will find success the first time round.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.44 x 11 inches, 1.51 pounds) paperback edition of Jenny Aitkins' "Painting into theLight: How to Work Atmospheric Magic with Your Oil Paints" is an ideal pick for DIY oil painting studies and art class oilpainting curriculums. Highly recommended for community, art school, and college/university library Oil PaintingInstruction Reference collections, it should be noted that "Painting into the Light" is also readily available in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $17.05).
Editorial Note: For Jenny Aitken, teaching painting is an absolute passion - her main aim is for students to be encouraged,informed and creatively enthused. She began tutoring and demonstrating ten years ago, and now runs online courses and artholidays in the UK, Italy and France. Since graduation in Art & Art History from Aberstwyth University, she has exhibitedwidely and won many awards. She was elected an associate member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 2021, andwon the Topbond Marine Award in 2022. Jenny is a regular contributor to The Artist Magazine, course tutor, and an onlinetutor, with a series of 25+ modules on painting in oils and acrylics. She also produces shorter painting videos on YouTube(@jennyaitkenart) and has a website at https://jennyaitken.co.uk
Easy Acrylic Painting
Jennifer Funnell
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781800922211, $19.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Acrylic-Painting-Beginner-Tutorials/dp/1800922213
Synopsis: With the publication of Easy Acrylic Painting: Beginner Tutorials for Small Still Lifes" from Search Press, expertart instructor Jennifer Funnell has created an ideal instructional guide for anyone who had always wanted to try acrylicpainting but felt intimidated,.
Featured are 15 small still life paintings to achieve and unleash the inner artist. With step-by-step instructions and clearexplanations, this all-inclusive 'how to' manual and guide will build your skills and knowledge from the ground up.
Jennifer Funnell is an experienced and acclaimed visual arts teacher who has specifically crafted "Easy Acrylic Painting"specifically for beginners and holds a great deal of value for even the more experienced. Her decade's worth of drawing andpainting experience shines through as she breaks down the process into simple, easy-to-understand steps with traceableoutlines. No prior experience or drawing skills required!
Acrylic paint is the perfect medium for beginners. Its expressive and opaque nature allows for easy corrections if mistakeshappen along the way. You will feel empowered to explore your creativity, knowing that you have the flexibility to fix anyerrors and bring your vision to life. Whether you're a complete beginner or have dabbled in other mediums, "Easy AcrylicPainting" will guide you towards creating fifteen captivating little works of art. Unleash your creativity today!
Critique: Clearly living up to the promise of its title, "Easy Acrylic Painting: Beginner Tutorials for Small Still Lifes" isthoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation -- making it a high value selection for personal, professional,community, art school, and college/university library DIY and art class curriculum studies lists. Simply stated, "EasyAcrylic Painting" is of particular value and relevance for aspiring artists with a particular interest in Acrylic Painting, StillLife Art, and Watercolor Painting.
Editorial Note: Jennifer Funnell (www.jenniferfunnell.com) is a visual arts teacher in Denver, Colorado. She has a BFA inArt Education from Kendall College of Art and Design and an MA in Art and Design from the University of NorthernColorado. In addition to teaching high schoolers, Jennifer teaches adults via Zoom. She is passionate about teaching theprocess of creating art and experimenting with a variety of techniques. She can be followed on Instagram@jenniferfunnellvisualarts and on YouTube where her painting videos have a loyal following.
Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls
Sari Shryack
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760388730, $22.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Still-Life-beginners-painting/dp/0760388733
Synopsis: Anyone can learn to paint! Now with the publication of "Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls" theaspiring artist can join with popular artist and instructor Sari Shryack and enjoy approachable DIY lessons that makepainting still lifes with acrylic fun, fresh, and feasible.
Sari Shryack runs the popular social media channels @not_sorry_art. She teaches painting classes online and in person,offers painting retreats domestically and internationally, hosts a podcast, and writes a blog. "Modern Still Life: From FruitBowls to Disco Balls" is her first book and the ideal opportunity for Sari to do what she does best: make painting accessibleto all, something that Sari is especially passionate about.
In its pages, aspiring artists will learn: Why paint still lifes; How to use acrylic paints, as well as tools like brushes andcanvases; To be open, curious, and forgiving of your own mistakes as an artist; About drawing for painting; How tocompose objects for a still life; Color mixing and how to use color palettes to create different moods and styles; How to useother painting media besides acrylic, including oil paints -- and so much more!
In addition to the foundational information listed above, "Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls" featurescomplete step-by-step painting projects for creating disco balls, unexpected everyday objects, and more in Sari's signaturedynamic style. You can also personalize the pieces using your own items and colors.
The principle message of this ideal DIY instruction guide is that there's no need to go out and buy expensive art tools andprops for painting. With "Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls" as your comprehensive 'how to' guide youwill find how easy and fun it is to paint what you have on hand.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches, 1.75 pounds) paperback edition of "Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowlsto Disco Balls" from Walter Foster Publishing is an ideal beginner's guide to painting fun, fresh still lifes in oil and acrylic.A welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, art school, and college/universitylibrary Still Life Art and Acrylic Painting collections and supplemental curriculum lists, it should be noted that "ModernStill Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.84) as well.
Editorial Note: Sari Shryack (www.sari.studio) is an oil and acrylic painter in Austin, Texas, where she lives with herhusband and their two young children. Her colorful works cover many subjects and techniques, including landscapes, stilllifes, portraits, disco balls, and memes. Through her consistent daily practice and dedication to finding beauty in themundane, Sari has built a large online following and successful small business that she runs with her husband called NotSorry Art. The name is a play on Sari's own name, which is pronounced "ser-e," not "sorry."
Through her business, Sari sells prints and original pieces online, runs painting retreats, teaches online painting classes,writes a blog, and hosts a podcast. Making art accessible to all is Sari's goal and motivation.
A Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Brush Pen Lettering
Maki Shimano
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857710, $18.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Modern-Calligraphy-Lettering/dp/0804857717
Synopsis: With the publication of "A Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Brush Pen Lettering: Learn to CreateBeautiful Hand Lettering for Invitations, Cards, Journals and More!", master calligrapher Maki Shimano shows you all thetechniques and provides hundreds of colorful examples to inspire you.
Creating your own calligraphy is very easy using Shimano's time-tested method of breaking down each letter into a smallnumber of strokes. And she provides dozens of ideas for decorative motifs such as wreaths, balloons, birthday cakes -- andso much more!
"A Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Brush Pen Lettering" is an easy step-by-step guide by an experiencedcalligraphy teacher allows even the most novice aspirant to develop their skills quickly as it covers: Starting with the basictools and techniques of hand lettering; Learning to draw 8 elegant typefaces with just 2 or 3 simple strokes; Creatingcompositions with fancy flourishes, "bounce" and rhythm: Designing a planner, journal, place cards, greeting cards, gifttags, invitations, etc.
Critique: This large format paperback edition form Tuttle Publishing is an ideal DIY introduction into the art and craft ofcalligraphy and the use of brush pen lettering. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "A Beginner'sGuide to Modern Calligraphy & Brush Pen Lettering" is specifically recommended for personal, professional, community,and college/university library collections and art school curriculum studies lists. It should also be noted for calligraphystudents that "A Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Brush Pen Lettering" is also available in a digital book format(Kindle, $14.49).
Editorial Note: Maki Shimano began learning calligraphy at an early age and has become the preeminent teacher andpractitioner of modern calligraphy in Japan. She is an author, typographer and freelance artist who works in the bridalindustry as a wedding planner. She creates traditional Japanese calligraphy as well as modern English calligraphy for a widevariety of clients and applications.
Draw Like a Mangaka
Marcel Kuhn
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760389126, $19.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Like-Mangaka-Complete-Beginners/dp/0760389128
Synopsis: In "Draw Like a Mangaka", the creative force behind the wildly popular Draw like a Sir YouTube channel,Marcel Kuhn, compiles and presents the secrets he has honed over a decade of manga drawing, demystifying mangaillustration for artists of all skill levels. Learn about the essential tools and materials, foundational drawing techniques, andthe secrets of crafting expressive faces, well-proportioned bodies, and intricate hairstyles.
With every page, "Sir" (the author's manga avatar) injects humor and warmth into the learning process, offering insightfultips and encouragement that resonate with both beginners and seasoned artists. Whether you are sketching with pencil andpaper or exploring digital drawing platforms, the guide provides step-by-step instructions that cater to various preferences.The book's approachable and engaging narrative transforms these complex concepts into achievable milestones.
In this fun, easy-to-follow guide, you'll find: Guidance for both traditional and digital drawing, catering to your artisticpreferences; In-depth tutorials on crafting captivating faces, features, and expressions that convey emotion and depth;Detailed insights into understanding bodies, proportions, and anatomy, enhancing the realism of your characters;Step-by-step instructions for rendering hair and clothing, adding texture and personality to your creations; Guidance ondynamic poses and perspective, infusing your manga illustrations with movement and energy.
Critique: An ideal and effective introduction to drawing in the manga style, this large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches, 1.4pounds) paperback edition of 'Draw Like a Mangaka: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Learning to Draw Manga" rangesfrom essential tools to dynamic poses, all while equipping the aspiring manga illustrator/artist with the skills needed to bringmanga characters to life. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Draw Likea Mangaka" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, art school, andcollege/university library Art & Drawing Instruction collections and curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Constantly overtired, dependent on sweets, and permanently at his drawing table, that's Marcel "Draw like aSir" Kuhn. Marcel shares his manga drawing expertise in entertaining and informative videos on YouTube @DrawlikeaSir.In addition to Draw Like a Mangaka, Marcel has illustrated and published eight books including the six-part manga seriesMYTH.
The New Silversmith
Nicole Ringgold
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760385692, $35.00, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Silversmith-Innovative-Sustainable-Nature-Inspired/dp/0760385696
Synopsis: Taking an innovative approach that challenges metalworking's conventional wisdom, with the publication of "TheNew Silversmith: Innovative, Sustainable Techniques for Creating Nature-Inspired Jewelry", jewelry making expert NicoleRinggold reveals how to create intricate designs by fusing and carving metal scraps, and minimize the need for chemicals byusing tools in visionary ways.
"The New Silversmith" covers; Essentials (An overview of safety rules, as well as metal, tools, and torch and how to usethem); Projects (A variety of techniques, illustrated by stunning projects ranging from simple chain designs to a texturedbranch to a delicate dragonfly, provide inspiration as well as instruction); Access to online tutorials (QR codes throughoutthe book link to concise how-to videos).
With "The New Silversmith" aspiring jewelry makers will learn to create sumptuous earrings, pendants, bracelets, and ringsin sterling silver that celebrate natural forms with an effective, revolutionary, zero-waste approach to jewelry making.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, this large format (8.75 x 0.65 x 10.75 inches) hardcover edition of"The New Silversmith: Innovative, Sustainable Techniques for Creating Nature-Inspired Jewelry" from Quarry Books is theideal DIY instructional guide and DIY 'how to' manual that is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. A'must' for the novice and with a great deal of value for even the more experienced jewelry maker, "The New Silversmith" isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99) and is an extraordinary and recommended pick for personal,professional, community, and college/university library Jewlry Crafting & Metal Working collections and supplementalcurriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Nicole Ringgold (www.nicoleringgold.com) is a silversmith living in Winthrop, Washington, located in theNorth Cascade mountains. Her art is inspired by her natural surroundings: plants she encounters while hiking through themountains, the shapes of rocks she plucks from a river, a sound, glimpse, or smell. Her botanical jewelry is hand fabricated,starting with silver sheets and wire, with every piece sawed, soldered, filed, textured, formed, oxidized, and polished. Herintention is to recreate natural forms in silver with as much detail as possible, with the goal of making the metal appearalive. She teaches silversmithing workshops in her home studio and around the world. For more about Nicole's work,workshops, and tutorials, she can be followed on Instagram @ringgoldnicole
Kawaii Birdies
Jen Budrock
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9781577154310, $21.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kawaii-Birdies-Adorable-Feathered-Friends/dp/1577154312
Synopsis: With the publication of "Kawaii Birdies: Learn to Draw 80 Adorable Feathered Friends" you are welcomed to theworld of kawaii in the format of a new drawing class instructional for Kawaii Birdies!
These birdies are so cute they can fit right in your palm. From their chubby bodies to the anatomy of their wings to thebeautiful colors of their plumage, there is so much to learn and love about our fair-feathered friends. Thanks to artist andgraphic designer Jen Budrock (an advocate and all-out bird nerd), "Kawaii Birdies" is a thoroughly 'art student'' guide willteaching you how to create little birds with big personalities on the page, and even give you some tips on how to go aboutbringing a real companion bird home.
In a two-spread Bird Order Directory, you will learn the order in which each specie included in this volume belongs in. Witha wide variety of birds spanning the old world and the new world, as well as domestic and wild species, this is just thesurface of the expansive world of birds. In true Birdhism style, this drawing class comes with a no holds barred on fun, asyou will discover in the chapters Birdie Activities, Birdie Shenanigans, and Birdie Dress-Up. Learn to draw the cutest birdsdoing all types of silly activities, including: Cuddling, Stealing, Peekabooing, Pouting, Camping, Baking, Surfing, Battling-- and so much more!
There are fun and helpful tips for creating your own birds with this easy-to-follow drawing class that beginners will love andexperts can expand their resumes with. Even after you have done all the tutorials, the back of "Kawaii Birdies" is loadedwith unique Inspiration and Coloring pages so that you can continue creating kawaii birdies wherever you are.
More than your standard how-to drawing guide, Kawaii Birdies is guaranteed to turn you into a certified bird lover. Grabyour favorite art utensil, and explore the world of birds in this art class today!
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Kawaii Birdies: Learn to Draw 80 AdorableFeathered Friends" will prove to be a highly prized and recommended pick for for personal DIY art instruction/how-tomanual for novice and experienced artists alike with an interest in learning how to produce manga style images of birdthemed art.
Editorial Note: Jen Budrock (https://birdhism.wordpress.com/aboutjen) is a graphic designer, advocate, all-out bird nerd,and the creator of Birdhism. One day she hopes to open a bird sanctuary and rescue. She lives in Austin, Texas. She can befound on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @Birdhism
Inky Meditations
Inky Inky (author)
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760388754, $22.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Inky-Meditations-Mindful-Mesmerizing-Paintings/dp/076038875X
Synopsis: With "Inky Meditations: Learn to Create Mindful Mesmerizing Paintings with Water and Ink" art students andseasoned artists alike will learn the unique ink-on-water technique that allows them to make beautiful paintings with justsumi ink, a paintbrush, watercolor paper, and water. From plants and flowers to birds and beasts, with "Inky Meditations"they can be successfully painting frame-worthy art in no time.
In 26 paintings, the reader will explore the art of brushstrokes as they watch the ink gracefully dance across the water'ssurface. With every movement, intricate patterns emerge, each stroke capturing a moment of artistic expression. "InkyMeditations" encourages the reader to go beyond technique and delve into a state of mindfulness with grounding exercisesand breathwork that allow you to focus on their surroundings, be in the moment, and reduce stress.
Witness the ink spread, blossom, and transform and embrace the notion that there's no right or wrong in this art; there's onlythe journey of playful practice and mindful exploration. The captivating forms that emerge are a testament to the beauty ofembracing artistic intuition and going with the flow. This technique is perfect for all levels, from beginner to advanced andrequires no previous painting experience.
"Inky Meditations" includes: 26 step-by-step paintings, from leaves, flowers, and insects to birds, sea creatures, and more,including drawing templates; A grounding exercise and note on breathwork while painting to start each project; Detailedinsights into brushstrokes, tips, and techniques, guiding you through the art of ink painting; QR codes to videos explainingthe painting techniques and walking you through a number of paintings; Encouragement to embrace the practice of mindfulintention and creative flow, creating organic and captivating compositions; Ideas for how to package and gift your finishedpaintings.
Critique: "Inky Meditations: Learn to Create Mindful Mesmerizing Paintings with Water and Ink" is an ideal means ofunleashing your artistic creativity with this elegant and surprisingly easy technique. Now even he most novice of art studentscan learn to reduce stress and create enchanting, mindful paintings with this comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly'instructional guide and 'how-to' manual with respect to creating works of art with water and ink. While also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $11.99), "Inky Meditations: Learn to Create Mindful Mesmerizing Paintings with Water andInk" is a highly recommended and prized addition to personal, professional, community, art school, and college/universitylibrary Pen & Ink Art Instruction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Inky (https://inkymeditations.com) shares hugely popular meditative painting videos with sumi ink andwater. Begun in 2021 by an Australian experimental artist with a bachelor of fine arts degree in printmaking, Inky's workexplores the spontaneous, organic, and imaginative movement of ink over water and the importance of uninhibitedcreativity. Inky Meditations offers a new video each week and now boasts hundreds of ink painting videos.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Betty Barnden
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
9781782216025, $19.95, Flexibound, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Embroidery-Stitch-Bible-Betty-Barnden/dp/1782216022
Synopsis: Trends in embroidery styles come and go, but the basic stitches and techniques remain the same. "EmbroideryStitch Bible" from Search Press is a new and up-to-date edition of the immensely successful stitch bible by needleworkdesigner and author Betty Barnden.
In this essential directory, hand sewers will have a collection of over 200 stitches at their fingertips - from basic chainworked into fabric through to Florentine work on a canvas. Each one is explained with written step-by-step instructions andhow-to techniques to get you started, and are accompanied by clear artwork and a photo of the finished stitch.
Follow the diagrams and instructions in this beautifully illustrated and jam-packed instructional reference and guide todiscover the wonderful variety of effects that can be created with just a needle and thread, and discover (or rediscover) thesensuous, tactile, wearable art of embroidery.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout, this flexibound edition of Betty Barmdem's "Embroidery Stitch Bible" is anessential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryNeedlecraft instructional reference collections. Impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, it should benoted that the Search Press edition of "Embroidery Stitch Bible" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,$18.33)
Editorial Note: Betty Barnden is a freelance needlecraft designer who studied furniture design at the Royal College of Art(where she made her first tubular knitted chairs). Betty has designed knitting patterns for companies such as Sirdar, Patons,Jaeger and King Cole. Her knitwear, embroidery and crochet designs have appeared in many magazines over the years, andshe has also designed embroidery projects and kits. Betty also regularly contributes to Sewing World magazine.
Amigurumi Friends
Jade Gauthier-Boutin
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760385869, $24.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Amigurumi-Friends-Patterns-Adorable-Possibilities/dp/0760385866
Synopsis: Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. While the art of amigurumihas been known in Japan for several decades, the craft first started appealing to the masses in other countries, especially inthe West, in 2003. By 2006, amigurumi were reported to be some of the most popular items on Etsy, an online craftmarketplace, where they typically sold for $10 to $100. (Wikipedia)
There is nothing more satisfying for a needlecrater than creating something with your hands -- especially when it's your owndesign and it's cuddly and adorable. In "Amigurumi Friends: 20 Easy Patterns to Create 100+ Adorable Custom CrochetCritters", popular crochet designer Jade Gauthier-Boutin shares a variety of approaches to stitching, customizing, anddesigning your own crochet critters.
Jade first provides detailed patterns for five basic animal poses -- two standing, two sitting, and one lying down. You thenchoose your own crochet adventure by changing the muzzles, ears, tails, colors, and other details to create more than 100adorable animals. With an overview of crochet techniques and amigurumi basics, even beginning crocheters will be able tostitch their chosen crochet animals.
This comprehensive DIY guide includes:
Clear instructions for the basic head and for five body shapes and poses
Twenty animal types with instructions for crocheting all five variations
Ideas for customizing the projects with different expressions, yarns, colors, and more
Inspiration and guidance to design your own amigurumi from scratch
QR codes linked to video tutorials to make creating amigurumi even easier
Whether you're new to crochet or amigurumi or looking for fresh ideas to make, gift, and even sell, "Amigurumi Friends"provides everything you need to know to stitch up your own marvelous menagerie of cuddly critters.
Critique: Fun and informative, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11inches, 1.5 pounds) paperback edition of "Amigurumi Friends: 20 Easy Patterns to Create 100+ Adorable Custom CrochetCritters - Explore Infinite Possibilities with Shapes, Colors, Details, and Yarns" from Quarry Books is specifically andenthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, and community library DIY crocheting instructional referencecollections. It should be noted for novice and experienced needlecrafters alike that "Amigurumi Friends" is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Jade Gauthier-Boutin (www.ravelry.com/designers/jade-gauthier-boutin) is a crochet designer from Quebec,Canada. A self-taught crocheter, Jade loves to create easy-to-follow patterns for stitchers of all skill levels, which she sellsthrough her hugely successful Etsy shop. She can be followed on: Instagram: @allfromjade; YouTube: @allfromjade;TikTok: @allfromjade; Facebook: All from Jade; and Etsy shop: AllFromJade
DIY Thrift Flip
April Yang
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760383216, $24.99, PB, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/DIY-Thrift-Flip-Techniques-Transforming/dp/0760383219
Synopsis: With the publication of "DIY Thrift Flip: Sewing Techniques for Transforming Old Clothes into Fun, WearableFashions", expert thrift-flipper April Yang (aka Coolirpa), takes you through every phase of the process, including how tofind the best clothes and fabrics and easy ways to alter and tailor shirts, dresses, pants, coats, and more.
"DIY Thrift Flip" covers: Getting Started (Essential materials and tools, setting up a workspace, organizing supplies, sewingmachine basics, and a concise fabric primer); How to Shop for Alterable Clothes (Where to shop, what types of clothes tolook for, what can and can't be fixed, and how to gauge size when you can't try something on); Altering Basics (How to usepatterns to alter clothes or parts of garments, techniques for altering without using patterns, the basics of garment altering,adding sleeves, hems, and pockets, and how to custom-tailor an altered piece for a great fit); Projects (Beginner tointermediate-level projects inspire and guide you along your own thrift flips); and QR codes give you access to techniques,tutorials, and project details.
Also included in "DIY Thrift Flip" are basic sewing techniques, sewing and clothing terminology, clothing silhouettes, howto measure the body, and more. With "DIY Thrift Flip", you will learn how to build a wardrobe of original pieces that showsoff your unique style and boosts your creativity in the process.
Critique: Of special and particular appeal to needlecrafters with an interest re-purposing, re-inventing, recycling all mannerof old (and even worn out) clothing into new and attractive garments, "DIY Thrift Flip: Sewing Techniques forTransforming Old Clothes into Fun, Wearable Fashions" will prove to be an invaluable and budget conscious source ofinformation, instruction, and inspiration. While highly recommended as an addition to personal, professional, community,and college/university library Sewing/Needlecrafting collections and supplemental Fashion Design curriculum lists, itshould be noted for both novice and experienced seamstresses that this large format (9780760383216, 1.5 pounds)paperback edition of "DIY Thrift Flip" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: April Yang (www.coolirpa.com) is a Southern California - based thrift flipper who has an associate's degreein fashion design from Palomar Community College and has built a substantial following on Instagram and YouTube, whereshe posts sewing tutorials and thrift flip process videos. Her flips include turning a thrift-store find into a chic maternitydress, a worn-out black dress into a chic evening dress with lace appliques, a blah gingham dress into a cute jumpsuit, and agraduation gown into a glamorous black co*cktail dress. She started sewing in high school out of necessity, when she wantedto wear new clothes but couldn't afford them. As she began to post her clothing flips on YouTube under the name Coolirpa,she found a like-minded community who was inspired by her creativity, and her popularity on social media soonskyrocketed. She lives in San Diego, California. To see more of her work go to @coolirpaa on TikTok, and @coolirpa onYouTube and Instagram.
The Gardening Shelf
Rich Gray & Shaun Booth, co-authors
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228104605, $35.00, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Native-Plants-Southern-Region/dp/0228104602
Synopsis: Gardening with native plants is perhaps the fastest-growing sector in the gardening world. More and moregardeners are discovering the pleasure and benefits of growing native plants, particularly for our dwindling pollinator andbird populations. Co-authored by gardening experts Rich Gray and Shaun Booth, "The Gardener's Guide to Native Plants ofthe Southern Great Lakes Region" is unique in that it distills all the information essential for growing 150 species ofgarden-worthy native plants into a single, at-a-glance guide.
For each profiled plant, this informative guide tells you:
What conditions the plant needs for soil type, moisture and light
How big the plant will get, when the plant will be in bloom and what color the flowers will be
How to propagate the plant
Which pests a plant may be susceptible to
Which USDA Plant Hardiness Zones it grows in
What the wildlife value of the plant is including if its a host for butterfly & moth caterpillars.
Of special note is The Species At Risk status of the plant in Ontario, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio andPennsylvania
A detailed description of the plant along with photos of the flower, leaf and seed head or berry help you to easily identifyeach plant. Unique to gardening guide book is a detailed map of the native range of the plant within the southern GreatLakes region (including Ontario, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania) which will help to ensure successin the garden.
A thorough introductory section covering subjects like shade requirement, naming conventions, plant hardiness zones andmore, as well as a common name index and handy tables for quick reference, round out this comprehensive volume.
Critique: An ideal introduction and DIY guide for novice and experienced gardners alike, this large format (7.5 x 1 x 10inches, 2.79 pounds) profusely illustrated paperback edition of "The Gardener's Guide to Native Plants of the SouthernGreat Lakes Region" from Firefly Books is a core addition and recommended pick for personal, community, andcollege/university library Native Plant Gardening collections and will be the preferred reference on native plants foramateurs and professionals alike.
Editorial Note #1: Rick Gray is an avid gardener who over the years has created a fully native garden with over 300 speciesof native plants. His website features blogs, book reviews on native plant gardening books, and Plant of the Month articles.(www.NativePlantGardener.ca)
Editorial Note #2: Shaun Booth (www.InOurNature.ca) has a background in ecosystem management, runs an ecologicalgarden design company and native plant nursery called In Our Nature. He uses his knowledge and experience to promote thebenefits of native gardening through webinars, volunteering and his Ontario Native Plant Gardening Facebook group, whichhas over 22,000 followers.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Judith Miller
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729431, $49.99, HC, 600pp
https://www.amazon.com/Millers-Antiques-Handbook-Price-2024-2025/dp/1784729434
Synopsis: "Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide" remains the essential and trusted guide to the antiques market. It hasearned the reputation of being the book no dealer, collector or auctioneer should be without. Compiled by the late JudithMiller, world-renowned antiques expert and co-founder of the book, this new 2024-2025 edition guide features more than8,000 antiques.
Comprehensive sections cover Ceramics, Asian Antiques, Furniture, Glass, Silver and Metalwares, Jewellery and objets devertu, Clocks and Watches, Books, Textiles, Toys, Decorative Arts and Modern Classics. Special features explain why onepiece is worth more than another, show how to value an item and teach you to be your own valuer. Biographies of designersand factories give the background information you need to help date and value objects, while special 'Judith Picks' sectionsgive fascinating background and valuation details for particularly interesting or unusual objects.
Critique: Simply but accurately stated, "Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2024-2025" is the 'bible' of theantiquarian/collectibles market for dealers, appraisers, collectors, and investors. Profusely and effectively illustrated onevery page, market price reliable, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this large format (7.9 x1.75 x 9.6 inches, 4.39 pounds) hardcover edition of "Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2024-2025" from MitchellBeazley is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryAntiques/Collectibles reference collections. It should be noted that "'s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2024-2025" isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.99).
Editorial Note: Judith Miller (16 September 1951 - 8 April 2023) was one of the world's leading antiques experts. She firstbegan collecting in the 1960s while a student at Edinburgh University, and continued to extend and reinforce her knowledgeof antiques through international research. In 1979 she co-founded the international best-seller Miller's Antiques PriceGuide and went on to write more than 100 books which are held in high regard by collectors and dealers.
The Sports Shelf
Tony Dear
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228103486, $19.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Golf-Fifty-Holes/dp/0228103487
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Story of Golf in Fifty Holes" author and golf enthusiast Tony Dear explores the600-year history of the "game of honor" This profusely illustrated history of golf reveals the excitement and despair, thechallenges overcome and the sweet victories, the sportsmanship and the stars bursting onto the scene. Also described are thedevelopments in course design, like the first manmade water hazard, and the first central fairways bunkers.
A definitive history in 50 chapters, "The Story of Golf in Fifty Holes" informatively describes the holes, their contribution togolf course architecture, their importance to the careers of specific players, and their place in the overall story of golf.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with: "Design and Layout" illustrations of the 50 holes; The year,course, location and map, distance and par for each hole; Color and archival photographs of the players and tournamentevents; and sidebars with additional stories of interest.
Also included: 5th North Berwick (the original Redan hole); 18th Glen Abbey (where Tiger Woods had what many call thegreatest shot ever hit); 12th Atlantic Country Club (where the term "birdie" was first used); and the18th Royal Birkdale(home to "the concession")."
Critique: For players and fans alike, "The Story of Golf in Fifty Holes" is a phenomenal history and a 'must read' selectionfor anyone who has enjoyed the game of golf as recreation or as a profession. Simply stated, this paperback edition of TonyDear's "The Story of Golf in Fifty Holes" from Firefly Books is a high prized pick for personal, professional, community,and college/university library Sports & Golf collections.
Editorial Note: Tony Dear, a former British PGA apprentice professional and member of the University of Liverpool golfteam, is now an award-winning freelance golf writer. He contributes to numerous golf publications on both sides of theAtlantic, including Golf World, The Open Championship magazine and Links. He has also written for the Guardian, DallasMorning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and National Post, and is a former golf correspondent of the New York Sun.(https://www.firstcallgolf.com/tony-dear)
The Native American Studies Shelf
Roberta Carol Harvey
Sunstone Press
www.sunstonepress.com
9781632936295, $52.95, HC, 776pp
https://www.amazon.com/Glitters-Theft-Indian-Mineral-Resources/dp/1632936291
Synopsis: The U.S. Army General Pope stated in 1878 that it was absolutely imperative that Indian Nations realize theUnited States' premeditated and calculated determination to dispossess the "savage" and occupy his lands and that "it iscertain that the larger part of the country claimed by him will, in some manner, pass into the possession of the whiterace."
The insatiable drive for a continental empire resulted in the iron triangle of the federal government, the military and bigbusiness working in concert to steal Indian mineral lands. They knowingly and willfully unleashed the pioneer vigilantes tocommandeer Indian resources.
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs J.Q. Smith wrote in 1876: "Wherever an Indian reservation has on it good land, ortimber, or minerals, the cupidity of the white man is excited, and a constant struggle is inaugurated to dispossess the Indian,in which the avarice and determination of the white man usually prevails."
"Every art, trick, and device of the unscrupulous land pirate is resorted to," admonished Colonel Preston.
Yet it was brutal warfare, massacres, disease, and starvation that decimated Indian populations, leaving them destitute, to bereplaced by industrial tycoons, timber barons, mineral magnates, and capital investors profiting from the "savage's" mineralsin the bowels of the Earth.
Documented and detailed, "All That Glitters Is Ours: The Theft of Indian Mineral Resources" is that story.
Critique: Organized by state and chronology, "All That Glitters Is Ours: The Theft of Indian Mineral Resources" byhistorian Roberta Carol Harvey (who is a member of the Navajo Nation) is a truly massive history of how the acquisition ofnatural resources were taken over by the U.S. Government and its white citizens (most often by force of arms and brokentreaties) from Native Americans. A work of immense and dedicated research, impressively organized and presented, "AllThat Glitters Is Ours" must be considered an essential and core addition to personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library Native American History collections and supplemental Native American Demographic Studiescurriculums. It should be noted for students, academia, Native American Rights activists, governmental policy makers, andnon-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject tht "All That Glitters Is Ours" is also readily available in apaperback edition (9781632936332, $44.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Robert Carol Harvey is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, an attorney and an historian. She holds BA, MBAand JD degrees from the University of Denver and is a lecturer on Indian law related to policy, land, water and naturalresources. She is committed to Indian sovereignty, ending assimilation policies and promoting accurate education. She isalso the author of The Earth is Red: The Imperialism of the Doctrine of Discovery; The Eclipse of the Sun: The Need forAmerican Indian Curriculum in High Schools; The Iron Triangle: Business, Government, and Colonial Settlers'Dispossession of Indian Timberlands and Timber; Warrior Societies: A Manifesto; and Social Contributions of Colorado'sAmerican Indian Leaders For the Seven Generations to Come -- all published by Sunstone Press.
The Computer Shelf
Norman Matloff
No Starch Press
www.nostarch.com
9781718502109, $49.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Machine-Learning-Algorithms-Data/dp/1718502109
Synopsis: Packed with real datasets and practical examples, "The Art of Machine Learning: A Hands-On Guide to MachineLearning with R" by Norman Matloff will help you develop an intuitive understanding of how and why ML methods work,without the need for advanced math.
As you work through "The Art of Machine Learning", you will learn how to implement a range of powerful ML techniques,starting with the k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) method and random forests, and moving on to gradient boosting, supportvector machines (SVMs), neural networks, and more.
With the aid of real datasets, you will delve into regression models through the use of a bike-sharing dataset, exploredecision trees by leveraging New York City taxi data, and dissect parametric methods with baseball player stats. You willalso find expert tips for avoiding common problems, like handling "dirty" or unbalanced data, and how to troubleshootpitfalls.
"The Art of Machine Learning covers: How to deal with large datasets and techniques for dimension reduction; Offersdetails on how the Bias-Variance Trade-off plays out in specific ML methods; Presents models based on linearrelationships, including ridge and LASSO regression; and a Real-World image and text classification and how to handletime series data
Machine learning is an art that requires careful tuning and tweaking. With "The Art of Machine Learning" as your guide,you will be ale to master the underlying principles of ML that will empower you to effectively use these models, rather thansimply provide a few stock actions with limited practical use.
Critique: It should be noted that a basic requirement of "The Art of Machine Learning" is a basic understanding on the partof the reader with respect to graphs, charts and familiarity with the R programming language. Exceptionally well organizedand presented, "The Art of Machine Learning" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional,and college/university library Computer Programing Languages and Mathematical/Statistical Software collections andsupplemental studies lists.
Editorial Note: Norman Matloff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Matloff) is an award-winning professor at theUniversity of California, Davis. Matloff has a PhD in mathematics from UCLA and is the author of The Art of Debuggingwith GDB, DDD, and Eclipse and The Art of R Programming (both from No Starch Press).
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Dwight Little
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476691299, $29.95, PB, 234pp
https://www.amazon.com/Still-Rolling-Inside-Hollywood-Factory/dp/1476691290
Synopsis: The Hollywood career of Dwight Little includes directing and producing major motion pictures for multiplestudios, acclaimed television series and even video games. With the publication of his memoir, "Still Rolling: Inside theHollywood Dream Factory", he takes his readers along on a movie-making adventure that is by turns funny and brutallyhonest.
There are many on-set interactions with well-known producers and stars along with detailed descriptions of film shoots fromthe wilds of India to the banks of the River Kwai. Also included are tales from the jails of Madrid to the jungles of Fiji andthe cold war streets of Budapest. The work seamlessly connects the Golden Age of Hollywood to the highly successfulpremium television of today.
Make or break creative battles, Hollywood intrigues, unpredictable studio executives, and temperamental actors are alldocumented in colorful detail. Whether the reader is an aspiring filmmaker or just a movie lover, "Still Rolling: Inside theHollywood Dream Factory" has it all, including a unique insight into television directing in the new streaming age and 41photos -- many of them on-set.
Critique: Organized into two major sections (Movies, Television), "Still Rolling: Inside the Hollywood Dream Factory" is afascinating and informative memoir that will be of particular value to readers with an interest in Movie/Video productionand direction, as well as personal, professional, community, and college/university library American CinematicHistory/Memoir collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for film students and aspiring filmmakers that "Still Rolling: Inside the Hollywood Dream Factory" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$19.99).
Editorial Note: DGA member Dwight Little has directed studio movies for Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, ColumbiaPictures, and multiple independent movies with wide theatrical release. He has also directed three television movies andninety hours of Network Television. (https://www.dwightlittledirector.com)
The Architecture Shelf
Michael Meredith, author
Hilary Sample, author
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
https://actar.com
9781638401124, $49.95, HC, 200pp
https://www.amazon.com/Laboratorio-Vivienda-Michael-Meredith/dp/1638401128
Synopsis: In 2017, Mexico's Institute for the National Fund for Workers' (INFONAVIT) Center for Research for SustainableDevelopment launched a program to solicit new approaches to affordable housing. To better understand the possibilities,and to better educate developers, workers, and students about the research, INFONAVIT engaged with MOS to develop amaster plan for a campus of 32 built prototypes and design an education center to promote awareness and study of workers'housing typologies.
The selection process revealed various categories and themes for which the projects could be classified. Some projectsrethink the fundamentals of low-income housing's spatial organization (corridors, courtyards, roofs), some rework labor andconstruction, and some recast structure or material. The forms of these works are generally economical but, unlikeearly-modernist projects at the Weissenhof Estate, their attitude is not one of a radical break. If anything, these works relateto the vast, varied world of contemporary vernacular construction - the majority of the built world that Architecture glossesover. Each house responds to different climates, each house maintains their designed solar orientation, each house exhibitspotential for growth by aggregation, repetition, or various strategies of extension, infill, and addition. All of the housesretain their individual identities within the larger campus.
Presenting the 32 projects selected and built, including research, drawings, and descriptions by the architects, and an essayby Canadian Centre for Architecture Director Giovanna Borasi titled "A Large Urban Garden Where You Can Learn AboutArchitecture," this edition of "Laboratorio de Vivienda" from Actar D considers the problem of low-income housing bybringing thoughtful attention and expertise of architects, considering how these proposals, assembled into a collective,would work together toward creating not an estate but a community for Apan. For, given the limited resources of suchworks, each decision gains greater significance and has greater impact on the design and on the life of its inhabitants.
Critique: This large format (9.5 x 0.9 x 13 inches, 3 pounds) hardcover edition of "Laboratorio de Vivienda" co-authored byProfessors Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample, will prove to be of immense value to architectural students andpractitioners with an interest in residential architecture, regional architecture, and urban/land use planning. With its bilingualtext (English/Spanish) and profusely illustrated throughout, "Laboratorio de Vivienda" is especially recommended as aunique and invaluable addition to personal, professional, and college/university library Architectural Studies collections andsupplemental curriculum lists.
Editorial Note #1: Michael Meredith is a Professor at Princeton University's School of Architecture and co-founder of MOS.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Meredith_(architect)
Editorial Note #2: Hilary Sample (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Sample) is the IDC Professor of Housing Design atColumbia University GSAPP and co-founder of the New York-based architecture and design studio MOS.
The Business Shelf
Anastasia Karklina Gabriel
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398614055, $134.00, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Intelligence-Marketers-Inclusive-Marketing/dp/139861405X
Synopsis: A brand today can build a marketing strategy that not only effectively resonates with audiences but alsomeaningfully impacts society at large. To be successful it is critically important to learn how to produce inclusive marketingusing an approach grounded in critical perspectives on society and the impact brands wield in shaping it.
With the publication of "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Marketing Strategy", cultural theorist andstrategist Anastasia Karklina Gabriel draws upon social analysis, media theory, and semiotics to help marketers improvecultural fluency and future-proof brand strategy by embedding equity and inclusion into every aspect of marketing.
"Cultural Intelligence for Marketers" also explains how to create an inclusive marketing strategy using an actionableapproach that draws on advanced insights into culture, identity, representation, and the power of media in driving socialchange.
Furthermore, "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers" offers an in-depth dive into the urgent need for cultural competence inmarketing using a framework rooted in 4Cs: Culture, communication, critical consciousness, and community. It delves intopractical aspects of conscious marketing, inclusive innovation, cultural insights, brand activism, social impact, andresponsibility in business. It features insights from current and former marketing leaders at Wieden+Kennedy, Mindshare,Dentsu, and Saatchi & Saatchi, among others.
Drawing on case studies from brands that are actively pursuing inclusive marketing strategies, including Microsoft,Pinterest, Billie, and REI, "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers" outlines the process of deploying cultural intelligence toattain commercial advantage while transforming society for the better.
Critique: Exceptional, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "CulturalIntelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Marketing Strategy" is essential reading for anyone charged withmarketing research, web marketing/e-commerce responsibilities. A recommended and core addition to personal,professional, corporate, and college/university library Business Marketing collections and supplemental MBA curriculumstudies lists, it should be noted that "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers" is also readily available in a paperback edition(9781398614031, $37.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $36.09).
Editorial Note: Dr. Anastasia Karklina Gabriel is a cultural theorist and strategist who specializes in inclusive marketing.Currently a cultural intelligence lead at Reddit, Dr. Gabriel earned her doctorate in cultural studies from Duke Universityand consulted for the world's top brands at agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, McCann, Kantar and Dentsu Creative. Alifelong activist, she helps brands increase cultural fluency and leverage a socially conscious approach to cultural strategyand innovation. Her activism has been covered in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and WSJ. Dr.Gabriel is based in New York City, New York.
The Logistics and Supply Chain Toolkit
Gwynne Richards, author
Susan Grinsted, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781789660876, $196.00, HC, 424pp
https://www.amazon.com/Logistics-Supply-Chain-Toolkit-Warehousing/dp/1789660874
Synopsis: Co-authored byGwynne Richards and Susan Grinsted, this newly updated and expanded third edition of "TheLogistics and Supply Chain Toolkit: Over 100 Tools for Transport, Warehousing and Inventory Management" providespractical tools for warehouse, inventory and transport managers and students to help them tackle the challenges of logisticsand supply chain management.
This new edition of "The Logistics and Supply Chain Toolkit" is packed from cover to cover with practical ideas andinformation on optimizing the management of logistics and supply chain processes.
"The Logistics and Supply Chain Toolkit" also offers solutions and plans spanning across a variety of sub-disciplines suchas warehousing, logistics, supply chain management, inventory and outsourcing. Each toolkit addresses key principleswithin its area of discipline, providing the reader with a precision approach to be used in complex and sensitivecirc*mstances.
The toolkit presents a number of major management tools such as Fortna's Product Flow Smart Design, SMART, DMAICand Gantt charts. General management, performance management and problem-solving tools have also been included toprovide a broader, transferable scope of tools for the reader.
Critique: The importance of logistics and supply chains for American businesses and the American economy wasdramatically brought into focus with the impact of the world wide Covid plague. Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Logistics and Supply Chain Toolkit: Over 100 Tools for Transport,Warehousing and Inventory Management" must be considered essential reading for anyone charged with responsibiltiesconcerning company/corporate distribution and warehouse management, production and operations. A critically importantand unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, corporate, and college/university library BusinessManagement collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "The Logistics and SupplyChain Toolkit: 3rd Edition" from Kogan Page is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781789660869,$62.99).
Editorial Note #1: Gwynne Richards has over thirty years' experience in warehouse management and logistics. As well asrunning his own successful logistics consultancy, he provides a number of courses on warehouse and transport managementfor practitioners. He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Warwick and the University of Aston. He is the author ofWarehouse Management andThe Logistics and Supply Chain Toolkit, published by Kogan Page.
Editorial Note #2: Susan Grinsted is an independent educator, trainer and consultant, who works with a number ofeducational institutions in Britain, France and Finland, as well as with multinational companies all over the world. Her workfocuses on transferring knowledge and skills to enable companies to improve their performance.
Campfire Lessons for Leaders
Tony Martignetti
Routledge
www.routledge.com
9781032428994, $42.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Campfire-Lessons-Leaders-Uncovering-Forward/dp/1032428996
Synopsis: "Campfire Lessons for Leaders: How Uncovering Our Past Can Propel Us Forward" by Tony Martignetti isinvaluable reading for business leaders heading into a milestone moment and in need of practical, 'real world' advice to helpthem take something that can seem amorphous and abstract -- Living an intentional, purposeful life and turn it intoreality.
Though it might seem counterintuitive, "Campfire Lessons for Leaders" demonstrates that to move forward in the rightdirection, you must understand and integrate your past into your present. Readers will see how they too can step back andconsider the "flashpoints" of their past in a way that will serve them as they take the next step of their life, from navigating asignificant life change to simply living each day feeling less stuck and more purposeful.
Leading coach Tony Martignetti shares the most powerful lessons from over 200 "Virtual Campfire" podcast interviews he'sconducted with driven individuals who decided to live intentionally rather than by default. As no two interviewees havefaced the same challenges or pursued the same goals, readers will be inspired by these diverse insights to embark on (andsustain) their own unique transformations.
Packed from cover to cover with questions, journaling prompts, and real-world exercises to help readers understand theirpast at a deeper level and integrate it into their present, "Campfire Lessons for Leaders" provides a valuable toolkit forbusiness leaders and professionals in any industry who feel unfulfilled and uncertain about what's next for them.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Campfire Lessons forLeaders: How Uncovering Our Past Can Propel Us Forward" is particularly and especially recommended reading forbusiness managers and corporate executives charged with mentoring, coaching, organizing, and inspiring their peers andsubordinates. While highly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university libraryBusiness Management & Occupational Psychology collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should benoted for MBA students, academia, management executives, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with aninterest in the subject that "Campfire Lessons for Leaders" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.64).
Editorial Note: Tony Martignetti (www.ipurposepartners.com) is the Chief Inspiration Officer at Inspired Purpose Partners.He is a trusted advisor, leadership coach and facilitator, best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker who brings togetherover 25 years of business and leadership experience and extreme curiosity to elevate leaders and equip them with the toolsto navigate through change and unlock their true potential.
Employee-Generated Learning
Kasper Spiro, author
Videhi Bhamidi, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613195, $131.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Employee-Generated-Learning-develop-training-performance/dp/1398613193
Synopsis: Most companies adopt a learning strategy where content is created by a centralized learning and development(L&D) department, with no input from existing employees. This process is slow, expensive and makes it impossible to keepcontent updated.
The solution to this state of affairs is shifting content creation from a top-down approach to a bottom-up one, allowingemployees to share their knowledge across the business. This approach is called Employee-generated Learning. Through it,L&D professionals have more time to focus on learning strategy and culture, analytics, ROI and addressing any knowledgegaps.
Co-authored by Kasper Spiro and Videhi Bhamidi, "Employee-Generated Learning: How to develop training that drivesperformance" is a practical guide that explains what Employee-generated Learning is, the benefits of this approach and howto implement it. It provides a framework for organizations of any size, enriched by detailed how-to's, industry insights andcase studies from companies that have successfully implemented this bottom-up approach.
"Employee-Generated Learning" covers the shift in learning trends from formal to informal learning and from theoreticallearning to performance support. It outlines the performance, financial and productivity gains from kickstarting aknowledge-sharing culture. Most importantly, it is a practical manual on implementing Employee-generated Learning stepby step.
"Employee-Generated Learning: How to develop training that drives performance" is ideal for all learning professionalslooking to upskill their workforce at pace, capture the knowledge and experience of their staff and improve both individualand business performance.
Critique: An essential and core addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university libraryBusiness Leadership Training and Human Resources/Personnel Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculumstudies lists, it should be noted that "Employee-Generated Learning: How to develop training that drives performance" isalso readily available from Kogan Page in a paperback edition (9781398613171, $34.47) and in a digital book format(Kindle, $32.75).
Editorial Note #1: Kasper Spiro is the Co-founder and Chief Learning Strategist at Easygenerator. He has been involved ine-learning and content development for over two decades. Aiming to improve the e-learning creation process, he developedthe Employee-generated Learning (EGL) approach in 2013. Since then, he and Easygenerator have guided thousands ofcompanies to adopt EGL, including Danone, Astra Zeneca, and DHL Group. Kasper is also an international speaker, podcasthost, blogger, and L&D author.
Editorial Note #2: Videhi Bhamidi is the Director of Research at Easygenerator. An Oxford University alumna, she has DualMaster's degrees in Education and HR Management, specializing in social, mobile, and blended learning methods. She hasworked with diverse L&D teams worldwide, and now leads the e-learning product research studies that help shapeEasygenerator. Since 2016, Videhi's extensive theoretical knowledge and research have been instrumental in developing andimproving the Employee-generated Learning model.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Melissa B. Kruger
Harvest House Publishers
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736986267, $22.99, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Hope-Raising-Christ-Secular/dp/073698626X
Synopsis: As children mature, it's important for Christian parents to prepare for the unique changes and challenges ofadolescence. With so many cultural pressures and influences vying for teens' attention, parents need a secure foundation forcreating an environment where faith can flourish.
With the publication of "Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age", Melissa B. Kruger invites you toanchor your hopes and expectations in Jesus Christ -- the true source of wisdom, strength, contentment, and fruitfulparenting. Integrating sound biblical teaching, insights from developmental experts, and her own experiences as a teacherand mother, Melissa Kruger will wisely guide you through today's most common concerns. Emphasizing principles overprescriptions, Melissa will also help you to understand how you can build up and bless your teens in God-honoringways.
When you recognize God as the ultimate parent, you will begin to truly understand that he is presently at work in the heartsof both parents and teens. "Parenting with Hope" is an encouraging and practical guide that will equip you with the wisdomto cultivate a Christ-centered household, passing on a legacy of faithfulness to your teenage children.
Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age" should be consideredessential reading for all members of the Christian community wanting to help teens and young adults maintain and practicetheir faith in an increasingly secular society. Highly recommended for family, church, seminary, community, andcollege/university library Parenting collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Parenting with Hope" isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).
Editorial Note: Melissa B. Kruger (https://melissabkruger.com) is vice president of discipleship programming at The GospelCoalition and author of multiple books, including Growing Together, Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, andthe popular children's book Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know. Her husband, Mike, is the president of ReformedTheological Seminary, and they reside with their three children in North Carolina.
This Is Our Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism
Thomas P. Rausch, SJ
Paulist Press
www.paulistpress.com
9780809157044, $24.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/This-Our-Faith-Introduction-Catholicism/dp/0809157047
Synopsis: With the publication of "This Is Our Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism", Thomas P. Rausch, SJ offers aconcise outline of the Catholic faith based on the Apostles' Creed. This new edition from Paulist Press provides more recentdevelopments of the church as it has developed through the Second Vatican Council and the vision of subsequent popes."This Is Our Faith" concludes with an important chapter on the challenges of living in a global society with multiplereligions and cultures that the church must embrace to be significant throughout the twenty-first century.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "This Is Our Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism" is an idealresource to introduced and explain the Catholic faith to non-Catholics and Catholic parishioners alike. While also availablefor personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.36), "This Is Our Faith" is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for clergy, seminary students, members of the Catholic community, and anyone with a curiosity about what itmeans to be Catholic.
Editorial Note: Rev. Thomas P. Rausch, SJ, has a PhD in religion from Duke University and is the Emeritus T. MarieChilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. A specialist in the areas ofChristology, ecclesiology, and ecumenism, he has published many books and over three hundred articles and reviews. Hehas lectured internationally, and his works have been translated into nine different languages.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Eitan Ashman
Urim Publications
c/o KTAV Publishing House
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655243703, $25.00, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Empowering-Seder-Conversations-Passover-Haggadah/dp/9655243702
Synopsis: This bilingual (English/Hebrew) edition of "The Empowering Seder Conversations Passover Haggadah" presentsclear and inspiring insights to foster broad inclusion and engagement at the Seder. This Haggadah features the voices ofEitan Ashman and other individuals who offer unique perspectives gained through their perseverance and encounters withlanguage, communication, and other challenges. It also includes meaningful thoughts shared by contemporary Jewishleaders and educators.
The Seder text and succinct conversational ideas appear in large fonts with an accessible layout. Practical inclusion toolsand instruction icons help navigate the Seder and make the Koach Eitan Haggadah a valuable resource for facilitating awelcoming Passover experience.
Critique: With the full traditional Passover Haggadah text being included in Hebrew, and with the commentary andinstructions in provided in English, this Urim Publications hard cover edition of "Empowering Seder ConversationsPassover Haggadah" is fully and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/universitylibrary Judaic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum reading lists.
Editorial Note: Eitan Ashman is a volunteer paramedic in Israel's Magen David Adom Emergency Medicine Organization,CrossFit coach, business owner, and Torah scholar. He suffered a massive stroke in the summer of 2017, that he barelysurvived. After years of rehabilitation, therapies, and relearning, Eitan has made a surreal comeback in his journey ofrecovery. He and his wife, Leora, an educator, launched the Koach Eitan Initiative, an organization that strives to educate,advocate, support, and raise awareness about stroke, aphasia (a little-known language impairment), and disability.
Leviticus: A Parsha Companion
Rabbi David Fohrman
Maggid Books
c/o Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
www.korenpub.com
9781592646777, $29.95, HC, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Leviticus-Parsha-Companion-David-Fohrman/dp/1592646778
Synopsis: Leviticus is not an easy book to read. It presents topics that seem arcane to the ear, including the laws of animalofferings, the baffling purification ritual for tzara'at, and an origin story for the holiday of Yom Kippur that treatsforgiveness almost as an afterthought.
With the publication of "Leviticus: A Parsha Companion", Rabbi Fohrman shows that an important key to understandingLeviticus lies in the previous books of Genesis and Exodus. In the process, he makes this book accessible and its studydeeply meaningful.
In this third of five Parsha Companions, Rabbi David Fohrman asks questions that, in hindsight, seem like they were staringyou in the face the whole time. He discerns nuance. He detects patterns in the original Hebrew that (once you see them)seem to leap off the page. And he shows how many of these discoveries, astoundingly, aren't really "new" at all, but weresuggested thousands of years ago by the ancient sages of the Talmud and Midrash themselves.
Critique: Essential reading for students and scholars, this large format (10 x 8 x 1 inches, 1.97 pounds) hardcover edition ofRabbi David Fohrman's "Leviticus: A Parsha Companion" from Maggid is an exceptionally well organized and presentedstudy. Informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Leviticus: A Parsha Companion" is unreservedly recommended forpersonal, professional, community, and college/university library Judaic Studies and Old Testament Studies collections andsupplemental curriculum lists.
Editorial Note: Rabbi David Fohrman (www.alephbeta.org) is an internationally renowned lecturer on biblical themes, andthe founder and principal educator at Aleph Beta. He has served as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, and asa lead writer and editor for ArtScroll's Talmud translation project. Rabbi Fohrman has also served as scholar for theHoffberger Foundation for Torah Study. He is the author of The Beast That Crouches at the Door, a finalist for the 2007National Jewish Book Award, The Queen You Thought You Knew, and The Exodus You Almost Passed Over. His mostrecent publication is Genesis: A Parsha Companion, the first of a five volume set on the weekly Torah portion.
The Promise of Liberty: A Passover Haggada
Stuart Halpern, author
Jacob Kupietzky, author
Maggid Books
c/o Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
www.korenpub.com
9781592646258, $29.95, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Liberty-Passover-Haggada-English/dp/1592646255
Synopsis: Co-authored by Stuart Halpern and Jacob Kupietzky in a bilingual (Hebrew/English) edition, "The Promise ofLiberty: A Passover Haggada" (a traditional Haggada text) how American abolitionists and artists, pilgrims and presidents,rabbis and revolutionaries, jazz critics and generals found inspiration in the Exodus story.
From Sojourner Truth to the struggle to free Soviet Jewry, from Harriet Tubman to Harry Truman, from Mark Twain toMartin Luther King Jr., the Jewish story of redemption has inspired Americans of all backgrounds, from the country'sinception to today.
"The Promise of Liberty: A Passover Haggada" is unique Haggada that shows on each page how the prism of Passover hasframed our understanding of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and how the Jewish people have been at the center ofthe march toward freedom from the time of Moses to today.
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, and reading from right to left, "The Promise of Liberty: A PassoverHaggada" is unique, informative, exceptional, inspiring, well organized, and unreservedly recommended for personal,professional, community, and college/university library Jewish Holiday collections and supplemental Judaic Studiescurriculum lists.
Editorial Note #1: Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern is Senior Adviser to the Provost of Yeshiva University and Deputy Director ofY.U.'s Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. His books include "Esther in America", "Gleanings: Reflections onRuth" and "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Hebrew Bible in the United States".
Editorial Note #2: Jacob Kupietzky is a health care entrepreneur and is the President of HCT Executive InterimManagement & Consulting.
Why On This Night?: A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration
Rahel Musleah, author
Louise August, illustrator
Kalaniot Books
https://kalaniotbooks.com
9798986396552, $19.99, PB, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Why-This-Night-Passover-Celebration/dp/B0C77L4CYL
Synopsis: The rich traditions of Passover come alive in the pages of "Why On This Night?: A Passover Haggadah forFamily Celebration", a contemporary haggadah by author Rahel Musleah and illustrator Louise August for Jewish familieswith young children.
Newly updated and from the original 2000 edition, "Why On This Night?: A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration" isholiday favorite is available again for families to treasure. As children and adults gather at the seder dinner to remember theIsraelites' journey from slavery to freedom, this creative, yet authentic haggadah will guide and engage them.
Lushly illustrated throughout with blessings and text of every major section of the haggadah in Hebrew, in Englishtranslation, and in transliteration, the welcoming and accessible style of "Why On This Night?: A Passover Haggadah forFamily Celebration" will make it a treasured seder companion year after year.
Critique: This large format (9.25 x 0.45 x 9.95 inches, $1.05 pounds) paperback edition of "Why On This Night?: APassover Haggadah for Family Celebration" from Kalaniot Books is exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization andpresentation -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to family and community library collections foruse with children ages 7-11.
Editorial Note #1: Rahel Musleah (www.explorejewishindia.com) is an award-winning journalist, author, singer, storytellerand educator. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, Hadassah magazine, and numerous other publications.She was born in Calcutta and leads Jewish heritage tours of India. She is the author of several books including Apples andPomegranates: A Family Seder for Rosh Hashanah, and has recorded a CD of Shabbat and holiday melodies, Hodu: JewishRhythms from Baghdad to India.
Editorial Note #a: Louise August, was a painter, printmaker, and muralist whose works have been acquired by thePhiladelphia Museum of Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, and the Butler Institute of American Art. She illustratedseveral children's books, including The Way Meat Loves Salt. (https://seasideart.com/collections/louise-august)
Reading Reform Responsa
Rabbi Mark Washofsky
Publicity Department
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881236439, $23.75, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Reform-Responsa-Jewish-Tradition/dp/0881236438
Synopsis: The responsa literature, in which rabbis answer questions about halachah (Jewish law), is a vast treasury reachingback nearly fifteen centuries. Reform rabbis have been writing responsa since the 1800s.
With the publication of "Reading Reform Responsa: Jewish Tradition, Reform Rabbis, and Today's Issues", Rabbi MarkWashofsky, PhD, presents a deep dive into this literature, as he boldly argues that Reform Judaism is indeed a movementfundamentally based on halachah.
By inviting and guiding readers to understand Reform responsa with a critical eye, Rabbi Washofsky shows that the Reformmovement has always been informed by Jewish law, as well as Reform history. A teacher and mentor of generations ofstudents at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Washofsky in the pages of "Reading ReformResponsa" gives us a peek inside his classroom, making Reform responsa (and their history, framing, and context) engagingand accessible for all.
Critique: Eloquent, thoughtful, insightful, inspiring, "Reading Reform Responsa: Jewish Tradition, Reform Rabbis, andToday's Issues" is a welcome, erudite, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community,synagogue, and college/university library Contemporary Judaic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studieslists.
Editorial Note: Rabbi Mark Washofsky, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor of Jewish Law and Practice at Hebrew UnionCollege-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, where he received his rabbinical ordination (1980) and his Ph.D. (1987),and where he taught Talmud and Jewish legal literature from 1985 to 2021. He served as chair of the Responsa Committeeof the Central Conference of American Rabbis from 1996 to 2017. He is currently the chair of the Solomon B. FreehofInstitute of Progressive Halakhah. His publications include Jewish Living: A Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice,Reform Responsa for the Twenty-First Century, Reading Reform Responsa: Jewish Tradition, Reform Rabbis, and Today'sIssues, and numerous articles on the development of halachah, the application of legal and literary theory to Jewish legalwriting, and Jewish bioethics.
The Wine/Beer/Liquor Shelf
Alessandro Avataneo, author
Vittorio Manganelli, author
Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9788891838551, $85.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-great-atlas-of-italian-wines-alessandro-avataneo/1143281271
Synopsis: Co-authored by Alessandro Avalneo and Vittorio Manganelli, "The Great Atlas of Italian Wines" takes the readeron a lovely and informative wine country journey through Italy. It tells of and illustrates the main denominations, region byregion, with a description of the most widespread international grape varieties and the most important native Italian grapevarieties. Maps combined with infographics describe the organoleptic characteristics of the wines of each area in a clear andimmediate way.
Unique in terms of its narrative and scientific content and suitable for wine professionals, experts, and curious people alike,"The Great Atlas of Italian Wines" is an indispensable tool for novice and experienced wine lovers alike. It provides awealth of well-organized information to keep on hand at all times. It is also a useful reference for traveling, studying,choosing a wine at a restaurant or wine bar, or creating your own wine cellar.
The 1500 best Italian wine producers are geolocated in the detailed maps, with a list of the 3000 wines most representativeof Italian excellence, regardless of the vintage, resulting from years of cross-checks on the data from the main national andinternational guides and magazines from the sector.
"The Great Atlas of Italian Wines" also features the stories of 300 wines that mark the past, present, and future of Italianwine, with wonderful full color reproductions of their labels.
Critique: This large format (9.16 x 1.31 x 11.29 inches, 5.09 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "The GreatAtlas of Italian Wines" from Rizolli is beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout and includes regional maps, aglossary, a 'Description of the Parameters', a bibliography, and an index. The exhaustively comprehensive and informativelydefinitive resource fo choosing and discussing Italian wines, "The Great Atlas of Italian Wines" is a pleasure to browsethrough and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university librarycollections.
Editorial Note #1: Alessandro Avataneo is a director, teacher, and publisher. He has worked in more than thirty countriesacross Europe and in the United States and Japan.
Editorial Note #2: Vittorio Manganelli is a long-time collaborator of Vini d'Italia and has edited the volumes Atlante dellevigne di Langa and The Art of Italian Wine for Slow Food Editore.
Delish Ultimate co*cktails, revised edition
Joanna Saltz
Hearst Home Books
www.hearst.com/magazines/hearst-books
9781950785957, $25.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Delish-Ultimate-co*cktails-Limit-REVISED/dp/1950785955
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated, expanded and revised edition, "Delish Ultimate co*cktails: Why Limit Happy to anHour?" by Joanna Saltz provides everything you need to make amazing drinks at home -- and then some.
Each one of the 100+ easy and fun recipes was dreamed up by the editors of Delish as an excuse to throw a party -- even ifit's just a party of two. These imaginative co*cktail recipes will shake things up and elevate your mixology game withbest-ever versions of the classics (like Flamin' Hot Bloody Marys and Blueberry Lemonade Margaritas) plus inventive newideas for Jell-O shots and boozy bites like Banana Pudding Shots and Pickle Bloody Mary Shooters.
For designated drivers there are recipes for delicious mocktails so everyone can join the fun, including Apple Cider Slushiesand Cranberry Basil Sansgria.
As for the co*cktails, they range from: Moscow Mule Punch; Dole Whip Margaritas; Brown Sugar; Old-Fashioned; SpicyGrapefruit Side Car, and Rosemary Gin Fizz; to Strawberry Jalapeno Mint Juleps; Caramel Hot Toddys; Negroni Jell-OShots; Gin and Tonic Pops and more!
This revised edition from Hearts Home Books offers even more clever and Instagram- or Tik Tok-ready recipes. Of specialnote is the inclusion of a color photograph for every recipe, along with easy-to-follow recipes for every event imaginablefrom brunch to girls' night to summer parties and holiday gatherings, recipe servings range from individual drinks to bigbatch punches, perfect for any sized celebration, and invaluable tips on how to stock a bar cart and which glass to use foreach drink.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated with full page, full color photos of finished drinks, "Delish Ultimate co*cktails: Why LimitHappy to an Hour?" is a delight to browse through and impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Whilealso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Delish Ultimate co*cktails: Why Limit Happy to an Hour?" is veryhighly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Wine/Beer/Liquor referencecollections and DIY 'how to' co*cktail guides.
Editorial Note: Joanna Saltz (www.delish.com/author/9921/joanna-saltz) is the Editorial Director of Delish, which sherelaunched with her team in 2015. She is also the author of Delish Eat Like Every Day's the Weekend, Delish InsaneSweets, and Delish Ultimate co*cktails. Delish is the fastest growing food website, with more than 48M monthly views.Every week Delish publishes hundreds of stories, videos and recipes that are some of the most engaged with content on theInternet. The Delish motto is, "Come for the food, stay for the fun."
The Self-Help Shelf
Chloe Panta
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608688906, $18.95, PB, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Untapped-Magic-Manifestation-Methods-Limitless/dp/1608688909
Synopsis: According to successful mindset coach Chloe Panta, we all have the power to change our lives, but all too oftenwe leave that seemingly magical power untapped. After years of honing techniques for achieving her biggest goals, Chloeestablished her coaching practice to pursue her passion for helping others. Now, with the publication of "Untapped Magic:Manifestation Methods for Living a Limitless Life" she offers her evidence-based, proven system for overcoming obstacles,getting unstuck, manifesting desired results, and giving back.
In the pages of "Untapped Magic", Chloe shares her inspiring personal journey from growing up in Detroit to creating thelife of her dreams. Drawing deeply from ancient wisdom and foundational spiritual principles, she presents powerfulexercises, affirmations, and mantras that will help you overcome limiting beliefs, demolish anxiety, and replace a scarcitymindset with an outlook of abundance. "Untapped Magic" is an empowering read for anyone who wants to create a morepositive, fulfilling, and joyous life while contributing to the greater good.
Critique: Life enhancing, life changing, life affirming, "Untapped Magic: Manifestation Methods for Living a LimitlessLife" is an especially informative instructional guide to achieving happiness and success through personal transformation.Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Untapped Magic" is a solid recommendation for communityand college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that"Untapped Magic" is also readily available from the New World Library in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) aswell.
Editorial Note: Chloe Panta (www.ChloePanta.co) is a highly sought-after transformational life coach dedicated to helpingindividuals achieve their ultimate goals. She has been featured by numerous media outlets, including the Los AngelesTimes, Newsweek, CBS, ABC, and Fox.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Sarah Potter
Hearst Home Books
www.hearst.com/magazines/hearst-books
9781950785513, $22.00, Card Deck, 78pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cosmo-Tarot-Ultimate-Deck-Guidebook/dp/1950785513
Synopsis: The ultimate self-empowerment tool, with "The Cosmo Tarot: The Ultimate Deck and Guidebook", tarot expertand practitioner enables even the most novice of tarot readers to put the power of of the tarot to work. They will discoverthat "The Cosmo Tarot" card deck and guidebook will strengthen intuition and deliver a fresh perspective on everything inlife. That they can use these cards and their special powers of divination to discover the deeper meaning in life, be it past,present, and future, all in service to making dreams become a reality.
"The Cosmo Tarot" will provide answers to all of the pratitioner's most burning questions no matter how small or largeincluding : Where's this relationship heading? What are their true feelings about me? Is it a good idea to ask for a raise rightnow? What's my best career step to take today?
"The Cosmo Tarot: includes: A 78-card tarot deck, featuring major and minor arcana suits, illustrated with full-color,original, modern, photo collages; A full-color 48-page guidebook, by Sarah Potter, a professional witch and tarot reader,with step-by-step instructions for how to read cards and FAQs for beginners and practiced tarot readers alike; Detaileddescriptions of tarot card spreads and advice on how and when to use them; Easy-to-remember meanings behind each card,as well as reversed card meanings.
Critique: Of special and particular interest for novice tarot readers, and of immense value for even the more experiencedreaders, this edition of "The Cosmo Tarot: The Ultimate Deck and Guidebook" from Hearst Home Books is especially andunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical/Tarotcollections.
Editorial Note: Sarah Potter (www.iamsarahpotter.com) is a much sought-after professional witch, psychic medium, andtarot reader who is based in New York City.
Runes for the Green Witch: An Herbal Grimoire
Nicolette Miele
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9781644118665, $22.99, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Runes-Green-Witch-Herbal-Grimoire/dp/1644118661
Synopsis: "Runes for the Green Witch: An Herbal Grimoire" is magickal grimoire, in which author and herbalist witchNicolette Miele immerses her readers in the wisdom and folklore of the 24 Elder Futhark runes as well as theircorrespondences with deities, astrology, tarot, crystals, and plants.
Each individual chapter begins by discussing the etymology, meanings, mythology, divination, correspondences, and magickof a particular rune and culminates with profiles of several herbs and plants that possess similar magickal energies. Eachplant profile delves into the magickal, metaphysical, traditional, and medicinal applications as well as how to work withthese incredible plant allies.
For example, "Runes for the Green Witch" connects Fehu, the rune of wealth and value, with the practice of altar-building,making offerings, and with alfalfa, cedar, dandelion, and other plants traditionally used in abundance and prosperity magick.In the chapter on Kenaz, the rune of heat and illumination, the nature connection is nurtured through the element of fire anda step-by-step bindrune candle ritual. The plants connected with Kenaz are those that embody the characteristics of fire(such as passion, ferocity, and sexuality) and include clove, damiana, and kava kava.
Guiding the green witch through the benefits and strengths of synergistic magick, this book helps eclectic magickalpractitioners advance their craft through folk magick and medicine, rituals, meditations, spells, and the soulful process ofrewilding and connecting with Mother Nature.
Critique: A grimoire is a book of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans andamulets, how to perform magical spells, charms, and divination, and how to summon or invoke supernatural entities such asangels, spirits, deities, and demons. "Runes for the Green Witch: An Herbal Grimoire" is a magickal guide to working withrunes and plant allies for manifestation, healing, and spellwork. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,"Runes for the Green Witch" is a fascinating, elegant, erudite, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections and supplemental curriculumstudies lists. It should be noted for Wiccans and metaphysical studies students and practitioners that "Runes for the GreenWitch" is also readily available from Destiny Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Nicolette Miele (https://handfulsofdust.com) is a pagan, writer, rune worker, and herbalist. She has practicedwitchcraft for more than 20 years with focuses on runes, folk herbalism, alchemy, and trance meditation. She is the ownerand operator of Handfuls of Dust Apothecary LLC, offering rune readings and handmade ritual products.
Developing Your Supernatural Awareness
Fredrick Woodard
6th Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803414782, $14.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Developing-Your-Supernatural-Awareness-Interactive/dp/1803414782
Synopsis: The challenges of examining the subjective experience of supernatural events prompted clinical psychologist andcertified hypnotherapist Fredrick Woodward to write "Developing Your Supernatural Awareness: Connecting with anInteractive Universe".
A blending of memoir relating his personal history with supernatural experiences and mention key people who influencedhim, Woodward reveals his earliest experiences with hypnosis, the study of consciousness, how he evolved as aprofessional, and how he came to develop deeper connections to his heritage.
In "Developing Your Supernatural Awareness, Woodard also discusses how he improved his own understanding ofsupernatural awareness and was able to forge even stronger connections with the universe -- a universe alive with invisiblebeings, energies, and information that can interact with us.
Critique: An inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "Developing Your Supernatural Awareness: Connecting with anInteractive Universe" is a valued contribution to the growing body of spiritual/supernatural themed biographies andmemoirs. Thoughtful and thought provoking, inspired and inspiring, "Developing Your Supernatural Awareness" isespecially recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the supernatural as a means of self-help/self-improvement. Aprized addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections, itshould be noted that "Develping Your Supernatural Awareness" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,$7.49).
Editorial Note: Dr. Fredrick Woodard is a clinical psychologist and certified hypnotherapist who conducts original researchon the supernatural/paranormal, hypnosis, and psychotherapy. He holds a PhD in clinical psychology and Doctor of ClinicalHypnotherapy (DCH) degree, as well as three psychology-related masters degrees. In 2021 he was voted Hypnotist of theYear for 2021 in the Merrimack - Souhegan Valley Region of New Hampshire.
Seidr Magic
Dean Kirkland
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9781644119440, $17.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sei%C3%B0r-Magic-Tradition-Divination-Trance/dp/1644119447
Synopsis: While Norse rune work is well known, there is another major ancient Norse magical practice: seidr (pronounced"sayther"), a form of trance spirit work and divination. Although seidr is often considered an ancient form of witchcraft,recent archaeological evidence suggests it is more closely related to shamanism.
"Seidr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance" is a practical guide in which Dean Kirkland, reconstructs themagical and shamanic techniques of the seidr priest or priestess using the sagas and other literature from the Viking age,tools found in the archaeological record, and surviving indigenous shamanic traditions.
Also addressed is the misconception that seidr was a practice reserved only for women and shows how anyone called to thiswork would have been accepted in ancient Norse society. Further more, "Seidr Magic" discusses the tools of seidr and howto create them, empower them, and care for them. He explores the use of protective songs (vardlokkur) that involve formingbonds with spirits, a practice he likens to the medicine songs of Amazonian shamans. Additionally, "Seidr Magic" explainsthe techniques used to achieve trance in seidr and how they are based on finding balance between the light and thedarkness.
Looking at trance journeying in the Nine Realms of the Norse cosmos, Dean Kirkland discusses the different gods andspirits the seidr practitioner may encounter in the Upper Realms, the Middle Worlds, and the Lower Realms. He sharesexercises on the Wyrd, divination methods in seidr, as well as ways to alter Orlog, or fate, through spiritual work.Discussing soul-healing techniques in seidr, the author looks in depth at the Norse shamanic practices of soul retrieval andreintegration of the soul parts. He then explores seidr's role in death, dying, and dealing with the dead, including work withthe Valkries and the ancestors.
Presenting a historically based handbook for contemporary heathens, "Seidr Magic" offers a practical path for anyoneseeking to explore Norse trance magic and mysticism.
Critique: A seminal work on the subject, "Seidr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance" is of particularinformative value for readers with an interest in divination using Nordic Runes, Viking Era Shamanism, and ScandinavianHistory. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), "Seidr Magic" must be considered as a core andbasic addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical & Nordic Magiccollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Dean Kirkland, Ph.D., has been a practicing reconstructionist heathen for more than 35 years. A godi, orspiritual/ritual specialist, to Three Castles Heathen Kindred located in the English Danelaw, he is also an associate of theRune Gild and part of the ritual specialist team for Asatru UK. He completed his shamanic apprenticeship with the SacredTrust in Dorset UK and studied traditional Andean shamanism for several years with an indigenous paco. He lives inLincolnshire, UK. (www.innertraditions.com/author/dean-kirkland)
The Criminology Shelf
Sarah Armstrong-Smith
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398614307, $131.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Understand-Cyber-Attacker-Mindset-Counteract/dp/1398614300
Synopsis: With the publication of "Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset: Build a Strategic Security Programme toCounteract Threats", cyber security expert Sarah Armstrong-Smith provides a comprehensive look at the inner workings ofcyber attackers in the digital age and presents a set of strategies that organizations can deploy to counteract them. Withtechnological advancements in cybersecurity, attackers are increasingly falling back to social engineering and preying onpeople's vulnerabilities.
"Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset" examines different types of cyber attackers, explores their motivations, andexamines the methods used. It also reviews key industry developments such as cybercrime as a service, brokers andsyndicates, nation-sponsored actors, insider sabotage and the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking andapprehending attackers.
"Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset" offers expert, strategic guidance on how organizations can improve theircybersecurity operations in response, including enhancing security awareness training, educating employees to identify andresist manipulation, understanding the importance of cultural variances and how board-level decision-making can directlyinfluence attacks.
Written by renowned cybersecurity leader Sarah Armstrong-Smith, "Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset" draws oninterviews with ex-criminals and top experts in the field to share rich insights and a wide range of case studies profilingnotable groups, such as Anonymous, Lapsus$, FIN7, Nigeria's Yahoo Boys, Sandworm, and the Lazarus Group.
The human side of cybersecurity has never been so important.
Critique: Absolutely essential reading for anyone charged with a responsibility of defending against cyber attackers, whetherdomestic criminals or hostile government operators, "Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset: Build a Strategic SecurityProgramme to Counteract Threats" is especially recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate,governmental, and college/university library cyber crime/computer hacking, and law enforcement collections, as well assupplemental Criminology curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset" is alsoreadily available from Kogan Page in a paperback edition (9781398614284, $35.97) and in a digital book format (Kindle,$34.17).
Editorial Note: Sarah Armstrong-Smith has been recognized as one of the most influential leaders in cybersecurity and UKtech and has over 20 years' experience delivering and advising C-suite executives on large-scale business & ICT continuity,cybersecurity, data protection and resilience programmes. She is the Chief Security Advisor at Microsoft and works withstrategic and major customers across Europe to help them enhance their security strategies and capabilities. Prior toMicrosoft, she was the Group Head of Business Resilience & Crisis Management at The London Stock Exchange Group,the Head of Continuity & Resilience, Enterprise & Cyber Security at Fujitsu and also held roles at EY and AXA. She hasbeen on the front-line of many major incidents, including IT failures, data breaches, and fraud. She is a Fellow of the BritishComputer Society.
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