 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Library Bookwatch |
Library Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Weekly War
Chris Dubbs, author
Carolyn Edy, author
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574418927, $34.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Weekly-War-Saturday-Evening-Reported/dp/1574418920
Synopsis: An elite team of reporters brought the Great War home each week to ten million readers of the Saturday Evening
Post. As America's largest circulation magazine of the era, the Post hired the nation's best-known and best-paid writers to
cover World War I.
With the publication of "The Weekly War: How the Saturday Evening Post Reported World War I" co-authors and
historians Chris Dubbs and Carolyn Edy provide a history of the unique record Post storytellers created of World War I,
the distinct imprint the Post made on the field of war reporting, and the ways in which Americans witnessed their first
world war.
"The Weekly War" includes representative articles from across the span of the conflict, with Professors Chris Dubbs and
Carolyn Edy complementing these works with essays about the history and significance of the magazine, the war, and the
writers.
By the start of the Great War, the Saturday Evening Post had become the most successful and influential magazine in the
United States, a source of entertainment, instruction, and news, as well as a shared experience. World War I served as a
four-year experiment in how to report a modern war. The news-gathering strategies and news-controlling practices
developed in this war were largely duplicated in World War II and later wars.
Over the course of some thousand articles by some of the most prolific writers of the era, the Saturday Evening Post played
an important role in the evolution of war reporting during World War I.
Critique: A fascinating and seminal study, "The Weekly War: How the Saturday Evening Post Reported World War I" is
informative enhanced with numerous illustrations, fourteen pages of Endnotes, a twelve page Selected Bibliography, and
an eight page Index. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.96), "The Weekly
War: How the Saturday Evening Post Reported World War I" is a singularly unique and very strongly recommended
addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library 20th Century Journalism History and World War I
collections, as well as college and university supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Chris Dubbs (https://untpress.unt.edu/authors/dubbs-chris) is editor of American Women Report World
War I and co-editor of The AEF in Print: An Anthology of American Journalism in World War I.
Editorial Note #2: Carolyn Edy (https://untpress.unt.edu/authors/edy-carolyn) is the author of The Woman Correspondent,
the U.S. Military, and the Press, 1846-1947. She is an associate professor of journalism at Appalachian State
University.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Get Your Book Seen and Sold
Claudine Wolk, author
Julie Murkette, author
Lost Valley Press
http://lostvalleypress.com
9781935874447, $14.99, PB, 122pp
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Your-Book-Seen-Sold/dp/1935874446
Synopsis: With modern computer software it is easier than ever to publish a book, but many authors find out too late about
the actual work that book marketing required by the author to be done in order to achieve sizable (and profitable) book
sales. Instead of embracing the opportunities to promote their books, many authors are intimidated and simply shut
down.
But with the publication of "Get Your Book Seen and Sold: The Essential Book Marketing and Publishing Guide" by co-
authors and book marketing specialists Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette those days are over! This is the combination
instructional guide and 'how-to' many that novice authors must utilize in order to give their books the best chance to be
seen and sold in a highly competitive marketplace.
An essential, easy-to-understand guide offering graphs, examples and exercises to learn, "Get Your Book Seen And Sold"
covers: The fundamentals of book marketing: Message, Audience, and Hook; The breadth of book marketing options and
how they work, presented with examples; How to create a list of media contacts and develop a pitch that will reach them;
How to develop a doable book marketing plan; How to develop media kit items for their book publicity efforts: Press
Release, Author Bio, Sell Sheet, etc.; The types of book reviews and how to get them; The best social media channels for
promoting books; The best places to spend book promotion dollars; Why book distribution is a crucial part of book
marketing -- and so much more!
Critique: Informative, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presented, "Get Your Book Seen
and Sold: The Essential Book Marketing and Publishing Guide" is an ideal and invaluable resource for aspiring, published
authors who are new to the publishing industry and the effective promotion, publicity, marketing, and selling of books to
their intended readerships, as well as bookstore placements and library acquisitions. With a great deal of value as a
refresher resource for even the more experience author, "Get Your Book Seen and Sold" is a critically important and highly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, university Writing/Publishing collections and
supplemental Writer's Workshop curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Claudine Wolk (www.ClaudineWolk.com) is a published author, journalist, podcast host and book
marketing coach. Her first book, "It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers", (Harper Collins) is translated into
three languages and was released as an audio book in November 2022.
Editorial Note #2: Julie Murkette (https://www.juliemurkette.com) is passionate about words and the ways they can be
combined to transmit complex transformative ideas. She began her career while still in college as the founder of
Womanchild Press, publishing chapbooks and an annual poetry magazine using a 19th century treadle-operated letterpress.
Later, she established Satya House Publications, which has published numerous fiction and non-fiction trade books, as
well as the award-winning series of bilingual picture books.Julie also provides a range of creative services to writers and
small publishers.
The One-Idea Rule
Mark Rennella
Matt Holt Books
c/o BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637743980, $19.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/One-Idea-Rule-Efficient-Improve-Writing/dp/163774398X
Synopsis: Focused on a simple principle and designed to bolster writers' confidence and skills, writing coach at Harvard
Business School, with the publication of "The One-Idea Rule: An Efficient Way to Improve Your Writing at School and
Work", Mark Rennella offers practical advice for students, novice writers, and aspiring authors -- with the specific goal of
leveling the playing field between beginners and those with more experience.
After a 30-year career as a writer, instructor, and editor, Mark Rennella has crafted a battle-tested method to help students
and young professionals who want to improve their writing. It called the One-Idea Rule and is anchored on the assertion
that every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea.
With "The One-Idea Rule", readers embarking on their adult lives and professional journeys as writers will have a reliable
methodology they can easily remember and count on for all of their writing tasks, as well as increased confidence about the
cogency of their writing and its potential for impact in the public sphere.
Most advice about writing looks like a long laundry list of dos and don'ts. For those already accomplished as writers, these
lists can be a helpful addition to an already-developed communication style. But for teens and young adults starting
college, as well as young professionals entering the workforce, it can be challenging to wield such complex advice to
tackle increasingly demanding writing assignments.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The One-Idea Rule" is an ideal, effective, and thoroughly
'user friendly' how-to writing primer aligned and empathetic with any new or experienced writer's needs. While especially
and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, or university library Writing/Publishing
instructional reference collections and Writer's Workshop curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "The One-Idea
Rule: An Efficient Way to Improve Your Writing at School and Work" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$11.99).
Editorial Note: Mark Rennella is a respected author, teacher, and scholar with a gift for storytelling. He has taught writing
and composition throughout his career, including his current role as writing coach for MBA students. His publications
include Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders: What the Airline Industry Can Teach Us About Leadership, co-authored
with Nitin Nohria. Mark earned a Ph.D. in American history from Brandeis University and has taught literature and
American history at Harvard University, the University of Miami and the University of Tours (France).
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet
Ben Goldfarb
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9781324005896, $30.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crossings-Ecology-Shaping-Future-Planet/dp/1324005890
Synopsis: Some 40 million miles of roadways encircle the earth, yet we tend to regard them only as infrastructure for
human convenience. While roads are so ubiquitous they're practically invisible to us, wild animals experience them as
entirely alien forces of death and disruption.
With the publication of "Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet", environmental journalist Ben
Goldfarb travels throughout the United States and around the world to investigate how roads have transformed our
planet.
A million animals are killed by cars each day in the U.S. alone, but as the new science of road ecology shows, the harms of
highways extend far beyond roadkill. Creatures from antelope to salmon are losing their ability to migrate in search of food
and mates; invasive plants hitch rides in tire treads; road salt contaminates lakes and rivers; and the very noise of traffic
chases songbirds from vast swaths of habitat.
Yet road ecologists are also seeking to blunt the destruction through innovative solutions. Goldfarb meets with
conservationists building bridges for California's mountain lions and tunnels for English toads, engineers deconstructing
the labyrinth of logging roads that web national forests, animal rehabbers caring for Tasmania's car-orphaned wallabies,
and community organizers working to undo the havoc highways have wreaked upon American cities.
Today, as our planet's road network continues to grow exponentially, the science of road ecology has become increasingly
vital. Written with passion and curiosity, "Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet" is a
sweeping, spirited, and timely investigation into how humans have altered the natural world -- and how we can create a
better future for all living beings.
Critique: Of special and particular interest to readers concerned with the biology of wildlife, ecology, and
environmentalism, "Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet" is a seminal work and ground-
breaking study of one of the often overlooked elements in the environmental degradation of our world that is a significant
factor in the current mass extinctions and climate changes taking place. While also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.99), "Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet" is an emphatically recommended
and critically important additions to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Environmental
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Ben Goldfarb (https://www.bengoldfarb.com) is the author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of
Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His writings have
appeared in the Atlantic, National Geographic, the New York Times, and many other publications, and have been
anthologized in The Best American Science and Nature Writing. He is a recipient of fellowships from the Alicia Patterson
Foundation and the Whiting Foundation.
Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America, second edition
Garrett E. Crow, author
C. Barre Hellquist, author
University of Wisconsin Press
728 State Street, Suite 443, Madison, WI 53706-1418
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299343002, $99.95, HC, 736pp
https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Wetland-Plants-Northeastern-America/dp/0299343006
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North
America" by the team of Garrett E. Crow (Professor of Botany at the University of New Hampshire) and C. Barre Hellquist
(Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) is arguably by far the best and most comprehensive
manual and illustrated guide to native and naturalized vascular plants (ferns, conifers, and flowering plants) growing in
aquatic and wetland habitats in northeastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and south to Virginia
and Missouri.
This long-awaited work completely revises and greatly expands Norman Fassett's 1940 classic "A Manual of Aquatic
Plants", yet retains the features that made Fassett's book so useful.
"Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America" features: Coverage of 1139 plant species, 1186 taxa, 295
genera, 109 families; More than 600 pages of illustrations, and illustrations for more than 90% of the taxa; Keys for each
species include references to corresponding illustrations; Habitat information, geographical ranges, and synonomy; A
specific chapter on nuisance aquatic weeds; Glossaries of botanical and habitat terms; A full index.
Critique: This large format hardcover edition (8.5 x 1.9 x 11 inches, 5.27 pounds) of "Aquatic and Wetland Plants of
Northeastern North America" will have a very special and enduring value for wetland ecologists, botanists, resource
managers, public naturalists, environmentalists, and environmental activists concerned with the preservation of wetland
areas, which are increasingly threatened, will welcome this clear, workable, and comprehensive guide. Impressively
comprehensive, exceptionally well written, profusely illustrated throughout with b/w line drawn illustrations, and a
thoroughly 'user friendly' reference in both organization and presentation, "Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern
North America" is an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and
university library Plant Biology & Botany collections and supplemental Aquatic & Wetlands curriculum studies lists.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Rare Air: Endangered Birds, Bats, Butterflies, & Bees
Sarah Kaizar, author/illustrator
A. Scott Meiser, author
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680515510, $21.95, HC, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rare-Air-Endangered-Birds-Butterflies/dp/1680515519
Synopsis: "Rare Air: Endangered Birds, Bats, Butterflies, & Bees" is the culmination of artist Sarah Kaizar's dedication to
illustrating endangered fauna. It features 66 endangered species of flight (33 birds, 5 bats, 12 bees, and 16 butterflies)
presented in her scientifically accurate and utterly engaging pen-and-ink style.
Complementing the art are informative and story-driven natural histories of each species by A. Scott Meiser, as well as
interviews with biologists who are working to sustain some of the same species.
An informative introduction highlights how Kaizar developed this project, while the "How to Get Involved" appendix
provides helpful tips on actions readers can take to help these creatures.
Kaizar's work informs readers about the world around them in a way that is beautiful and engaging, while also examining
the environmental conditions that put these species at risk. "Rare Air" broadens the conversation about environmental
study and inspires readers across the country to care for our winged creatures.
Critique: With its profusion of breathtakingly beautiful illustrations and their accompanying informative commentaries,
"Rare Air: Endangered Birds, Bats, Butterflies, & Bees" is a treasure to simply page through one memorable page at a
time. Of special appeal and value for readers with an interest in the butterfly biology, bird field guides, as well as plant and
animal art, "Rare Air: Endangered Birds, Bats, Butterflies, & Bees" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a core
addition to personal, professional, community, highschool, college, and university library Wildlife collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Sarah Kaizar (https://sarahkaizar.com) is the author of Hiker Trash: Notes, Sketches & Others Detritus
on the Appalachian Trail, and her illustration work has been seen in galleries and museums including the Woodmere Art
Museum, Delaware Contemporary, and the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.
Editorial Note #2: A. Scott Meiser (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ascottmeiser) is a high school English teacher who lives
with his wife. Though he is not a classic outdoorsman, Meiser's rural roots have taught him an attentiveness and
appreciation for the natural world.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Maybe It's Your Medications
Dr. Hedva Barenholtz Levy, pharmacist
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510774834, $28.99, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-Its-Your-Medications-Unnecessary/dp/1510774831
Synopsis: There is a serious medication problem in America. It is marked not only by excessive use of medications, but by
errors in how they are prescribed, monitored, and taken. An estimated nineteen million adults age sixty-five and older take
five or more medications daily. These individuals and family caregivers know the frustrations of lengthy medication lists,
high drug costs, and frequent questions about the need and value of those medications. All too often, an unrecognized
adverse drug effect is mistaken for a new medical condition, or worse, a symptom of getting older. But who stops to
question the medications?
"Maybe It's Your Medications: How to Avoid Unnecessary Drug Therapy and Adverse Drug Reactions" by professional
pharmacist Dr. Hedva Barenholtz Levey tackles these problems by providing information, insider tips, and strategies that
empower patients and caregivers to have important conversations about their prescription and nonprescription drugs.
"Maybe It's Your Medications" deftly addresses the questions consumers want to ask about their medications and brings to
light other questions they should be asking but may not know how. It is everyone's go-to guide on how to use medications
safely on the journey to healthy aging.
Criteria: Dr. Hedva Barenholtz Levy is an educator and leader in geriatric pharmacy and a dual board-certified specialist.
With the publication of "Maybe It's Your Medications: How to Avoid Unnecessary Drug Therapy and Adverse Drug
Reactions" she applies her decades of experience to guide the non-specialist general reader in how to become an active
participant on their healthcare team and prevent unintended errors and medication-related problems. Impressively
comprehensive, organized, and presented, "Maybe It's Your Medications" is thoroughly 'user friendly', informative, and
recommended for personal, professional, community, health clinic, college, and university library Health/Medicine
collections and supplemental Pharmacy curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Maybe It's Your Medications" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Hedva Barenholtz Levy, PharmD. (https://www.barenholtzlevy.com) is the founder of a
community-based senior care pharmacy practice. A geriatric pharmacy specialist and educator, Dr. Levy has published
numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters focusing on optimizing drug therapy in older adults.
The Education Shelf
Build Reading Fluency, second edition
Timothy Rasinski, author
Chase Young, author
Shell Education Publishing
c/o Teacher Created Materials
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com
9798765903216, $39.99, PB, 164pp
https://www.amazon.com/Build-Reading-Fluency-Practice-Performance/dp/B0BXTS89DM
Synopsis: With the publication of "Build Reading Fluency: Practice and Performance with Reader's Theater and More" by
Timothy Rasinski and Chase Young, classroom teachers and home schooling parents will discoveriscover innovative ways
to incorporate fluency practice into reading instruction!
This professional resource provides teachers and parents with engaging and practical strategies for bringing fluency
instruction into daily reading routines. Written by fluency expert Timothy Rasinski and literacy and reader's theater expert
Chase Young, "Build Reader Fluency" offers instructional strategies to help teachers and parents understand fluency and
how to teach it.
With step-by-step strategies, detailed lessons, and ideas for improving fluency, this meaningful guide allows teachers and
parents to provide purposeful reading opportunities for their students.
Now classroom teachers and home schooling parents can help every student become a confident and fluent reader with this
professional, accessible resource!
Critique: Expertly written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "Build Reading Fluency:
Practice and Performance with Reader's Theater and More" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, school district, and academic library Reading Skill Development instructional resource
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Timothy Rasinski,(http://timrasinski.com) is the author of numerous best-selling books, articles, and
curriculum programs on literacy education. He is a professor of literacy education at Kent State University where he
previously directed the university's award-winning reading clinic (Camp Read-A-Lot). A former elementary and middle
school classroom teacher and reading specialist, Dr. Rasinski is well known for his work on word study and reading
fluency.
Editorial Note #2: Chase Young, PhD, former elementary teacher and literacy coach and co-author of Artfully Teaching
the Science of Reading. He is a professor in the School of Teaching and Learning at Sam Houston State University. He is
also an editor of Literacy Research and Instruction, a founding editor of the Journal of Teacher Action Research, and
formerly the Silverman Endowed Chair in Literacy at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi where he was selected as
one of Corpus Christi's 40 Under 40 for his work with young readers in the community.
(http://www.thebestclass.org/professional-development.html)
50 Strategies for Integrating AI into the Classroom
Donnie Piercey
Shell Education Publishing
c/o Teacher Created Materials
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com
9798765947104, $21.99, PB, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/50-Strategies-Integrating-into-Classroom/dp/B0C5G74W4N
Synopsis: With the publication of "50 Strategies for Integrating AI into the Classroom" by AI education specialist Donnie
Piercey, teachers can learn how to harness the power of AI in their classroom! This professional resource includes 50
easy-to-implement strategies for using AI technology as a tool for teaching.
"50 Strategies for Integrating AI into the Classroom" will save teachers valuable time with activities that boost literacy,
content knowledge, and student engagement using AI tools. Written by a teacher who specializes in using technology in his
own classroom, this is a professional instructional reference and curriculum builder that introduces artificial intelligence
and the many ways it can help educators.
These quick, accessible strategies for using AI academically and creatively can be used in any K-12 classroom. From
sample prompts for AI to activities that support community building and fun, help teachers save valuable time and
implement creative strategies with the tools in this unique resource!
Critique: Given the attention currently being focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), "50 Strategies for Integrating AI into
the Classroom" is informative, timely, accessibly organized and thoroughly 'teacher friendly' in presentation. While also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.19), "50 Strategies for Integrating AI into the Classroom" is a unique and
highly recommended addition to personal, professional, school district, college and university library Artificial Intelligence
& Education collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Donnie Piercey (https://resources.mrpiercey.com/bio) is the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and
teaches fifth grade in Lexington, Kentucky. After graduating from Asbury College and earning his master's from Auburn
Montgomery, he has been teaching in Kentucky since 2007. Donnie specializes in using technology to promote student
inquiry, learning, and engagement.
A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development through Higher Education
Susan R. Kornives & Julie E. Owen, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781800887770, $170.00 HC / $40.00 ebook, 334pp
https://www.amazon.com/Research-Leadership-Learning-Development-Education/dp/1800887779
Synopsis: Bringing together enlightening contributions from experienced scholars of leadership education along with a
team of early career critical scholars, "A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development through Higher
Education" examines essential dimensions of leadership education processes and outcomes and interrogates the knowledge
bases that shape these dimensions. It explores higher educational contexts, different types of leadership learners, key
program design elements and pedagogies, and classic and critical research methodologies.
Each chapter adopts a critical analysis approach to scrutinize existing research and identify key challenges, gaps, and
tensions in the field of leadership learning and development. Providing a rationale for centering the future of leadership
education in social justice, the book ultimately challenges the reader to prioritize innovation, inclusion, and equity in their
research and practice going forward.
"A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development through Higher Education" will prove to be an essential
resource for leadership educators and practitioners interested in advancing equity and social justice outcomes in their
program delivery. Its overview of the cutting edge of research will also be foundational in introductory graduate leadership
education programs.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a complete listing of the contributors and their
credentials, tables, and an index, "A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development through Higher
Education" is expertly co-edited by academicians Susan R. Kornives and Julie E. Owen. The fourteen articles comprising
"A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development through Higher Education" are deftly organized into four
major sections: Context & Framing; Leader & Leadership Development; Leadership Education; Call to Action for Critical
& Innovative Research. This seminal compendium is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
college, and university library Education Research collections and supplemental Education Administration curriculum
studies lists. The eBook version is priced $40.00; both the eBook and print versions can be ordered from the Edward Elgar Publishing website.
Editorial Note #1: Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the
space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also
visionary. Adopting a multilevel perspective, this innovative Research Agenda offers a comprehensive and critical
overview of research on all aspects of contemporary leadership education.
Editorial Note #2: Susan R. Komives (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Susan-Komives) is Professor Emerita,
Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, College of Education, University of Maryland.
Editorial Note #3: Julie E. Owen (https://integrative.gmu.edu/people/jowen4) is the Associate Professor of Leadership
Studies, School of Integrative Studies, George Mason University, USA.
The Cookbook Shelf
Mildreds Easy Vegan: Exciting Food, Simply Cooked
Mildreds
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600638056, $32.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mildreds-Easy-Vegan-Exciting-simply/dp/0600638057
Synopsis: Bringing the Mildreds restaurant's most delicious vegan dishes to the menu repertoire of the family kitchen cook,
"Mildreds Easy Vegan: Exciting Food, Simply Cooked" is packed from cover to cover with recipes for vegan dishes with
punchy flavors and that will satisfy even the most ardent meat eater as well!
Specifically designed for seasoned vegans and novices alike, "Mildreds Easy Vegan: Exciting Food, Simply Cooked "
showcases more than 115 simple recipes -- as well as tips for how best to cook with plants!
Critique: With beautifully illustrated and kitchen cook friendly vegan recipes for every dining occasion and ranging from
Barbecue Sweet Corn Ribs; Singapore Noodles; Spinach & Pine Nut Filo Pie; and Shirazi Salad; to Rocket & Hazelnut
Presto; Peach Melba Parfait; and Pink Rose Lemonade, "Mildreds Easy Vegan: Exciting Food, Simply Cooked" will prove
to be a popular and enduringly appreciated pick for personal, professional, and community library Vegan Cookbook
collections. It should be noted for family chefs that "Mildreds Easy Vegan: Exciting Food, Simply Cooked" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Mildreds Restaurant (https://www.mildreds.co.uk) is a mecca for all food lovers that has been offering
exciting, affordable vegetarian and vegan food from its original restaurant, in London's Soho, since 1988. It now has four
more branches in King's Cross, Covent Garden, Dalston and Camden, and is hugely popular, both for its food and its vibe,
with musicians, comedians and other celebrities.
More Daily Veg
Joe Woodhouse
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781804190845, $26.99, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/More-Daily-Veg-frills-vegetarian/dp/1804190845
Synopsis: A new collection of palate pleasen and appetite satisfying vegetarian recipes (and a companion volume to the
highly acclaimed "Your Daily Veg", cookbook author Joe Woodhouse takes his culinary inspiration from countries as
varied as Vietnam, Spain, Morocco and Greece. He offers modern updates of traditional vegetarian dishes so they are
healthier and more modern in their approach, as well as recipes with easy ways to approach sometimes less familiar but
still straightforward dishes that always deliver on flavour and satisfaction.
Grouped together by ingredient, the recipes follow a simple format of short ingredients lists and easy-to-follow instructions
for making the most delicious food that just happens to have no meat or fish in it.
Critique: From Warm Potato Salad with Szechuan Pepper; Pumpkin & Ginger Rice with Coriander & Jalapenos; Green
Peppers, Potatoes & Eggs; Paprika Deviled Eggs; and Fennel Baked with Cherry Tomatoes & Red Onion; to Bobby Beans
with Lemon Ricotta & Basil; Roast Cauliflower Tacos; Pickled Carrots & Daikon; Silken Tofu Dressed in Szechuan
Vinegar Sauce; and Chickpeas in Tomato Pulp Dressing, Thick Yogurt & Marjorman, "More Daily Veg" truly lives up to
the promise of Joe Woodhouse that there would be no fuss nor frills -- just great vegetarian food with each thoroughly
'kitchen cook friendly' recipe. Very strongly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Vegetarian
Cookbook Collections, it should be note that "More Dailey Veg" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$12.99).
Editorial Note: Joe Woodhouse (https://www.joewoodhouse.com) has been vegetarian since the age of 10, teaching
himself how to cook. He later trained as a chef and spent years working in kitchens such as Vanilla Black and the Towpath
Cafe, as well as contributing to events with restaurants such as the Quality Chop house. He can be followed on Instagram:
@joe_woodhouse
The Economic Studies Shelf
An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line
Medicine National Academies of Sciences, Engineering
The National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309697392, $25.00, PB, 150pp
https://www.amazon.com/Updated-Measure-Poverty-Drawing-Line/dp/0309697395
Synopsis: An accurate measure of poverty is necessary to fully understand how the economy is performing across all
segments of the population and to assess the effects of government policies on communities and families. In addition,
poverty statistics are essential in determining the size and composition of the population whose basic needs are going
unmet and to help society target resources to address those needs.
"An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line" from The National Academies Press recommends updating the
methodology used by the Census Bureau to calculate the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) to reflect household basic
needs. This report recommends that the more comprehensive SPM replace the current Official Poverty Measure as the
primary statistical measure of poverty the Census Bureau uses.
The report also assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the SPM and provides needed recommendations for updating its
methodology and expanding its use in recognition of the needs of most American families such as medical care, childcare,
and housing costs.
Critique: Timely, informative, and reliable, "An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line" is a very strongly
recommended and core addition to personal, professional, community, academic, and governmental library Contemporary
Economics & Policy Planning collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: The National Academies Press (https://nap.nationalacademies.org) publishes the publications of the
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It publishes more than 200 publications per year on a wide
range of topics in science, engineering, and medicine, providing authoritative, independently researched information on
important matters in science and health policy.
Mighty Microeconomics
Michihiro Kandori
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781009161077, $120.00, HC, 500pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Microeconomics-Guide-Thinking-Economist/dp/1009161075
Synopsis: Economics is a social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Economics helps us to understand that certain slick mechanisms are operating beyond what we see in our daily economic
lives. To fully understand and appreciate these mechanisms, we need to master the core mathematical theories, some of
which are highly advanced and typically covered in a graduate course.
An introductory textbook, "Mighty Microeconomics: A Guide to Thinking Like An Economist" presents those theories
without compromising rigor, but, at the same time, economics professor Michihiro Kandori offers a number of innovative
pedagogical twists that make the difficult materials completely accessible to undergraduate students, and even to general
readers.
Written in a conversational, colloquial style, Professor Kandori explains basic messages and core insights that are usually
hidden between the lines. The usefulness of these theories is shown through a number of real-life examples, and, in the
end, the readers can see that the mathematical models provide deep insights into social justice and philosophy. Simply
stated, "Mighty Microeconomics" will help its readers to think like economists.
Critique: Featuring a one page listing of Case Studies, four Appendices, and a six page Index, "Mighty Microeconomics: A
Guide to Thinking Like An Economist" is comprehensive as well as thoroughly and impressively 'reader friendly' in both
style, organization and presentation. While an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended textbook for supplemental
Economics curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, economists, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Mighty Microeconomics: A Guide to Thinking Like An Economist" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781009161084, $44.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $42.74).
Editorial Note: Michihiro Kandori (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michihiro_Kandori) is the Professor of Economics at the
University of Tokyo. He was former Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University, and
Taussig Visiting Professor at Harvard University. He is the president of the Game Theory Society (2022-2024) and was a
former associate editor of Econometrica, and fellow of the Econometric Society. He has published numerous articles in
high-impact journals. He received his PhD from Stanford University under the supervision of Nobel laureate, Paul
Milgrom. He has consistently received high ratings for his 'Welcome to Game Theory' course on Coursera (more than
85,000 learners since 2015).
The American History Shelf
Frontier Teachers, second edition
Chris Enss
TwoDot Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781493064779, $22.95, PB, 218pp
https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Teachers-Stories-Heroic-Women/dp/1493064770
Synopsis: If countless books and movies are to be believed, America's Wild West was, at heart, a world of cowboys and
Indians, sheriffs and gunslingers, scruffy settlers and mountain men -- a man's world.
But with the publication of a newly revised and expanded second edition of "Frontier Teachers" author and historian Chris
Enss takes on this stereotype by telling the stories of twelve courageous women who faced down schoolrooms full of
children on the open prairies and in the mining towns of the Old West. Now with five new teachers covered and a new
chapter, this new and expanded second edition of "Frontier Teachers" brings these important stories to light.
Between 1847 and 1858, more than 600 women teachers traveled across the untamed frontier to provide youngsters with
an education, and the numbers grew rapidly in the decades to come, as women took advantage of one of the few career
opportunities for respectable work for the ladies of the era.
Enduring hardship, the dozen women whose stories are movingly told in the pages of this new edition "Frontier Teachers"
demonstrated the utmost dedication and sacrifice necessary to bring formal education to the Wild West. As immortalized
in works of art and literature, for many students their women teachers were heroic figures who introduced them to a world
of possibilities -- and by doing so, changed America forever.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader with the addition of a ten page Bibliography and an eight page Index, this new and
expanded second edition of "Frontier Teachers" by Chris Enss is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal, professional, community, and academic library American History and Women's History collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that this new edition of "Frontier Teachers" from the University of Michigan Press is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Chris Enss (https://chrisenss.com) has been writing about women of the Old West for more than thirty
years. She has penned more than fifty published books on the subject. Her work has been honored with nine Will Rogers
Medallion Awards, two Elmer Kelton Book Awards, an Oklahoma Center for the Book Award, three Foreword Review
Magazine Book Awards, and two Western Writers of America Spur Finalist Awards. Enss's most recent works are The
Widowed Ones: Beyond the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Iron Women: The Ladies Who Helped Build the Railroad, and
The Lady and the Mountain Man: Isabella Bird, Mountain Man Jim Nugent, and their Unlikely Friendship.
The Federalist Frontier
Kristopher Maulden
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826221964, $45.00, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Federalist-Frontier-Northwest-1783-1840-Constitutional/dp/0826221963
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Federalist Frontier: Settler Politics in the Old Northwest, 1783-1840" historian and
academician Kristopher Maulden deftly traces the development of Federalist policies and the Federalist Party in the first
three states of the Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois) from the nation's first years until the rise of the Second
Party System in the 1820s and 1830s.
Relying on government records, private correspondence, and newspapers, Maulden argues that Federalists originated many
of the policies and institutions that helped the young United States government take a leading role in the American people's
expansion and settlement westward across the Appalachians. It was primarily they who placed the U.S. Army at the fore of
the white westward movement, created and executed the institutions to survey and sell public lands, and advocated for
transportation projects to aid commerce and further migration into the region.
Ultimately, the relationship between government and settlers evolved as citizens raised their expectations of what the
federal government should provide, and the region embraced transportation infrastructure and innovation in public
education.
Historians of early American politics will now have a chance to read about Federalists in the Northwest, and see the early
American state in action in fighting Indians, shaping settler understandings of space and social advancement, and
influencing political ideals among the citizens. For historians of the early American West, Maulden's work demonstrates
that the origins of state-led expansion reach much further back in time than generally understood.
Critique: Featuring a number of Illustrations, forty pages of Notes, a twenty-two page Bibliography, and a six page Index,
"The Federalist Frontier: Settler Politics in the Old Northwest, 1783-1840" is an impressively informative and seminal
contribution to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Early American History collections and
supplemental Constitutional Democracy studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "The Federalist Frontier" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780826222855, $26.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.70).
Editor's Note: Kristopher Maulden, PhD, teaches high school history. (https://www.bibliovault.org/BV.book.epl?ISBN=9780826274397)
The World History Shelf
Before Scotland: A Prehistory
Alistair Moffat
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500297254, $18.95, PB, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Before-Scotland-Prehistory-Alistair-Moffat/dp/0500297258
Synopsis: The story of the land that became Scotland is one of dramatic geological events and impressive human endeavor.
In "Before Scotland: A Prehistory", author Alistair Moffat's gripping narrative ranges from the great thaw at the end of the
Ice Age, which was instrumental in shaping Scotland's magnificent landscape; through the megalith builders, the Celts, and
the Picts; to the ascension of King Constantine II.
As a writer and historian, Moffat deploys his knowledge with wit and deftness, interweaving the story with numerous
special features on topics as diverse as cave drawings of dancing girls, natural birth control, the myth of Atlantis, and the
Zoroastrian Towers of Silence -- all of them valuable, sometimes quirky, additions to the whole picture.
Erudite and entertaining, Before Scotland transforms our understanding of a neglected period and is essential reading for
anyone interested in the people, events, and monuments that make up Scotland's captivating past.
Critique: As inherently fascinating as it is impressively informative, "Before Scotland: A Prehistory" is an exceptionally
well written, organized and presented historical study that is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a section of 22
color illustrations. A welcome, unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, college, and
university library Scotland history collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Before Scotland: A Prehistory" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Alistair Moffat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_Moffat) was born in Kelso, Scotland. He is an
award-winning writer and historian, was director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is former rector of the University of
St. Andrews. He is also the founder of the Borders Book Festival and co-chairman of the Great Tapestry of Scotland. His
many books include The Highland Clans and Scotland's Forgotten Past.
The Vanished Settlers of Greenland
Robert W. Rix
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781009359474, $39.99, HC, 217pp
https://www.amazon.com/Vanished-Settlers-Greenland-Search-Legend/dp/1009359479
Synopsis: For four hundred years, Norse settlers battled to make southern Greenland a sustainable home for themselves.
They strove against gales and winter cold, food shortages and in the end, a shifting climate.
The remnants they left behind speak of their determination to wrest an existence at the foot of this vast, icy and challenging
wilderness. Yet finally, seemingly suddenly, they vanished; and their mysterious disappearance in the fifteenth century has
posed a riddle to scholars ever since.
What happened to the lost Viking colonists? For centuries people assumed their descendants could still be living, so
expeditions went to find them: to no avail.
With the publication of "The Vanished Settlers of Greenland: In Search of a Legend and Its Legacy" Robert Rix tells the
gripping story of the missing pioneers, placing their poignant history in the context of cultural discourse and imperial
politics. Ranging across fiction, poetry, navigation, reception and tales of exploration, he expertly delves into one of the
most contested questions in the annals of colonization.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "The Vanished Settlers of Greenland: In Search of a Legend and Its
Legacy" by Professor Robert Rix is a model of exhaustive research and meticulous scholarship. Informatively enhanced for
the reader with the inclusion of a forty-six page Bibliography, thirty-nine pages of Notes, and a six page Index, "The
Vanished Settlers of Greenland: In Search of a Legend and Its Legacy" will have an immense appeal and value for readers
with an interest in Scandinavian history and European Literature. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$29.99), "The Vanished Settlers of Greenland: In Search of a Legend and Its Legacy" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library European History collections and
Greenlnd History curriculums in particular.
Editorial Note: Robert W. Rix (https://engerom.ku.dk/english/staff/?pure=en/persons/51467) is Associate Professor and
Director of Research at the University of Copenhagen. He is widely known for his prolific publication profile in
eighteenth- and nineteenth-century studies. This includes areas such as politics, religion, language, nationalism, and print
culture. Rix has also published on earlier periods, for example The Barbarian North in Medieval Imagination Ethnicity,
Legend, and Literature (2014).
The Talavera Campaign 1809
Tim Saunders
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399040037, $54.95, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Talavera-Campaign-1809-Tim-Saunders/dp/1399040030
Synopsis: Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley returned to the Peninsular in 1809 convinced that the country could be
held against the French. His audacious crossing of the Duoro and speedy victory at Oporto in May, followed by the
deceptively easy ejection of Marshal Soult's corps, confirmed this view, giving him the confidence to plan a campaign with
General Cuesta's Army of Extremadura to advance on French-held Madrid via the Tagus Valley.
From the outset relations between the two allied generals were poor, not to mention the divisions and enmity within the
Spanish juntas and army. Matters only got worse once Wellesley's army entered Spain, thanks to a failure to provide
supplies and missed opportunities. Finally, the French army, with King Joseph at its head, marched to confront the allies at
Talavera.
The fighting did not start well for the British, who were taken by surprise and had to fight hard to extricate themselves
from trouble, before inexperienced staff officers and commanders mis-deployed divisions and brigades, nearly resulting in
disaster for the Allies when Marshal Victor launched a night attack. The Peninsular Army still had much to learn.
The following day, the French attacked again with the full force of a Napoleonic army infantry, cavalry and artillery, but
the two-deep British line held and with their confidence shattered, the French withdrew. It was a hard-fought victory for
the British commander, who was soon to be ennobled as the Duke of Wellington.
Critique: An exemplary historical study, "The Talavera Campaign 1809" by Tim Saunders is a simply fascinating and
impressively informative work of meticulous research resulting in a detailed examination of a key event in early 19th
Century British Military history. Profusely illustrated throughout with b/w illustrations, as well as featuring two
Appendices (An Example of Wellesley's General Orders; Orders of Battle), six pages of Notes, and a three page Index,
"The Talavera Campaign 1809" is a core addition to personal, professional, community, college and university library
British Military History collections and curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, historians, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Talavera Campaign 1809" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $22.49).
Editorial Note: Tim Saunders served as an infantry officer with the British Army for thirty years, during which time he
took the opportunity to visit campaigns far and wide, from ancient to modern. Since leaving the Army he has become a full
time military historian, with this being his sixteenth book, has made nearly fifty full documentary films with Battlefield
History and Pen & Sword. He is an active guide and Accredited Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.
(https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Major-Tim-Saunders/a/227)
1066: The Lost Hastings Battlefield
David John Barnby, author
John Leftwich, author
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399049054, $42.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/1066-Battlefield-David-John-Barnby/dp/1399049054
Synopsis: The year 1066 is a date in English history that changed the way people lived and were governed, as well as
transforming the language of the land. Astonishingly, the research reported in "1066: The Lost Hastings Battlefield" by co-
authors David Barnby and John Leftwich finds the traditional site attracting many thousands of visitors each year is not
where the battle was actually fought!
The death of King Edward the Confessor in January 1066 set off competing claims for the English throne by Norwegian
King Harald Hardrada, Duke William of Normandy and the English magnate, Harold Godwinson; contentions finally
settled at the epic Battle of Hastings later that year.
"1066: The Lost Hastings Battlefield" tells a compelling story, beginning with the Norman duke's crossing with an army,
that included a large cavalry contingent, in a fleet of Viking looking longboats from St Valery on the French coast, to the
final battle, the Battle of Hastings, on Blackhorse Hill on the high ridge some two miles east of the traditional site at Battle
Abbey. It was there that King Harold met his end when surrounded and attacked by Norman knights in the closing stages
of the battle. In addition, the story from the Viking invasion of Lindisfarne until William's crossing of the Channel and
events leading up to William's death have been included to provide context to our main story.
The sequence of events told here relies upon the several historic accounts and the placing of events, carefully matching
them to the terrain described there with the topography of the area, a painstaking process of trial and error, to accurately
place the battle site on Blackhorse Hill. The author has made use of satellite imagery, not previously available to earlier
authors on the battle, to confirm the location of the old Cinque port of Hastings (first proposed by Nick Austin in his
Secrets of the Norman Invasion), the site of Duke Williams's pre-battle camp. The author has analyzed the relative
distances from the old port to the Battle Abbey site and the Blackhorse Hill site to eliminate the former and confirm the
latter.
As far as is known, no-one has ever considered the Blackhorse Hill site before and it is hoped that this will inspire
researchers to expand upon these findings.
Critique: An original, iconoclastic, significant, and invaluable contribution to the history of 1066 AD and the Norman
invasion of England, "1066: The Lost Hastings Battlefield" is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a two page
listing of Bibliography Resources, ten pages of Notes, and a five page Index. While with the highest recommendation
possible for personal, professional, community, college and university library English Military History collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "1066: The Lost Hastings Battlefield" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $22.49).
Editorial Note #1: David Barnby graduated from what is now known as the City University, London in electrical
engineering and following a long career in telecommunications engineering, turned to writing and produced several books.
His book, Life and Times of Nicolas Forget follows the life of the mid-17th century French Canadian explore and fur
trader, who was the previously unidentified traveling companion of Des Grossellier. With a life-long interest in history and
analytical skills gained during his working life, it was an easy transition for him to researching and writing "1066: The Lost
Hastings Battlefield".
Editorial Note #2: John Leftwich is the model maker extraordinaire who constructed a model of the Hastings Battlefield
for the better understanding of the battlefield topography. He also drew the maps and diagrams for the book and advised on
technical issues. He has a long career in the graphic arts industry producing both technical and figurative illustrations, and
later graphic designs for print.
Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I
Tracy Borman
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802162069, $29.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Boleyn-Elizabeth-Daughter-Forever/dp/0802162061
Synopsis: Much of the fascination with Britain's legendary Tudors centers around the dramas surrounding Henry VIII and
his six wives and Elizabeth I's rumored liaisons. Yet the most fascinating relationship in that historic era may well be that
between the mother and daughter who, individually and collectively, changed the course of British history.
The future Queen Elizabeth was not yet three when her mother, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded on May 19, 1536, on Henry's
order, incensed that she had not given him a son and tired of her contentious nature. Elizabeth had been raised away from
court, rarely even seeing Anne; and after her death, Henry tried in every way to erase Anne's presence and memory. At that
moment in history, few could have predicted that mother and daughter would each leave enduring, and interlocked,
legacies.
Yet as Tracy Borman reveals with the publication of "Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Forever
Changed British History" (the first-ever joint portrait), both women broke the mold for British queens and for women in
general at the time.
Anne was instrumental in reforming and reshaping forever Britain's religious traditions, and her years of wielding power
over a male-dominated court provided an inspiring role model for Elizabeth's glittering, groundbreaking 45-year reign.
Indeed, Borman shows how much Elizabeth (most visibly by refusing to ever marry, but in many other more subtle ways
that defined her court) was influenced by her mother's legacy.
In its originality, "Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I" sheds new light on two of history's most famous women, including the
private desires, hopes, and fears that lay behind their dazzling public personas, and the surprising influence each had on the
other during and after their lifetimes. In the process, Tracy Borman reframes our understanding of the entire Tudor
era.
Critique: A seminal and ground breaking work of meticulous, extraordinary, and detailed scholarship, "Anne Boleyn &
Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Forever Changed British History" is a significant, welcome, and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, community, college, and university library British Royal History/Biography collections
and supplemental Tudor Era curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Forever Changed
British History" is also available in a paperback edition (9781399705073, $26.69, Amazon.com) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.24).
Editorial Note: Tracy Borman (https://www.hrp.org.uk/tracy-borman) is England's joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal
Palaces, Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, and Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln. She
is the author of many highly acclaimed books, including Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from
William the Conqueror to Charles III; Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him; The Private Lives of the Tudors:
Uncovering the Secrets of Britain's Greatest Dynasty; Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII's Most Faithful
Servant; Queen of the Conqueror: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I; Elizabeth's Women: Friends, Rivals, and Foes
Who Shaped the Virgin Queen; Witches: A Tale of Sorcery, Scandal and Seduction; as well as the trilogy of novels The
King's Witch, The Devil's Slave, and The Fallen Angel. Borman is also a regular broadcaster and accomplished public
speaker.
The Civil War Shelf
The Big Book of Civil War Sites
Eric Ethier, author
Cynthia Parzych, editor
The Lyons Press
www.lyonspress.com
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493072026, $34.95, PB, 432pp
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Civil-Sites-Personalities/dp/1493072021
Synopsis: Originally published in hardcover in February 2011, "The Big Book of Civil War Sites" by Professor Eric Ethier
is now available for a new generation of Civil War history students and non-specialist general readers in a new paperback
edition from the Lyons Press. This detailed history and survey of American Civil War sites is the consummate travel
reference for all America's Civil War battlefields. Whether exploring the Southern states or the Eastern theater,
history-focused travelers and Civil War buffs finally have ready access to in-depth and thorough listings of all major sites,
including historical background information, travel options, museums, and events.
Critique: Now in a newly updated and expanded paperback edition, "The Big Book of Civil War Sites: From Fort Sumter
to Appomattox, a Visitor's Guide to the History, Personalities, and Places of America's Battlefields" must be considered an
essential and core addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library American Civil War
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Comprehensive, illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in
organization and presentation, "The Big Book of Civil War Sites: From Fort Sumter to Appomattox, a Visitor's Guide to
the History, Personalities, and Places of America's Battlefields" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.99).
Editorial Note: James C. Bradford (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Bradford), is an Associate Professor of History
at Texas A&M University. He is also the editor of numerous books, including A Companion to American Military History
and Atlas of American Military History.
Force of a Cyclone
Caroline Ann Davis, author
Robert M. Dunkerly, editor
Savas Beatie LLC
989 Governor Drive, Ste. 102, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611216394, $16.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Force-Cyclone-December-1862-January-Emerging/dp/1611216397
Synopsis: All of Middle Tennessee held its breath when the new year dawned in 1863. One day earlier on December 31,
Braxton Bragg's Confederate Army of Tennessee faced off against William Rosecrans's Federal Army of the Cumberland
just outside Murfreesboro along Stones River. The commanders, who led armies nearly equal in size, had prepared
identical attack plans, but Bragg struck first. His morning attack bent the Federal line back upon itself.
The desperate fighting seesawed throughout the day amid rocky outcroppings and cedar groves. The Federals managed to
avoid a crushing defeat and hold on until dark as the last hours of the old year slipped away. The cold and exhausted
soldiers rang in the New Year surrounded by the pitiful cries of the wounded punctuated by cracks of skirmish fire while
the opposing generals contemplated their next moves.
With the fate of Middle Tennessee yet to be determined, President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went
into effect on January 1, 1863. The president had signed the proclamation back in September of 1862, but he needed
battlefield victories to bolster its authority. The stakes being gambled outside Murfreesboro were enormous. Determined to
win the battle outright, Bragg launched another large-scale assault on January 2. The fate of the Army of the Cumberland
and the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation hung in the balance.
President Lincoln himself would often look back on that fragile New Year's Day and ponder all that was at stake. "I can
never forget whilst I remember anything," he told Federal commander Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, "that about the end
of last year and the beginning of this, you gave us a hard-earned victory, which, had there been a defeat instead the nation
could scarcely have lived over."
Critique: With the publication of "Force of a Cyclone: The Battle of Stones River, December 31, 1862 - January 2, 1863",
co-authors Caroline Davis and Robert Dunkerly explore a significant turning point of the Civil War, and one that had the
highest percentage of casualties on both sides of any Civil War battle. Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of
numerous b/w illustrations, maps, and a 'Stones River Driving Tour', "Force of a Cyclone" is part of the Savas Beatie
'Emerging Civil War Series" and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library
American Civil War History collections. It should be noted for students, academia, dedicated Civil War History buffs and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Forces of a Cyclone" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note #1: Caroline Ann Davis studied American History at Ball State University in Muncie, IN, and historical
preservation with a concentration on public history at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. In 2015, she worked at the
Stones River National Battlefield through the Student Conservation Association. During her summer there, she began
researching the battle and the surrounding area's history and led tours of the battlefield. This is her first book in the
Emerging Civil War Series from Savas Beatie.
Editorial Note #2: Robert M. (Bert) Dunkerly studied history at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and historic
preservation at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. He led tours of the battlefield and researched its
history, preservation, and its National Cemetery. Bert is the author of three other books in the Emerging Civil War Series
and is active in historic preservation and research. (https://emergingcivilwar.com/contributor/robert-m-dunkerly)
The Military Shelf
The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific
Catherine L. Grant, et al.
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647123383, $137.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Age-Naval-Power-Indo-Pacific/dp/1647123380
Synopsis: Competition at sea is once again a central issue of international security. Nowhere is the urgency to address
state-on-state competition at sea more strongly felt than in the Indo-Pacific region, where freedom of navigation is
challenged by regional states' continuous investments in naval power, and the renewed political will to use it to undermine
its principles.
"The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific: Strategy, Order, and Regional Security" provides an original
framework in which five "factors of influence" explain how and why naval power matters in this pivotal part of the
world.
An international group of contributors make the case that these five factors draw upon a longstanding influence of naval
power on regional dynamics and impact the extent to which different states in the region use naval power: the capacity to
exert control over sea-lanes, the capacity to deploy a nuclear deterrent at sea, the capacity to implement the law of the sea
in an advantageous way, the ability to control marine resources, and the capacity for technological innovation.
"The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific" offers a fresh approach for academics and policy makers seeking to
navigate the complexity of maritime security and regional affairs.
Critique: An impressively timely contribution to our military strategy debates with respect to dealing with Chinese naval
aggression in the Indo-Pacific, " A new framework contextualizes crucial international security issues at sea in the
Indo-Pacific "The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific: Strategy, Order, and Regional Security" will have a
special relevance and value for readers with an interest in Asian and American political and military issues of naval
confrontations and competing interests. While also available in a paperback edition (9781647123390, $45.95) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $43.95), "The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific" must be considered a basic and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, governmental, college, and university library
Indo-Pacific political and military strategy/policy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Catherine L. Grant is a former research associate at the Naval Postgraduate School and a graduate of the
master's program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Catherine-Grant-2)
Editorial Note #2: Alessio Patalano is a professor in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.
(https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/dr-alessio-patalano)
Editorial Note #3: James A. Russell is an associate professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval
Postgraduate School.
(https://www.nps.edu/web/nsa/faculty/-/asset_publisher/eHb4tK5KXorI/content/james-russell-ph-d-)
Sailing Upwind
Admiral Sandy Winnefeld
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.nip.org
9781682478745, $32.95, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Upwind-Leadership-Innovation-Situation/dp/1682478742
Synopsis: "Sailing Upwind: Leadership and Risk from TopGun to the Situation Room" is more than just another memoir
of a distinguished former naval officer s highly diverse career. This personal life story by Admiral James "Sandy"
Winnefeld is also intended to offer useful reflections regarding how he accepted and managed risk along the way, as well
as a concise description of the qualities one must develop to become a successful leader. Winnefeld began his career as an
F-14 fighter pilot and TOPGUN instructor, commanded an aircraft carrier, and then served in a variety of flag officer
billets on the way to becoming the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In an entertaining and humble manner, "Sailing Upwind" describes how that journey unfolded and the lessons he attaches
to it. The reader will learn what it is like to become a Navy fighter pilot, and to fly, fight, and takeoff and land from an
aircraft carrier - including a harrowing description of ejecting from an F-14 at night far from land.
Winnefeld also describes the culture of excellence at the real TOPGUN and the Navy's nuclear propulsion program. He
recounts how he learned to lead the men and women who operate at every level of Navy operational command, from
squadron to ship to fleet.
Finally, Winnefeld presents a behind-the-scenes look at how military decisions are made at the highest levels of
government regarding whether and how those forces will be used, and how they are acquired. In the process, Winnefeld
also provides descriptions of how, by challenging existing assumptions and processes and through relentless creativity, he
was able to lead change.
He reflects on how the risk associated with such changes should be accepted and managed. The title Sailing Upwind (in
which a sailboat must be operated against a prevailing force field to make progress in the right direction) is an apt
metaphor for the bent for pushing against the system as Winnefeld describes throughout his military memoir.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, exceptionally well written, and amazingly informative read from first page to last,
"Sailing Upwind: Leadership and Risk from TopGun to the Situation Room" by Admiral Sandy Winnefeld is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library
Contemporary American Military History/Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted that "Sailing Upwind" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.12).
Editorial Note: Sandy Winnefeld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Winnefeld_Jr.) grew up in a Navy family. After
commissioning from the NROTC program, he flew the F-14 Tomcat and served as a TOPGUN instructor. He subsequently
held command at every level in the military. With the rank of Admiral, he culminated his service as the ninth Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Biography Shelf
Say Anarcha
J. C. Hallman
Henry Holt & Company
www.henryholt.com
9781250868466, $29.99, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Say-Anarcha-Devious-Surgeon-Harrowing/dp/1250868467
Synopsis: For more than a century, Dr. J. Marion Sims was hailed as the "father of modern gynecology". He founded a
hospital in New York City and had a profitable career treating gentry and royalty in Europe, becoming one of the world's
first celebrity surgeons. Statues were built in his honor -- but he wasn't the hero he had made himself appear to be.
Sims's greatest medical claim was the result of several years of experimental surgeries (without anesthesia) on a young
enslaved woman known as Anarcha; his so-called cure for obstetric fistula forever altered the path of women's health.
One medical text after another hailed Anarcha as the embodiment of the pivotal role that Sims played in the history of
surgery. Decades later, a groundswell of women objected to Sims's legacy celebrated Anarcha as the "mother of
gynecology". Little was known about the woman herself. The written record would have us believe Anarcha disappeared --
but she did not.
Through tenacious research, author J. C. Hallman has unearthed the first evidence of Anarcha's life that did not come from
Sims's suspect reports. Hallman reveals that after helping to spark a patient-centered model of care that continues to
improve women's lives today, Anarcha lived on as a midwife, nurse, and "doctor woman".
"Say Anarcha" excavates history, deconstructing the biographical smoke screen of a surgeon who has falsely been
enshrined as a medical pioneer and bringing forth a heroic Black woman to her rightful place at the center of the creation
story of modern women's health care.
Critique: A seminal contribution to the history of women's medicine, "Say Anarcha: A Young Woman, a Devious Surgeon,
and the Harrowing Birth of Modern Women's Health" by J. C. Hallman must be considered an essential, core addition to
personal, professional, community, college, university, and medical school Women's Health History/Biography collections
and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for medical students, academia, women's health advocates,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Say Anarcha: A Young Woman, a Devious Surgeon,
and the Harrowing Birth of Modern Women's Health" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: J. C. Hallman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._C._Hallman) is the author of five previous works of
nonfiction and a book of short stories. His previous work on Anarcha has appeared in Harper's Magazine,the Forum (of the
African American Policy Forum), the Baffler, Montgomery Advertiser, and Urology. He had been a recipient of
fellowships from the McKnight Foundation and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, in the general
nonfiction category.
Son of Southern Illinois
Carl Walworth, author
Glenn Pushard, author
Southern Illinois University Press
www.siupress.com
9780809339181, $28.95, PB, 340pp
https://www.amazon.com/Son-Southern-Illinois-Poshards-Education/dp/0809339188
Synopsis: With the publication of "Son of Southern Illinois: Glenn Poshard's Life in Politics and Education", co-authors
Carl Walworth and Glenn Pushard have collaboratively written the first biography of Glenn Poshard and have traced the
life of a young man who rose from rural poverty in Southern Illinois to become a United States congressman and president
of the Southern Illinois University system. This profound portrait unveils a life and career dedicated to making higher
education affordable and improving the quality of life for the community of Southern Illinois.
Beginning with his childhood in a two-room home near Herald, Illinois and the early, tragic loss of his sister, this
biography navigates Poshard's service in the military, his time as a state senator and United States congressman, his run for
governor, his years at Southern Illinois University, and the establishment of the Poshard Foundation for Abused
Children.
Intimacies of his personal life are disclosed, such as his struggles with and treatment for depression, his passion for
education, and the lasting bonds he formed with his teachers. His unpopular decision to refuse PAC donations is also
highlighted, along with the work that went into sponsoring the Illinois Wilderness Act, and his relationship with civil
rights activist John Lewis. Glenn Poshard's efforts for the Wilderness Act designated Southern Illinois's famous Garden of
the Gods as a National Wilderness Preservation System, which continues to attract visitors from around the world.
Poshard's path from poverty was riddled with hardship, but his perseverance and family values ultimately allowed for
longstanding personal and civic growth. From an admirable work ethic to a steadfast commitment to problem-solving, this
biography illuminates the life and accomplishments of an impressive and generous leader.
Critique: Featuring B/W illustrations, "Son of Southern Illinois: Glenn Poshard's Life in Politics and Education" is a
seminal study of the life and accomplishments of a truly remarkable man who overcame numerous adversities yet made a
lasting impact on the state of Illinois that still resonates today. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Son
of Southern Illinois" is a confidently recommended and important pick for personal, community, and academic library
American Political Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note #1: Carl Walworth (https://www.carlwalworth.com) worked for thirty-one years as a reporter, editor and
later publisher in the newspaper industry in Illinois. He currently is the library director at the Mattoon Public Library. He is
the author of The Mayor of Moultrie Avenue and a researcher for Lake Sara, the Hidden Jewel in America's Heartland.
Walworth has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in Urbana and an MBA from Nova
Southeastern University.
Editorial Note #2: Glenn Poshard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Poshard) has been at the forefront of educational
and economic development initiatives at the regional, state, and national level for more than five decades. His lengthy
service-oriented career has included time as a soldier, teacher, Illinois state senator, a member of the U.S. Congress,
chairman of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees, and President of the SIU system. The Poshard Foundation
for Abused Children, a volunteer organization founded by Poshard and his wife, Jo, has served the needs of vulnerable
children in Southern Illinois for nearly 25 years.
Garland: That's Beyond Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland
Lawrence Schulman, author
James Fisher, contributor
John H. Haley, foreword
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887711850, $38.00, HC, 294pp
https://www.amazon.com/Garland-Thats-Beyond-Entertainment-Reflections/dp/B0C9SDN1K5
Synopsis: Differing from other biographies and studies devoted to the life and accomplishments of American actress,
singer, dancer and vaudevillian, Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969) is that "Garland: That's Beyond
Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland" by Lawrence Schulman isn't a traditional birth-to-death biography. Rather, it
aims to remove her from the simplistic realm of such epithets as "world's greatest entertainer" and "Miss Show Business"
and reconsider her as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century's Great American Songbook, as someone who took us
beyond entertainment to a level of artistry unique in classic American popular music.
The importance of Judy Garland is amply highlighted in this detailed and richly-illustrated study covering Schulman's
writings on Garland between 1993 and 2023 that concentrate on her recordings, and not all the hoopla, hagiography, and
tragedy usually attached to her short 47-year life.
Utilizing published articles, reviews, liner notes, interviews, program notes, talks, and prefaces, the Schulman opus (which
includes a Foreword by John H. Haley and an Afterword by James Fisher), took thirty years to write, and revolutionizes the
trite take on Garland as having had just "a talent to amuse." A seminal study which meticulously includes all the facts but
does not exclude amusing anecdotes and unsettling stories that shed light on this complicated artist, "Garland: That's
Beyond Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland" resembles Garland in that it is indeed entertaining, but it also
spotlights an artist whose frightening talent takes us over the rainbow to a reality in song that is devoid of complaisance or
artifice.
Critique: An absolute 'must read' for the legions of Judy Garland fans, "Garland: That's Beyond Entertainment -
Reflections on Judy Garland" is exceptionally informative, insightful, groundbreaking, well written biography that features
B/W illustrations throughout. Throughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Garland: That's Beyond
Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland" will prove an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to
personal, community, and academic library 20th Century American Entertainer Biography/Memoir collections and
supplemental American 20th Century Popular Culture curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for Judy Garland fans
that "Garland: That's Beyond Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland" is also available in a paperback edition
(9798887711843, $28.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Founded in 2001 by Publisher Ben Ohmart, BearManor Media is known for publishing books on Movies,
Television, Old Time Radio, Theater, Animation, Circus Performing Arts and previously unpublished scripts. The
BearManor Media catalog now features more than 900 outstanding subjects from the obscure to the eminent. BearManor
Media is also considered a leader and innovator in publishing rare autobiographies and biographies of African-American
show business legends, famous voice actors, well-known sitcom stars, and celebrated producers, directors, and
screenwriters.
Unmasking the Klansman
Dan T. Carter
NewSouth Books
105 South Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
www.newsouthbooks.com
9781588384812, $28.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Confederate-Ghost-Dancer-Carter-America/dp/1588384810
Synopsis: "Unmasking the Klansman: The Double Life of Asa and Forrest Carter" by Dan Carter may read like a work of
fiction but it is actually the true life biography of Asa Carter, one of the South's most notorious white supremacists (and
secret Klansman).
During the 1950s, this North Alabama political firebrand became known across the region for his right-wing radio
broadcasts and leadership in the white Citizens' Council movement. Combining racism and thinly-concealed
anti-Semitism, he created a secret Klan strike force that engaged in a series of brutal assaults, including an attack on jazz
singer Nat King Cole as well as militant civil rights activists. "Unmasking the Klansman" explores the life of Asa Carter
during these years and offers new insights into the legal maneuvers as well as the violence used by white Southern
segregationists to derail the civil rights movement in the region.
In the early 1960s Carter became a secret adviser to George Wallace and wrote the Alabama governor's infamous 1963
inauguration speech vowing "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever".
When Carter disappeared from Alabama in 1972, few knew that he had assumed a new identity in Abilene, Texas,
masquerading as a Cherokee American novelist. Using the name "Forrest" Carter, he published three successful Western
novels, including The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales, which Clint Eastwood made into a widely acclaimed 1976 movie. His
last book, The Education of Little Tree (a fake biography of his supposed Indian childhood) posthumously became a
number one best-seller in 1991.
Author Dan T. Carter uncovered "Forrest" Carter's true identity while researching his biography of Georgia Wallace and in
a New York Times' op-ed he exposed Carter's deception. Although the difficulties of uncovering the full story of the
secretive Carter initially led him to abandon the project, in 2018 he gained access to more than two hundred interviews by
the late Anniston newsman, Fred Burger. These recordings and his two decades of exhaustive research finally brought Asa
Carter's story into focus. "Unmasking the Klansman" is the result.
Critique: An inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "Unmasking the Klansman: The Double Life of Asa and
Forrest Carter" is a eloquent study in evil and a part of the 20th Century history of the American South that a new
generation of white supremist political leaders is currently trying to erase from school history books and college history
courses. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Unmasking the Klansman" is impressive informative and
engaging life story of a man who strove to stop the long arc of history towards ending segregation -- a conflict that still
goes on today. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library 20th
Century American History & Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Unmasking the
Klansman" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.38).
Editorial Note: Dan T. Carter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_T._Carter) is the University of South Carolina
Educational Foundation Professor Emeritus. The author and editor of more than forty scholarly articles and seven books,
including Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South and The Politics of Rage: George Wallace, The Origins of the
New Conservatism and the Transformation of American Politics. Carter has received eight major literary prizes including
the Lillian Smith, Bancroft, and Robert Kennedy awards as well as a special citation in nonfiction from the Mystery
Writers of America.
The General Fiction Shelf
Banyan Moon
Thao Thai
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780063267107, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Banyan-Moon-Novel-Thao-Thai/dp/0063267101
Synopsis: When Ann Tran gets the call that her fiercely beloved grandmother, Minh, has passed away, her life is already at
a crossroads. In the years since she's last seen Minh, Ann has built a seemingly perfect life (a beautiful lake house, a
charming professor boyfriend, and invites to elegant parties that bubble over with champagne and good taste) but it all
crumbles with one positive pregnancy test. With both her relationship and carefully planned future now in question, Ann
returns home to Florida to face her estranged mother, Huong.
Back in Florida, Huong is simultaneously mourning her mother and resenting her for having the relationship with Ann that
she never did. Then Ann and Huong learn that Minh has left them both the Banyan House, the crumbling old manor that
was Ann's childhood home, in all its strange, Gothic glory. Under the same roof for the first time in years, mother and
daughter must face the simmering questions of their past and their uncertain futures, while trying to rebuild their
relationship without the one person who's always held them together.
Running parallel to this is Minh's story, as she goes from a love struck teenager living in the shadow of the Vietnam War to
a determined young mother immigrating to America in search of a better life for her children. And when Ann makes a
shocking discovery in the Banyan House's attic, long-buried secrets come to light as it becomes clear how decisions Minh
made in her youth affected the rest of her life -- and beyond.
Spanning decades and continents, from 1960s Vietnam to the wild swamplands of the Florida coast, "Banyan Moon" is a
stunning and deeply moving story of mothers and daughters, the things we inherit, and the lives we choose to make out of
that inheritance.
Critique: A carefully crafted and simply riveting read from beginning to end, "Banyan Moon" by novelist Thao Thai will
hold a particular interest to fans of women's family life fiction. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and truly memorable,
"Banyan Moon" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted that "Banyan Moon" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.99). Librarians should be ware that there is a large print paperback edition of "Banyan Moon"
(9780063345089, $34.00, 512pp) and a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Blackstone Audio, 9798212709934,
$41.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Thao Thai (https://thaowrites.com) is a writer living in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Her work
engages with tangled family relationships and the intersections of motherhood and identity. She's been published in Cup of
Jo, Eater, Catapult, Sunday Long Read, and more. A recipient of the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, she has also been
nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes and earned fellowships in creative writing. She received her MFA from The Ohio
State University and her MA from The University of Chicago.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Stockwell Letters
Jacqueline Friedland
https://jacquelinefriedland.com
SparkPress
c/o Spark Point Studio
www.gosparkpress.com
9781684632145, $17.95, PB, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stockwell-Letters-Novel-Jacqueline-Friedland/dp/1684632145
Synopsis: A passionate advocate for the abolition of the slave trade from her earliest years, Ann's activism was derailed
just before her twenty-fourth birthday, when she fell sick with a mysterious illness. In order to protect her fragile health,
her husband, the famous abolitionist Wendell Phillips, forbade her from joining any further anti-slavery outings. Even so,
when fugitive slave Anthony Burns is apprehended in Boston, Ann is determined to help him, no matter what it costs
her.
Critique: A deftly crafted historical novel by Jacqueline Friedland, "The Stockwell Letters" accurately portrays the social
and political restrictions upon those nineteenth-century women who sought to effect positive changes such as the freeing of
the slaves and the ending of the slave trade in America. "The Stockwell Letters" give contemporary readers an accurate
accounting of the truly horrific conditions of the antebellum South and the obstacles faced by abolitionists who fought
tirelessly to eradicate slavery. Informative and inherently fascinating from first page to last, "The Stockwell Letters" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "The Stockwell Letters" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Jacqueline Friedland (https://jacquelinefriedland.com) is the author of He Gets That From Me, That's Not a
Thing, and Trouble the Water. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and NYU Law School, she practiced briefly as
a commercial litigator in Manhattan and taught Legal Writing and Lawyering Skills at the Benjamin Cardozo School of
Law. She returned to school after not too long in the legal world, earning her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
from Sarah Lawrence College. Jacqueline regularly reviews fiction for trade publications and appears as a guest
lecturer.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
Lovesick Blossoms
Julia Watts
Three Rooms Press
www.threeroomspress.com
9781953103420, $17.00, PB, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lovesick-Blossoms-Julia-Watts/dp/1953103421
Synopsis: In a small Kentucky college town in 1953, two married women desperately fall in love with each other, until a
moment of indiscretion threatens to destroy both their lives.
Colleagues and neighbors of Samuel and Boots are more than willing to accept their married status, even though Samuel
"dresses like a boy" and the pair's relationship is one of convenience that will never be consummated. But when Samuel
meets a new professor's wife, Frances, at a faculty party, she soon falls in love, and learns the difficulty of discretion in a
small town -- with tragic consequences.
Critique: "Lovesick Blossoms" by adult novel, award-winning author Julia Watts is her latest LGBTQ themed novel and
creates an original, deftly scripted, compelling, emotional, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful story of power and passion.
While highly recommended for community and academic library LGBTQ literary fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Lovesick Blossoms" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Julia Watts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Watts) is the author of fourteen novels and several short
story collections in the genres of young adult fiction and lesbian fiction/erotica. Her books, set in Appalachia, often depict
the lives of LGBTQ people in the Bible Belt. Her novel Needlework was selected as Tennessee's youth selection for the
"Great Reads from Great Places" by the Library of Congress, and won Honorable Mention for Best YA novel of the year in
the Foreword INDIES awards. Her novel Finding H.F. (Alyson Press) won the Lambda Literary Award in the
children/young adult category. Her novel, Quiver, set in rural Tennessee, received a rare "Perfect 10 Rating" from VOYA
Magazine, and was selected for the American Library Association's Rainbow List. Her novel Secret City (Bella Books)
was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and a winner of a Golden Crown Literary Award. In 2020 Watts was given
the Tennessee Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Award.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
The Brothers Karamazov: A New Translation
Fyodor Dostoevsky, author
Michael R. Katz, translator
Liveright
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9781631498190, $36.00, HC, 928pp
https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Karamazov-Translation-Michael-Katz/dp/1631498193
Synopsis: Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky's final and arguably greatest novel, "The Brothers Karamazov", paints a
complex and richly detailed portrait of a family tormented by its extraordinarily cruel patriarch, Fyodor Pavlovich, whose
callous decisions slowly decimate the lives of his sons (the eponymous brothers Karamazov) and lead to his violent
murder. In the aftermath of the killing, the brothers contend with dilemmas of honor, faith, and reason as the community
closes in on the murderer in their midst.
Critique: With this new edition published Liveright and distributed for an American readership by W.W. Norton,
acclaimed translator and academic Professor Michael R. Katz, renders this literary masterpiece's nuanced and evocative
storytelling in a vibrant, signature prose style that captures all the power of Dostoevsky's original, including the clever
humor, the rich emotion, the passion and the turmoil. This newly translated edition of "The Brothers Karamazov" will
captivate (and unsettle) a new generation of readers. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.99), this massive
saga is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Russian/English
literary studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Fyodor Dostoevsky (11 November 1821 - 9 February 1881) is a Russian writer who wrote The Brothers
Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and many other novels.
Editorial Note #2: Michael R. Katz (https://lithub.com/author/michaelrkatz) is C. V. Starr Professor Emeritus of Russian
and East European Studies at Middlebury College. He has published translations of more than fifteen Russian novels,
including Crime and Punishment and Notes from Underground.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
The Long Game
Elena Armas
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781668011300, $18.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Game-Novel-Elena-Armas/dp/1668011301
Synopsis: Adalyn Reyes has spent years perfecting her daily routine: wake up at dawn, drive to the Miami Flames FC
offices, try her hardest to leave a mark, go home, and repeat.
But her routine is disrupted when a video of her in an altercation with the team's mascot goes viral. Rather than fire her, the
team's owner (who happens to be her father) sends Adalyn to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina, where she's tasked with
turning around the struggling local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a way to redeem herself. Her plans crumble upon
discovering that the players wear tutus to practice (impractical), keep pet goats (messy), and are terrified of Adalyn
(counterproductive), -- and are nine-year-old kids.
To make things worse, also in town is Cameron Caldani, goal keeping prodigy whose presence is somewhat of a mystery.
Cam is the perfect candidate to help Adalyn, but after one very unfortunate first encounter involving a rooster, Cam's leg,
and Adalyn's bumper, he's also set on running her out of town.
But banishment is not an option for Adalyn. Not again. Helping this ragtag children's team is her road to redemption, and
she is playing the long game. With or without Cam's help.
Critique: A clear candidate for being turned into a Halllmark Rom-Com movie, "The Long Game" by novelist Elena
Armas is a fun read from cover to cover. Original, deftly crafted characters, memorable plot twists, "The Long Game" will
have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in contemporary romance laced with genuine humor and a 'happy ever
after' finale. While highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Romance
collections, it should be noted that "The Long Game" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797164311, $42.74, CD).
Editorial Note: Elena Armas (www.authorelenaarmas.com) is a Spanish writer, a self confessed hopeless romantic, and a
proud book hoarder. She hopes her stories make your heart skip a beat or two, your palms a little sweaty, and your cheeks
flush in that rosy pink that makes other people want to peek at the page you are reading.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Comanche Territory
Cole Shelton
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850284, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 270pp
Synopsis: Chief Red Claw's Comanche renegades, supplied with Springfield rifles by a greedy gunrunning outfit, are
terrorizing settlers, burning, looting and killing. In desperation, the army rehires former trail scout Clay Coleman, a man
they once booted out.
On the trail, Clay rescues a mail order bride from a Comanche war party, then catches up with his old saddle partner
Shoshone Sam. Together, the two scouts match their wits and guns against Comanche warriors and ruthless
gunrunners.
With the odds stacked against them, can they bring peace to the frontier again? And can Clay survive to win the woman he
loves?
Critique: An original, carefully crafted, and simply gripping story that will have a very special appeal to fans of non-stop
action/adventure westerns, this large print paperback edition of "Comanche Territory" by Cole Shelton will prove to be a
welcome pick for personal reading lists of dedicated fans and the Western Fiction collections of community libraries.
Editorial Note: Cole Shelton (Roger Norris-Green), has written 137 published westerns under 6 pen names plus 2 under his
own name. Some of his westerns have received "Best Western of the Month" awards.
Backlash
Dale Graham
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850307, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 234pp
Synopsis: Fed up with driving an old mud wagon to deliver mail in Arizona, young Jeff Hayden is eager for change. But
his boss reckons he doesn't have the experience to handle the more prestigious Concord stagecoaches. However, when a
special delivery of gold to Gila Bend is lacking a suitable driver, Jeff's hero Trace Wildeblood suggests he is more than
capable of handling a full team.
But when the stagecoach is held up and robbed by Squint Rizzo and his gang, Trace's sweetheart Sophie Dexter is killed.
Blamed for neglecting to get the coach to safety, Jeff joins the posse to bring Squint to grime justice.
Critique: A fun, original, and thrilling read from start to finish, this large print paperback edition from Linford Western
Library of "Backlash" by western novelist Dale Graham will have a very special appeal to dedicated fans of deftly crafted
western novels and is an unhesitatingly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Western
Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Dale Graham is a pen name for Graham Dugdale, who writes westerns and previously worked as a teacher
in New Mexico. He also compiles crossword puzzles for a weekly country sports newspaper and has produced eleven
highly successful walking guides all based in the north of England. He is also the author of "Death Rides Alone" and "Hell
Bound for Spindriff".
One Grave Too Many
Matt Cole
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850208, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 294pp
Synopsis: Ross Chisenhall lies defenseless and defeated. Four riders have viciously killed his only son and left him for
dead. In time he recuperates from his wounds, and is left with not only a scar on his face, but a darkness inside that cannot
be quenched until his child's death is avenged. Under an assumed name he escapes to the town of Mesilla, where he soon
discovers that he can be as cruel and brutal as the most savage gunman.
Critique: A simply riveting revenge themed action/adventure western, "One Grave Too Many" by Matt Cole is a
compelling and compulsive page turner of a read from beginning to end. This large print paperback edition of "One Grave
Too Many" is a highly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction
collections.
Editorial Note: Matt Cole (https://www.facebook.com/mattcoleauthor) is an author, comic book writer, children's book
author, and writing teacher/ lecturer. He is the author of over thirty books, in numerous genres from nonfiction, children's,
fantasy, detective, historical, crime, and Western.
Desperadoes On The Loose
E. Jefferson Clay
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850291, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 222pp
Synopsis: There was trouble in Fortitude Valley. Someone had set up a lumber camp smack in the middle of cattle country.
And to make matters worse, the lumbermen drafted in to work the axes and saws, and float the timber down to the
sawmill, were paroled convicts!
If they made a go of the chance they'd been given, they could win their freedom.
But the Cattlemen's Association had other ideas about that. So the Fortitude Valley Lumber Company hired Hank Brazos
and Duke Benedict as security men to keep the peace -- but that was easier said than done!
Critique: Another deftly crafted and western action/adventure showcases the further adventures of former Confederate
Sergeant Hank Brazos and former Union Captain Duke Benedict. As an author, E. Jefferson Clay is a master of the western
genre and this large print paperback edition "Desperadoes on The Loose" from the Linford Western Library series is a fun
and highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: E. Jefferson Clay (https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/e-jefferson-clay) is one of the many pseudonyms for
legendary Australian author, comic book writer and illustrator, Paul Wheelahan.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
A Fatal Illusion
Anna Lee Huber
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguin.com/berkley-overview
9780593198483, $17.00, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Illusion-Lady-Darby-Mystery/dp/0593198484
Synopsis: Yorkshire, England. August 1832. Relations between Sebastian Gage and his father have never been easy,
especially since the discovery that Lord Gage has been concealing the existence of an illegitimate son. But when Lord
Gage is nearly fatally attacked on a journey to Scotland, Sebastian and Kiera race to his side. Given the tumult over the
recent passage of the Reform Bill and the Anatomy Act, in which Lord Gage played a part, Sebastian wonders if the attack
could be politically motivated.
But something suspicious is afoot in the sleepy village where Lord Gage is being cared for. The townspeople treat
Sebastian and Kiera with hostility when it becomes clear they intend to investigate, and rumors of mysterious
disappearances and highway robberies plague the area. Lord Gage's survival is far from assured, and Sebastian and Kiera
must scramble to make the pieces fit before a second attempt at murder is more successful than the first.
Critique: A wonderfully entertaining and carefully crafted historical mystery, "A Fatal Illusion" is a pare of novelist Anna
Lee Huber's 'Lord Darby Mystery' series. Especially appropriate and appreciated by readers with an interest in historical
mysteries featuring women sleuths and a bit of romance in their mysteries, "A Fatal Illustration" is especially commended
as a pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "A Fatal
Illusion" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Anna Lee Huber (https://www.annaleehuber.com) is the Daphne Award-winning author of the popular
Lady Darby Mysteries and the Verity Kent Mysteries. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Lipscomb University in
Nashville, Tennessee, where she majored in music and minored in psychology. She currently resides with her family and is
hard at work on her next novel.
A Killing at Smugglers Cove
Michelle Salter
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781837510672, $32.99, HC, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-at-Smugglers-Cove/dp/1837510687
Synopsis: July 1923 - Iris Woodmore travels to Devon with her friends Percy Baverstock and Millicent Nightingale for her
father's wedding to Katherine Keats.
But when Millicent uncovers skeletal remains hidden on the private beach of Katherine's former home, Iris begins to
suspect her future stepmother is not what she seems.
The police reveal the dead man is a smuggler who went missing in 1918, and when a new murder occurs, they realize a
killer is in their midst. The link between both murders is Katherine. Could Iris's own father be in danger?
Critique: A riveting and fun read that will have a special attraction for dedicated 'whodunnit' murder mystery fans of
amateur female sleuths and unexpected plot twists, "A Killing at Smugglers Cove" is an Iris Woodmore Mystery from the
pen of Michelle Salter. A simply riveting novel from start to finish, this hardcover edition from Boldwood Books is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted
for the personal reading lists of mystery buffs and Michelle Salter fans that "A Killing at Smuggler's Cove" is also readily
available in a large print paperback edition (9781837510689, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Michelle Salter (https://www.michellesalter.com) is a historical crime fiction writer based in Hampshire,
United Kingdom. Many of her books are set in the area where she lives and are inspired by real-life events in 1920s
Britain. She also has connections to Devon, and her latest novel, A Killing at Smugglers Cove, is set in Dawlish and
Exeter. Michelle brings a love of social history to her novels, which reflect how issues of 100 years ago are not so different
from the challenges we face today.
Birder, She Wrote
Donna Andrews
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250760241, $28.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Birder-She-Wrote-Langslow-Mysteries/dp/1250760240
Synopsis: Meg Langslow is relaxing in the hammock, taste-testing Michael's latest batch of Arnold Palmers and watching
the hummingbirds at their feeders when her hopes for a relaxing early summer morning are dashed.
First her father recruits her to help him install a new batch of bees in the hive in her backyard. Then Mayor Shiffley
recruits her to placate the NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard), with respect to a group of newcomers to Caerphilly who have
built McMansions next door to working farms and then do their best to make life miserable for the farmers. And finally
Meg's grandmother, shows up, trailed by a nosy reporter who is writing a feature on her for a genteel Southern ladies'
magazine.
Cordelia drafts Meg to accompany her and Deacon Washington of the New Life Baptist Church (and the reporter, alas!) in
their search for a long-lost African-American cemetery. Unfortunately what they discover is not an ancient cemetery but a
fresh corpse. Can Meg protect her grandmother (and Caerphilly) from the reporter who seems to see the worst in
everything -- and help crack the case before the killer finds another victim?
Critique: A 'must read' for the legions of cozy mystery enthusiasts in general, and novelist Donna Andrews fans in
particular, "Birder, She Wrote" is the 33rd entry to the veritable library of Meg Langslow Mysteries. Laced with humor,
and starring one of the most popular armature female sleuths in the cosy mystery genre, "Birder, She Wrote" is an original
and fun read from cover to cover. While with the highest recommendation for inclusion into community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Birder, She Wrote" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Donna Andrews (http://www.donnaandrews.com) has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards, an RT
Book Reviews Award for best first novel, and four Lefty and two Toby Bromberg Awards for funniest mystery. She is a
member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Novelists, Inc. She has written over 30 books in the Meg
Langslow mystery series.
The Trade Off
Sandie Jones
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250836939, $29.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Trade-Off-Sandie-Jones/dp/125083693X
Synopsis: For Stella, deputy editor of The Globe, the choice has always been clear. It doesn't matter how low she has to
stoop -- getting the best story is what she's built her reputation on.
For Jess, The Globe's rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids
will be hard to overturn.
And when a celebrity is hounded by The Globe and pays the ultimate price, Jess wonders just how much Stella and the
paper are responsible.
Determined to show the world what the tabloid is capable of, Jess will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth, but she
needs to watch her back, because someone else is prepared to kill to bury it.
Critique: Because novelist Sandie Jones can draw upon her more than twenty years as a practicing journalist she is able to
bring a very special authenticity to her newest novel, "The Trade Off". Original, entertaining, compelling, "The Trade Off"
is a riveting read and highly recommended for community library Domestic/Psychological suspense thriller collections. It
should be noted that "The Trade Off" is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Sandie Jones (https://sandiejones.com/about) has worked as a freelance journalist for more than twenty
years and has written for publications including The Sunday Times, Woman's Weekly, and Hello magazine. She lives with
her husband and three children. She is the author of The Other Woman, a Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine pick.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Beautiful Shining People
Michael Grothaus
Orenda Books
https://orendabooks.co.uk
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
c/o Independent Publishers Group
https://www.ipgbook.com
9781914585647, $16.99, PB, 276pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Shining-People-Michael-Grothaus/dp/191458564X
Synopsis: Decades into the future, it's our ordinary world, where cars drive themselves, drones glide across the sky, and
robots work in burger shops. There are two superpowers and a digital Cold War, but all conflicts are safely oceans away.
People get up, work, and have dinner. Everything is as it should be.
Except for seventeen-year-old John, a tech prodigy from a damaged family, who hides a deeply personal secret. But
everything starts to change for him when he enters a tiny cafe on a cold Tokyo night. A cafe run by a disgraced sumo
wrestler, where a peculiar dog with a spherical head lives, alongside its owner, enigmatic waitress Neotnia...
But Neotnia hides a secret of her own -- a secret that will turn John's unhappy life upside down. A secret that will take
them from the neon streets of Tokyo to Hiroshima's tragic past to the snowy mountains of Nagano.
A secret that reveals that this world, decades ahead in the future, is anything ordinary -- and it's about to change
forever!
Critique: Original, eloquent, carefully crafted, and an entertaining read from beginning to end, "Beautiful Shining People"
will hold immense appeal to fans of historical thrillers, science fiction, and literary excellence. While available for personal
reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.15) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Isis Audio Book,
9781399148795, $122.95, CD), this paperback edition of "Beautiful Shining People" from Orenda Books is especially and
unreservedly recommended for community library Literary Fiction and Science Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Michael Grothaus (https://www.michaelgrothaus.com) is a novelist, journalist and author of non-fiction.
His writing has appeared in Fast Company, VICE, The Guardian, Litro Magazine, The Irish Times, Screen, Quartz and
others. His debut novel, Epiphany Jones, a story about sex trafficking among the Hollywood elite, was longlisted for the
CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger and named one of the 25 Most Irresistible Hollywood Novels' by Entertainment
Weekly.
The Audiobook Shelf
There's No Coming Back from This
Ann Garvin, author
Andi Arndt, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9781713616313, $19.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours 57 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Theres-No-Coming-Back-This/dp/1713616319
Synopsis: It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.
After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an
old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It's a bold
move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy's a capable person - how hard
can a job in wardrobe be? It's not like she has a choice; her life couldn't get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot
to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.
As a single mom, she's rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn't sew, and she doesn't know a thing about dressing
the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie
star taken with Poppy's unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.
When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who's at the center of it, a
revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a
spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.
Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she's always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the
moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.
Critique: Brought vividly to life in a true and memorable 'theatre of the mind' experience by the vocal talents of narrator
Andi Arndt, "There's No Coming Back from This" by novelist Ann Garvin will have a special and particular appeal to fans
of Women's Friendship and Domestic/Family Life Fiction. "There's No Coming Back from This" this complete and
unabridged edition from Brilliance Audio is highly recommended for both personal and community library audio book
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Ann Garvin (www.anngarvin.net) is the author of five funny and sad novels about people who do too
much, in a world that asks too much from them. Ann teaches in the low-residency master of fine arts program at Drexel
University and lives with her anxious and overly protective dog, Peanut. She is the founder of the Tall Poppy Writers and
is dedicated to helping authors find readers and vice versa.
Editorial Note #2: Andi Arndt (https://www.andiarndt.com) is an acclaimed Audiobook Narrator known for her captivating
voice and ability to bring stories to life. Andi is in the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. Her work has earned 3 Audie
Awards and 4 Audie Finalist Medallions, 6 AudioFile Earphones Awards, and she's twice been mentioned on AudioFile's
list of the Best Voices of the Year.
A Soul of Ash and Blood
Jennifer L. Armentrout, author
Tim Campbell, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400147609, $34.99, MP3-CD (19 Hours 42 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Ash-Blood-Novel/dp/B0BTHSG4WF
Synopsis: A great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone -- the
true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods
are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.
But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is
becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though -- something he plans to cling to as he waits to
see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.
And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the
process. But it's anybody's guess what she'll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when
she does.
With "A Soul of Ash and Blood, fantasy novelist Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel's epic love story in the
next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.
Critique: Expertly and vividly performed with the impressive narrative vocal styles ofTim Campbell, this complete and
unabridged edition of "A Soul of Ash and Blood" from Brilliance Audio will have a very special attraction to fans of
vampire romance fantasy fiction. Original, self-contained, and a must for the growing legions of Jennifer L. Armentrout
fans, "A Soul of Ash and Blood" is a clearly endorsed addition to both personal and community library audio book
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Jennifer L. Armentrout (https://jenniferlarmentrout.com) writes young adult, paranormal, science
fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow,
Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion, Harlequin Teen, and Blue Box Press; and PassionFlix recently made her
Wicked series into a feature film. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award in
Romance for her adult fantasy, From Blood and Ash. She has also written Adult and New Adult contemporary and
paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn.
Editorial Note #2: Tim Campbell (http://www.timcampbell.me) is an award winning actor and singer. He works primarily
in audiobook narration and voice over and has narrated over 800 titles spanning almost every genre. He has won or been
nominated for almost every major award in the audiobook industry including a 2018 Audie, multiple Audie nominations, a
2019 Voice Arts Award and several Audiofile Earphones Awards and Independent Audiobook Awards.
The Shell House Detectives
Emylia Hall, author
Kate Rawson, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400115516, $19.99, MP3-CD (12 Hours 13 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Shell-House-Detectives-Mystery/dp/B0BF2ZXX89
Synopsis: Late one night, a distraught young man knocks on the door of retired and recently widowed Ally Bright's remote
home on the Cornish coast. But before she can make sense of his confused words, he's gone -- not to be seen again until
he's found the next morning at the foot of the nearby cliffs.
In an instant, the peace of Ally's beachcombing life is shattered. Feeling responsible for the young man's fate, she wants to
help find answers -- as does ex-cop Jayden Weston, whom Ally meets at the scene. He shares her certainty that there's
more to the story than attempted suicide. When it emerges that the man is newly released ex-offender Lewis Pascoe, and
that Helena, the wealthy new owner of his grandmother's home, has subsequently disappeared, the tight-knit community of
Porthpella is thrown into turmoil.
Driven by their need to know more, the duo decide to investigate the mystery together. Is there a connection between the
Pascoe family's tragic history and Helena's disappearance? And if there is a killer stalking Porthpella, do Ally and Jayden
have what it takes to catch them?
Critique: With a very special appeal and attraction for fans of Cozy Mysteries and Private Investigation murder mysteries,
this complete and unabridged Brilliance audio production of "The Shell House Detectives" by Emylia Hall is brilliantly
narrated by the verbal narrative talents of Kate Rawson. Simply stated, "The Shell House Detectives" is a fun listening
experience and a welcome and prized addition to personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book
collections.
Editorial Note #1: Emylia Hall lives with her husband and son in Bristol, where she writes from a hut in the garden and
dreams of the sea. The Shell House Detectives is her first crime novel and is inspired by her love of Cornwall's wild
landscape. Emylia has published four previous novels, including Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Book of Summers
and The Thousand Lights Hotel. Her work has been translated into ten languages and broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music.
She is the founder of Mothership Writers and is a writing coach at The Novelry. Emylia can be followed on Instagram at
@emyliahall_author and on Twitter at @emyliahall
Editorial Note #2: Kate Rawson is a talented narrator who has a complete listing of her available audio book titles at:
https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Kate+Rawson
Role Playing
Cathy Yardley, author
Chris Brinkley, narrator
Elyse Dinh, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400115769, $19.99, MP3-CD (10 Hours 3 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Role-Playing-Cathy-Yardley/dp/B0BFV3YHWQ
Synopsis: Maggie is an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit. But when her college-aged son makes her a
deal (he'll be more social if she does the same) she can't refuse. She joins a new online gaming guild led by a friendly
healer named Otter. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch.
Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging
mother while his brother plays house with Aiden's ex-fiancee.
Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there's a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter
assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian.
When they finally meet face to face (after a rocky, shocking start) the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities
grow tentatively closer. But Maggie's previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden's got a complicated past of his
own.
Everything's easier online. Can they make it work in real life?
Critique: If every there were a story for our times, "Role Playing" by novelist Cathy Yardley is it. This complete and
unabridged audio book edition from Brilliance Audio is deftly narrated by the team of Chris Brinkley and Elyse Dinh who
are able to bring the entire story along with its distinctive characters to life in a true theatre of the mind experience for the
listener. "Role Playing" is a choice pick for both personal and community library audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Cathy Yardley (https://www.cathyyardley.com) is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and
urban fantasy. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that
sometimes being a little wrong is just right.
Editorial Note #2: Chris Brinkley (https://www.chrisbrinkleystoryteller.com) is an accomplished narrator, voice actor,
writer, producer, NCAA Division I broadcaster, radio personality, and emcee. Brinkley penned the recently released My
Story of Us book and audio series.
Editorial Note #3: Elyse Dinh (https://elysedinh.com/About) is a Vietnamese-American actress who is also active in voice
over work, narrating audiobooks and doing loop groups/ADR, in addition to commercials, podcasts, audio plays, and
PSAs.
Dragon Lover: A Dragon Kings Novella
Donna Grant, author
Anthony Ferguson, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400144677, $14.99, MP3-CD (6 Hours 18 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lover-Kings-Novella-Nights/dp/B0C2CLD87K
Synopsis: Sensual. Clever. Daring. There's only one thing Kendrick yearns for -- peace that has eluded the Dragon Kings.
Zora may have been made in the image of Earth, but it's a far cry from home. For too long the Kings have been on the
defensive, betrayed time and again. When Kendrick has an opportunity to stop a foe, he takes it. Except he isn't the only
one tracking it. Soon, he finds himself face-to-face with an exquisite swordswoman who holds him enthralled...and sparks
passion within his cold heart.
As an Asavori Ranger, Esha has dedicated her life to protecting her people. She trains relentlessly to become one of their
best warriors, forsaking everything else. When a treacherous new enemy invades their lands, she vows to destroy it. Esha's
rash decision has her crossing paths with that of a mysterious, handsome outsider. He's trouble the Rangers don't need, but
she can't walk away. He awakens desires long buried and dreams neglected. The temptation of their forbidden union is
more than she can resist. She's soon walking a treacherous path -- one that could be the downfall for them both.
Critique: A fun combination of high fantasy, forbidden romance, and action/adventure, this complete and unabridged audio
book edition of "1001 Dark Nights: Dragon Tower" by fantasy novelist Donna Grant is expertly performed by voice actor
and narrator Anthony Ferguson in a tour-de-force presentation that is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for
both personal and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her
acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark,
dangerous, and irresistible. Her fans can visit her at www.DonnaGrant.com, at www.MotherOfDragonsBooks.com, and on
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant
Editorial Note #2: Anthony Ferguson (https://narrator.page/n/antony_ferguson) is a native of London, England and an
AudioFile Earphones Award winner. He is a classically trained actor and has appeared in numerous productions in
London, Off-Broadway, and regional theater. As a voice actor, he has over 150 audiobooks to his credit and was
recommended by the All About Romance Web site as one of the best male narrators at performing female characters. He is
equally comfortable with British, Scottish and Australian dialects
After Death
Dean Koontz, author
Edoardo Ballierini, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9798400115462, $29.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours 24 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/After-Death-Dean-Koontz/dp/B0BHHW883C
Synopsis: Michael Mace, head of security at a top-secret research facility, opens his eyes in a makeshift morgue
twenty-four hours following an event in which everyone perished - including him and his best friend, Shelby
Shrewsberry.
Having awakened with an extraordinary ability unlike anything he (or anyone else) has ever imagined, Michael is capable
of being as elusive as a ghost. He sets out to honor his late friend by helping Nina Dozier and her son, John, whom Shelby
greatly admired. Although what Michael does for Nina is life changing, his actions also evoke the wrath of John's father, a
member of one of the most violent street gangs in Los Angeles.
But an even greater threat is descending: the Internal Security Agency's most vicious assassin, Durand Calaphas. Calaphas
will stop at nothing to get his man. If Michael dies twice, he will not live a third time.
From the tarnished glamour of Beverly Hills to the streets of South Central to a walled estate in Rancho Santa Fe, only
Michael can protect Nina and John -- and ensure that light survives in a rapidly darkening world.
Critique: A master of the suspense thriller genre, "After Death" is still another brilliant, original, memorable, and
entertaining novel master storyteller Dean Koontz. Deftly narrated by voice actor Edoardo Ballierini, and presented in a
complete and unabridged audio book edition from Brilliance Audio, "After Death" will have a special appeal for fans of
conspiracy thrillers and science fiction adventures -- and will prove a prized pick for Dean Koontz fans and community
library audio book fiction collections..
Editorial Note #1: Dean Ray Koontz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Koontz) is an American author whose novels are
billed as suspense thrillers, but frequently incorporate elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire.
Many of his books have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, with fourteen hardcovers and sixteen
paperbacks reaching the number-one position. Koontz wrote under a number of pen names earlier in his career, including
"David Axton", "Deanna Dwyer", "K.R. Dwyer", "Leigh Nichols" and "Brian Coffey". He has published over 105 novels
and a number of novellas and collections of short stories, and has sold over 450 million copies of his work.
Editorial Note #2: Edoardo Ballierini ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edoardo_Ballerini) is an American actor, narrator,
writer, and film director.
Who Fears Death
Nnedi Okorafor, author
Anne Flosnik, narrator
Brilliance Audio
9781491577486, $9.99, MP3-CD (16 Hours 59 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Who-Fears-Death-Nnedi-Okorafor/dp/1491595450
Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic Africa, the world has changed in many ways, yet in one region genocide between tribes still
bloodies the land. After years of enslaving the Okeke people, the Nuru tribe has decided to follow the Great Book and
exterminate the Okeke tribe for good. An Okeke woman who has survived the annihilation of her village and a terrible
rape by an enemy general wanders into the desert hoping to die. Instead, she gives birth to an angry baby girl with hair and
skin the color of sand. Gripped by the certainty that her daughter is different, special, she names her child Onyesonwu,
which means "Who Fears Death?" in an ancient tongue.
From a young age, stubborn, willful Onyesonwu is trouble. It doesn't take long for her to understand that she is physically
and socially marked by the circumstances of her violent conception. She is Ewu -- a child of rape who is expected to live a
life of violence, a half-breed rejected by both tribes.
But Onye is not the average Ewu. As a child, Onye's singing attracts owls. By the age of eleven, she can change into a
vulture. But these amazing abilities are merely the first glimmers of a remarkable and unique magic. As Onye grows, so do
her abilities -- soon she can manipulate matter and flesh, or travel beyond into the spiritual world. During an inadvertent
visit to this other realm she learns something terrifying -- someone powerful is trying to kill her.
Desperate to elude her would-be murderer, and to understand her own nature, she seeks help from the magic practitioners
of her village. But, even among her mother's people, she meets with frustrating prejudice because she is Ewu and female.
Yet Onyesonwu persists.
Eventually her magical destiny and her rebellious nature will force her to leave home on a quest that will be perilous in
ways that Onyesonwu can not possibly imagine. For this journey will cause her to grapple with nature, tradition, history,
true love, and the spiritual mysteries of her culture, and ultimately to learn why she was given the name she bears: Who
Fears Death?
Critique: Impressively performed by the vocal narration talents of Anne Flosnik, "Who Fears Death" is an original fantasy
novel by author Nnedi Okorafor. A memorable listening experience, we enter a world of magical realism as we are drawn
into a potent and powerful story of genocide set in the far future -- and of a unique woman who labors to overcome
prejudice and hostility to survive and reshape her world. This truly extraordinary, complete and unabridged MP3-CD
edition of "Who Fears Death" from Brilliance Audio is strongly recommended for personal and community library Post-
Apocalyptic Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.
Editorial Note #1: Nnedi Okorafor (www.nnedi.com) was born in the United States to two Igbo (Nigerian) immigrant
parents. She holds a PhD in English and is a professor of creative writing at Chicago State University. She has been the
winner of many awards for her short stories and young adult books, and won a World Fantasy Award for Who Fears Death.
Nnedi's books are inspired by her Nigerian heritage and her many trips to Africa. She can be followed on Twitter at
twitter.com/nnedi
Editorial Note #2: Anne Flosnik (https://www.anneflosnik.com) is a 5 time Audie Finalist, SAG-AFTRA British/US, as
well as an Audiobook Narrator & Producer, Voice Artist, Actress, Creator & Host of the "Narrator Uplift" House, on
Clubhouse.
The Library CD Shelf
Elysian Eclipse
Vincent Lyn
Exxeo Publishing
www.exxeo.xyz
$TBA CD / $5.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDXK7MM4
Concert pianist, actor, and on-the-ground crusader for human rights worldwide Vincent Lyn presents Elysian Eclipse, an
extraordinary piano album with contributions from Sami Turunen on guitar, Hector Ruano on bass guitar, Glenn Welman
on percussion, Yoed Nir on cello and strings. The music represents Vincent Lyn's will to make the world a better place, as
seen through his actions in starting the nonprofit organization We Can Save Children with the mission to rescue and
recover trafficked children in Africa and the Middle East, his efforts to help families in Ukraine, and his outspoken
condemnation of atrocities that have been committed against Ukraine's civilian population. Elysian Eclipse is powerful,
profound, spiritually evocative, and worthy of the highest recommendation for both personal and public library music
collections.
Love Walks Through Rain
Ann Sweeten
www.AnnSweeten.com
Orange Band Records
$15.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Walks-Through-Rain-Sweeten/dp/B0C263QFDS
Love Walks Through Rain is an instrumental piano music album by concert stage music artist and cancer survivor Ann
Sweeten, with contributions from Charlie Bisharat on violin, Eugene Friesen on cello, Nancy Rumbel on English horn,
Premik Russell-Tubbs on EWI and soprano saxophone, Will Ackerman on guitar, and Tom Eaton on bass. The music is
deeply emotional, inspirational, and spiritual, drawing inspiration from the love that sustains through tough times. Love
Walks Through Rain includes songs that Ann Sweeten created as tribute to her beloved dogs. An inset booklet in the
physical CD presents her thoughts and memories about caring for her dogs when they approached the end of their lives,
and the many years of joy their companionship brought her. Love Walks Through Rain is a treasure for connoisseurs of
instrumental music, highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The tracks are Valley Greene,
Glimmer, Seirios, The Winter's Circle, Love Walks Through Rain, Red - Requiem for an Old Friend, The Hills of
Riversong, The Shadow of You, Through Jasmine's Eyes, Out of the Fog, and Valley Greene Orchestral Reprise.
The Gratitude Project
Sherry Finzer
sherryfinzer.com
Heart Dance Records
$17.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Project-Sherry-Finzer/dp/B0C9PJR6G3
Sherry Finzer presents The Gratitude Project, a new age, solo flute album on two CDs featuring peaceful, meditative, and
inspirational music. All songs are original improvisations, some created for specific supporters of the project. A
rapturously beautiful listening experience, The Gratitude Project embodies the emotions of hope, love, and compassion,
and is highly recommended. The tracks are Genesis, Ghost Stories, The Extraction of Innocence, Flying Dreams,
Introspective, Hidden Emotions, Undercurrent, A Whole New World, A Mother's Love, Unconditional, Heart Space,
Finding Purpose, Strength, Sassafras, The Warrior, Exploratory Pathways, Raven Song, The Empress Within, Sacred
Trees, Invoking the Spirit, Spirit's Grace, Winds of Change, Divergence, and Lovely Lovely Day.
Private Earth
Carlos Dengler
www.carlosdengler.com
$TBA CD / $7.74 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C641FN63
Carlos Dengler presents Private Earth, an ambient new age music album of rapturous beauty. All of the songs are Dengler's
original compositions, performed by Dengler with contributions from Keith Bonner on the flute in "Violet Night",
"Ancient Lake", and "Solemn Cavern". Inspired by the wonders of nature, Private Earth is passionate, immersive, and
highly recommended especially for new age connoisseurs. The tracks are Desert Flora, Violet Night, Golden Dawn,
Ancient Lake, Solemn Cavern, and Rising Mountain.
Geodepedie - Hidden Light
Christina Tourin
www.ChristinaTourin.com
Emerald Harp Productions
$15.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Geodepedie-Hidden-Light-Christina-Tourin/dp/B0BSR9J7LN
Harpist and composer Christina Tourin presents Geodepedie - Hidden Light, an original music album of ethereal beauty.
The effulgent harp music accented by synth, guitar, and vocalizations is ideal for promoting relaxation, healing, and
creative inspiration. Geodepedie - Hidden Light is a treasure for harp music connoisseurs, and public library collections,
and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are Geodepedie - Hidden Light; Music Is Love; Passacaglia - Handel's Healing
Harp; Brigid's Green Mantle; Land O' The Leal; Early One Morning; Walk Through The Sunflowers; Reminisce;
Sommarpsalm; Icelandic Northern Lights; Grieg's Morning Mood; Largo - Vivaldi's Vision; Arigato, I For You; Amethyst
Of Avalon; As Above So Below; and Colors Of The Season.
Into the Quiet
Deborah Martin and Jill Haley
Spotted Peccary Music
www.SpottedPeccary.com
$16.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Into-Quiet-Deborah-Martin/dp/B0BYK7D52D
The second collaboration between electronic music artist Deborah Martin and established oboe player Jill Haley, Into the
Quiet is an electronic ambient music album featuring masterful performances on the flute, horn, synth, harp, oboe, and
more. All songs are original and instrumental. A captivating, deeply immersive listening experience, Into the Quiet is ideal
for meditation, relaxation, or encouraging creativity, and is highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of the genre.
The tracks are Sleeping Giants, Falling Away From the Earth, Into the Quiet, Reaching the Ambient, Refuge, Hall of
Whispers, Elements, and Violet Night.
A Walk in the Shadow Garden
Rudy Adrian
Spotted Peccary Music
www.SpottedPeccary.com
$16.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Shadow-Garden-Rudy-Adrian/dp/B0BSHBZFN8
A Walk in the Shadow Garden is an electronic ambient album inspired by the beauty of a well-tended garden. The original
"sonic garden" compositions eschew vocals or melodies, instead inviting the listener to meditate, imagine, or dream on an
open canvas of flowing sound. A Walk in the Shadow Garden is rapturous, inspirational, and highly recommended. The
tracks are A Walk in the Shadow Garden, Clouds Over Fields, Dawn Redwood, Hemlock Grove, Of Mosses and
Liverworts, Maple Glen, Rising Mist, Dark Waters, Perchance to Dream, Beechwood, and Conversations with a
Gardner.
The Photography Shelf
The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds
Rosl Rossner
Rocky Nook
1010 B Street, Suite 350, San Rafael, CA 94901
https://rockynook.com
9781681989358, $35.00, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Photographing-Birds-Techniques/dp/1681989352
Synopsis: Whether you're a dedicated and serious birder, a hobbyist bird watcher, or simply a lover of nature, getting great
photos of birds is at the top of the list for bird lovers of all kinds. With the publication of "The Beginner's Guide to
Photographing Birds: Essential Techniques for Hobbyists and Bird Lovers", professional photographer Rosl Rossner
teaches you all of her tips, tricks and techniques for capturing fantastic bird photographs.
Starting with the gear you'll need, Rossner discusses cameras, tripods, lenses, and more. She then moves on to finding the
birds you want to photograph. While this includes locations out in the wild, she also covers zoos, parks, sanctuaries, and
other easily accessible spots -- which are especially great for beginning bird photographers.
Rossner then thoroughly covers the camera and shooting techniques you need to know, including key lessons on exposure,
composition, focus, and sharpness. Regardless of the quality of the light (front light, side light, etc.) or the season you're
shooting in (rain, snow, fog), Rossner's got you covered.
In the final part of "The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds", Rossner takes you behind the scenes of 25 unique bird
photographs, telling you how the image came about, plus any specific tips and tricks that were used to create the image.
Featuring birds from around the world, The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds is a beautiful, helpful, and accessible
guide for anyone getting started in bird photography.
Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated in full color throughout, "The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds:
Essential Techniques for Hobbyists and Bird Lovers" is a complete, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'user friendly' course
of instruction that will enable even the most novice of bird watchers and wildlife photographers to obtain strikingly
memorable photos of bird life in every conceivable urban, rural, or wilderness location. While unhesitatingly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Wildlife Photography collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds: Essential Techniques for Hobbyists
and Bird Lovers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).
Editorial Note: Rosl Rossner (www.birdpictures.de) is an enthusiastic bird photographer and falconer who has been
teaching and sharing her knowledge in photography workshops for many years. Her pictures stand out because they are not
only technically perfect, but always aim to show the bird as a personality and as an individual. Stirring emotions is the goal
of her photographic work.
The Aviation Shelf
Zeppelins: The Golden Age of Airships
James Trautman
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228104438, $45.00, Large format hardcover, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Zeppelins-Golden-Airships-James-Trautman/dp/0228104432
Synopsis: It was in the 1930s that the invention of planes able to traverse the Atlantic would changed the world. However,
there were already aircraft crossing vast oceans over a decade earlier. Lighter than air, these vehicles were called dirigibles,
or, as the Germans named them, Graf Zeppelins.
Illustrated with period photographs, vintage travel posters, blueprints, advertisements and colorful brochures, "Zeppelins:
The Golden Age of Airships" by James Trautman covers every aspect of these fascinating and oft overlooked airships,
from their initial designs through to the height of their popularity during the Golden Age of Aviation
At the beginning of the 20th Century, dirigibles transported passengers, mail and other cargo from Europe to the Americas,
forever altering the world's concept of time and space. "Zeppelins: The Golden Age of Airships" is a thorough exploration
of these awe-inspiring feats of aviation.
The profusely illustrated volume features: The story of Ferdinand von Zeppelin, inventor of the Zeppelin, and his
surprising involvement in the US Civil War; The military role of airships (much has been said about the aerial bombing of
Britain in World War II, but little has been written of how, during the first World War, the Zeppelin was employed as a
"terror weapon"); The expedition of the dirigible The Norge, the first craft to cross the North Pole; The many flights of the
Graf Zeppelin, including the first ever round-the-world trip, funded largely by William Randolph Hearst; The dirigibles of
the US navy and the United Kingdom; Hollywood's fascination with dirigibles, and the role film played in romanticizing
the aircrafts in the minds of the public; The infamous tragedy of the Hindenburg.
Zeppelins is not simply the illustrated history of an aircraft; it is also the story of a changing world. It is the story of the
20th Century, of imagination, exploration, idealism and tragedy.
Critique: A fascinating, informative, illustrated aviation history, this large format hardcover edition of "Zeppelins: The
Golden Age of Airships" by James Trautman is especially and unreservedly recommended for inclusion into personal,
professional, community, and academic library Aviation History collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note: Jim Trautman grew up in the shadow of New Jersey's Liberty (Newark) Airport and has maintained a
lifelong love of aviation history He is the author of Pan American Clippers: The Golden Age of Flying Boats and is regular
contributor to North American magazines, newspapers and television
Editorial Note: James 'Jim' Trautman (https://www.historynet.com/author/jim-trautman) is a dedicated aviation historian
and journalist. He is the author of "Pan American Clippers: The Golden Age of Flying Boats" and a regular contributor to
North American magazines, newspapers, and television programs.
The Music Shelf
The Singers Talk
Jason Thomas Gordon
Permuted Press
https://permutedpress.com
9781637586990, $28.00, PB, 528pp
https://www.amazon.com/Singers-Talk-Greatest-Discuss-Theyre/dp/163758699X
Synopsis: "The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time Discuss the One Thing They're Never Asked About: Their
Voices" by Jason Thomas Gordon is a seminal and groundbreaking compendium of inspiring and instructive conversations
and interviews with professional singers ranging from Bryan Adams to Thom York (Radiohead) about the beauty,
brutality, discipline, techniques, and sacrifices of being a successful singer.
Critique: Featuring a b/w photo of each performer interviewed, "The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time
Discuss the One Thing They're Never Asked About: Their Voices" is unique, seminal, informative, and inherently
fascinating read that will have immense appeal and value for aspiring singers wanting to know what the road to success
(and failure) is like for anyone wanting to make a career out of singing professionally, either solo or in a band. While also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99), "The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time Discuss the One
Thing They're Never Asked About: Their Voices" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, college, university collections, as well as supplemental music school curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Jason Thomas Gordon (https://www.kingsizetheband.com/band) is the lead singer/drummer of the Los
Angeles rock band Kingsize, a screenwriter, and creator of Music Gives to St. Jude Kids, a campaign that raises funds and
awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through music-based initiatives. St. Jude was founded in 1962 by
Jason's grandfather, entertainer Danny Thomas, in Memphis, Tennessee. Jason also serves as a National Committee
member of the hospital's board.
Jazz and Death
Walter van de Leur
Routledge
www.routledge.com
9781138553415, $160.00, HC, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Death-Transnational-Studies/dp/1138553417
Synopsis: With the publication of "Jazz and Death: Reception, Rituals, and Representations", Professor Walter van de Leur
critically examines the myriad and complex interactions between jazz and death, from the New Orleans "jazz funeral" to
jazz in heaven or hell, final recordings, jazz monuments, and the music's own presumed death.
Professor Leur also examines how fans, critics, journalists, historians, writers, the media, and musicians have narrated,
mythologized, and relayed those stories. What causes the fascination of the jazz world with its deaths? What does it say
about how our culture views jazz and its practitioners? Is jazz somehow a fatal culture?
The narratives surrounding jazz and death cast a light on how the music and its creators are perceived. Stories of jazz
musicians typically bring up different tropes, ranging from the tragic, misunderstood genius to the notion that virtuosity
somehow comes at a price. Many of these narratives tend to perpetuate the gendered and racialized stereotypes that have
been part of jazz's history. In the end, the ideas that encompass jazz and death help audiences find meaning in a complex
musical practice and come to grips with the passing of their revered musical heroes -- and possibly with their own
mortality.
Critique: Erudite, eloquent, informative, insightful, exceptionally well organized and presented, "Jazz and Death" by
Professor Walter van de Leur is a seminal and ground breaking work of original scholarship and will have a special value
to readers with an interest in the history of Jazz in America. A part of the 'Transitional Studies in Jazz' series from
Routledge, "Jazz and Death" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college,
and university library American Music History collections and supplemental Jazz curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Jazz and Death" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781138553422, $44.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $44.95).
Editorial Note: Walter van de Leur (http://www.crj-online.org/v4/CRJ-Jazzwereld.php) is Professor of Jazz and
Improvised Music in the Department of Musicology at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on behalf of the
Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he is a Research Coordinator and docent.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Indigenous Missourians: Ancient Societies to the Present
Greg Olson
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826222824, $40.00, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Indigenous-Missourians-Ancient-Societies-Present/dp/082622282X
Synopsis: The history of Indigenous people in present-day Missouri is far more nuanced, complex, and vibrant than the
often-told tragic stories of conflict with white settlers and forced Indian removal would lead us to believe. With the
publication of "Indigenous Missourians: Ancient Societies to the Present", Greg Olson presents the Show Me State's
Indigenous past as one spanning twelve millennia of Native presence, resilience, and evolution. While previous Missouri
histories have tended to include Indigenous people only during periods when they constituted a threat to the state's white
settlement, Olson shows us the continuous presence of Native people that includes the present day.
Beginning thousands of years before the state of Missouri existed, Olson recounts how centuries of inventiveness and
adaptability enabled Native people to create innovations in pottery, agriculture, architecture, weaponry, and intertribal
diplomacy. Olson also shows how the resilience of Indigenous people like the Osages allowed them to thrive as fur traders,
even as settler colonialists waged an all-out policy of cultural genocide against them.
Though the state of Missouri claimed to have forced Indigenous people from its borders after the 1830s, Olson uses U.S.
Census records and government rolls from the allotment period to show that thousands remained. In the end, he argues
that, with a current population of 27,000 Indigenous people, Missouri remains very much a part of Indian Country, and that
Indigenous history is Missouri history.
Critique: Presented in a path-breaking narrative, "Indigenous Missourians: Ancient Societies to the Present" is a seminal
and groundbreaking work of meticulous and impressive research. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Indigenous Missourians: Ancient Societies to the Present" is informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusions of
Illustrations and Maps, forty-two pages of Notes, a twenty page Bibliography, and a twenty-nine page Index. While also
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.00), "Indigenous Missourians: Ancient Societies
to the Present" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to academic and community library Native American
History and Missouri History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Greg Olson served as the Curator of Exhibits and Special Projects at the Missouri State Archives from
2000-2018 and is the author of six books, including: The Ioway in Missouri; Voodoo Priests, Noble Savages, and Ozark
Gypsies: The Life of Folklorist Mary Alicia Owen; and Ioway Life: Reservation and Reform, 1837-1860.
The Art Shelf
Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: His Final Months
Nienke Bakker, et al.
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500026731, $60.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Van-Gogh-Auvers-sur-Oise-Final-Months/dp/0500026734
Synopsis: A seminal, groundbreaking, impressive work of collaborative scholarship, "Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: His
Final Months" offers a unique and impressive overview of the paintings and drawings that Vincent van Gogh created
during the last seventy days of his life.
He produced no fewer than seventy-four paintings and over thirty drawings in the course of the intense, productive period
leading up to his self-inflicted death on July 29, 1890. While the Portrait of Dr Gachet, The Church at Auvers, and
Wheatfield with Crows are numbered among his greatest masterpieces, this part of his oeuvre is otherwise less known
(unfairly so) than the sunny landscapes he painted in the south of France.
This large format volume (9.7 x 1.2 x 12 inches, 3.7 pounds) follows the artist from his arrival in Auvers-sur-Oise, where
he set to work full of hope and with fresh ambitions, through to his final weeks. Essays by leading Van Gogh specialists
highlight his artistic ambitions and mental state during this final phase, his exploration of the Auvers landscape, the flower
still lifes, the portraits, and the panoramic landscapes he painted there, the role played by his drawings, and his artistic
reputation at the time of his death and in the years immediately afterward.
In addition to the Auvers paintings, "Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: His Final Months" is richly illustrated throughout with
drawings, sketches, historical photographs, and detailed maps of the places Van Gogh worked. Also featured are related
works by contemporaries and predecessors whom he admired.
Editorial Note: Enriched with the inclusion of 220 color illustrations enhancing insightful and informative commentaries
by the contributors, "Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: His Final Months" is a welcome, unreservedly recommended, and
essential contribution to personal, professional, community, college, and university library European Art History
collections in general, and supplemental Van Gogh curriculum studies lists in particular.
Editorial Note: Nienke Bakker is senior curator at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Louis van Tilborgh is senior
researcher at the Van Gogh Museum. Emmanuel Coquery is senior curator
and associate deputy director of collections at the Musee d'Orsay, Paris. Teio Meedendorp is senior researcher at the Van
Gogh Museum. Bregje Gerritse is a researcher at the Van Gogh Museum.
The Visionary Art of Nicholas Roerich
Jacqueline Decter
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781644117972, $60.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Visionary-Art-Nicholas-Roerich-Messenger/dp/1644117975
Synopsis: Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was a Russian artist, writer, archaeologist, explorer, mystic, theosophist, and
peacemaker who left a rich legacy of nearly 7,000 visionary paintings and 30 books on the mystic East.
Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize due to the Roerich Peace Pact (a remarkable treaty signed by President
Roosevelt that sought to preserve cultural monuments during times of war) Roerich had a profound love for folk traditions
of Russia, India, and Tibet, especially legends of lost cities and paradise. Together with his wife and two sons, from the
1890s into the 1930s, Roerich embarked on a number of spiritual quests through India, the Gobi Desert, the Altai and
Kunlun Mountains, Mongolia, and Tibet, crisscrossing the Himalayan Mountains many times before settling in Kulu,
India, in the shadows of the great mountain range.
Through his explorations throughout the world and the immersive art he created during those travels, he was seeking the
grains of spiritual truth behind the legends of paradise lost, including during his pilgrimages in search of Shambala.
Revealing the mystical world of Nicholas Roerich in stunning full color, with the publication of "The Visionary Art of
Nicholas Roerich: A Messenger of Beauty", Jacqueline Decter invites us to witness Roerich's far-reaching vision and
dedication to beauty across the full scope of his inspiring life and artistic career.
This new hardcover edition from Park Street Press features Decter's translations of many Russian texts into English as well
as 88 color plates showcasing the variety of Roerich's artistic talent, from breathtaking Himalayan landscapes and spiritual
themes to set and costume designs, most notably for Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.
A celebration of Roerich as both visionary artist and visionary explorer, this fully illustrated biography illuminates a man
whose life and work significantly influenced the development of modern art and culture.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated and informative throughout, this large format hardcover (8 x 0.9 x 10 inches, 2.16 pounds)
edition of "The Visionary Art of Nicholas Roerich: A Messenger of Beauty" will have a lasting and appreciative value for
readers with an interest in New Age Mysticism art and photography. While a highly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies and Art collections, it should be noted that "The
Visionary Art of Nicholas Roerich: A Messenger of Beauty" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$40.99).
Editorial Note: Jacqueline Decter, Ph.D., is a scholar of Russian literature with a doctorate in Slavic languages from the
University of Michigan. She is also a former editor in chief at Doubleday Entertainment.
(https://www.innertraditions.com/author/jacqueline-decter)
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
John Wayne B-Westerns 1932-1939
James L. Neibaur
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887712390, $28.00, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wayne-B-Westerns-1932-1939-James-Neibaur/dp/B0CC4GGKXX
Synopsis: John Wayne is a true cinema icon, but the B-westerns he made in the 1930s after The Big Trail and before
Stagecoach are often overlooked. With the publication of "John Wayne B-Westerns 1932-1939", film historian James L.
Neibaur focuses on them specifically, film-by-film, and presents how they show the development of Wayne as both an
actor and an image. These are the films that maintained his popularity throughout the 1930s until he was cast by John Ford
in Stagecoach and his career quickly advanced. These B-westerns are an important part of The Duke's movie history.
Critique: Simply stated, unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library American
20th Century Cinematic History collections, "John Wayne B-Westerns 1932-1939" is a 'must read' selection for the legions
of John Wayne fans. Information packed and illustrated throughout with b/w historical photos, "John Wayne B-Westerns
1932-1939" is also readily available from BearManor Media in a paperback edition (9798887712383, $28.00).
Editorial Note: James L. Neibaur is a film historian and scholar who has authored over thirty books on various aspects of
cinema's history, as well as hundreds of articles for Cineaste, Senses of Cinema, Filmfax, Film Quarterly, Films in Review,
Classic Images, and the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
(https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/neibaur-james-l-1958)
Louis Joseph Vance and the Adventures of the Lone Wolf
Ian Dickerson
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887711959, $38.00, HC, 284pp
https://www.amazon.com/Louis-Joseph-Vance-Adventures-Lone/dp/B0C9SFXCQS
Synopsis: From his debut in a 1914 novel by Louis Joseph Vance, the adventures of Michael Lanyard, aka the Lone Wolf,
have thrilled millions around the world. Lanyard was a reformed crook turned gentleman detective turned hard-boiled
trouble-shooter and something of a private eye (depending on which incarnation you're familiar with) and his adventures
were documented in nine books, twenty-four films, thirty-nine half hour television episodes, and a radio show.
Alongside a biography of his creator "Louis Joseph Vance and the Adventures of the Lone Wolf" by Ian Dickerson is a
comprehensive look at the career of the Lone Wolf including details of the character's birth in print, his debut in silent
movies as well as a full and detailed history of his subsequent film career, and an extensive history of the TV series that
starred Louis Hayward.
Critique: Featuring a section of b/w historical illustrations, "Louis Joseph Vance and the Adventures of the Lone Wolf" is
an impressively informative, exhaustively researched, and deftly organized/presented history of a popular literary,
cinematic, and television series character that is a 'must' for the legions of Lone Wolf fans. While an original and very
highly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections, it should be
noted that "Louis Joseph Vance and the Adventures of the Lone Wolf" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9798887711942, $28.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Ian Dickerson is best known for his association with the adventures of The Saint. Dickerson has written
books and articles on subjects as diverse as satellite links, mashed potatoes and Lord Grade. He was co-producer on the
2017 TV movie of The Saint and has written and directed a number of documentaries on the making of the 1960s and 70s
TV shows that share the name. His books cover subjects such as The Falcon and Sherlock Holmes as well as various
aspects of the work of Simon Templar and the adventures of Leslie Charteris.
(https://app.thestorygraph.com/authors/571959ae-3b11-4856-a2f5-4b729973dd8d)
The Philosophy Shelf
The Godfather and Philosophy
Joshua Heter, editor
Richard Greene, editor
Open Universe
c/o Carus Books
315 Fifth Street, Peru, IL 81334
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700372, $24.95, PB, 306pp
https://www.amazon.com/Godfather-Philosophy-Joshua-Heter/dp/1637700377
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Joshua Heter and Richard Greene "The Godfather and Philosophy:
An Argument You Cant Refute" is comprised of twenty-eight chapters by philosophers, who reflect upon the ethical and
metaphysical issues raised in The Godfather novels and movies, beginning with the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo and the
1972 movie by Francis Ford Coppola.
"The Godfather" saga has had a profound impact on American cinema, storytelling, thinking about crime, and popular
culture. Aimed at thoughtful fans of The Godfather franchise, among the questions tackled in these provocative
philosophical chapters are the immigrant experience in America, the relation between ethics and the law, the nature of
moral corruption, private justice and vigilantism, organized crime and the American Dream, betrayal and forgiveness,
religion and family values, the difficulties of breaking out of a dysfunctional way of life, and the uncertain consequences of
vice laws.
Critique: A fascinating, thought provoking, and fun read from cover to cover, "The Godfather and Philosophy: An
Argument You Cant Refute" will have an enormous appeal to Godfather fans and readers with an interest in popular
culture, social science, and philosophy. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, college, and university library Philosophy & Popular Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The
Godfather and Philosophy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note #1: Joshua Heter (https://philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-heter) teaches philosophy at Jefferson College,
Missouri. He co-edited Punk Rock and Philosophy (2022).
Editorial Note #2: Richard Greene (https://www.weber.edu/rgreene/default.html) teaches philosophy at Weber State
University, Utah. He wrote the definitive and highly acclaimed book, Spoiler Alert! (It's a Book about the Philosophy of
Spoilers) (2019).
Joshua Heter teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri. He co-edited Punk Rock and Philosophy (2022).
Richard Greene teaches philosophy at Weber State University, Utah. He wrote the definitive and highly acclaimed book,
Spoiler Alert! (It's a Book about the Philosophy of Spoilers).
The Business Shelf
Autonomous Transformation
Brian Evergreen
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781119985297, $30.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Autonomous-Transformation-Creating-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1119985293
Synopsis: We are in the midst of an unprecedented degree of technology-driven changes at the same time that society faces
challenges more complex than our organizations and we as individuals have been prepared to handle.
We have all borne witness to the changes, for better and for worse, that technology has had on society, our nations, cities,
the nature of work, and the human experience -- but technology is neither the hero nor the villain of this story.
"Autonomous Transformation: Creating a More Human Future in the Era of Artificial Intelligence" by Brian Evergreen is
critically important reader for business and governmental leaders who want to create a better future within this context of
change and supplies a balance of historical and theoretical context with practical frameworks for beginning to create a
more human future today.
"Autonomous Transformation" provides a blueprint for leaders and managers who have aspired or attempted to harness
artificial intelligence and its adjacent technologies for the betterment of their organization and the world, weaving strategy,
management thinking, economics, systemic design, and philosophy into actionable steps with accompanying frameworks
to create and sustain 'Profitable Good'.
Critique: A timely and much needed contribution to our current and on-going debates over AI, in terms of its potential
benefits and possible drawbacks, "Autonomous Transformation: Creating a More Human Future in the Era of Artificial
Intelligence" will have a special relevance for readers with an interest in strategic business systems and planning. Highly
recommended for personal, professional, community, governmental, corporate, college, and university library Artificial
Intelligence & Semantics collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia,
corporate executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Autonomous Transformation" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Brian Evergreen (https://brianevergreen.com) is best known for his work advising FORTUNE 500
executives on artificial intelligence strategy. Building on his experiences working at Accenture, Amazon Web Services,
and Microsoft, Brian guest lectures at Purdue University and the Kellogg School of Management and is a Senior Fellow in
the Economy, Strategy, and Finance Center of The Conference Board, sharing the unconventional and innovative methods
and frameworks he developed leading and advising Digital Transformation initiatives at many of the world's most valuable
companies. Brian is also the founder of The Profitable Good Company, a leadership advisory company that partners with
and equips leaders to harness the economic and societal of technology by creating a more human future in the era of
artificial intelligence.
The Literary Studies Shelf
The Tragedy of the Sack of Cabrieres
Charles-Louis Morand-Metivier
ACMRS Press
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
https://acmrspress.com
9780866986441, $70.02, HC, 262pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tragedy-Cabri%C3%A8res-Medieval-Renaissance-Studies/dp/0866986448
Synopsis: April 1542 saw a massacre of epic proportions in the Luberon, in southeastern France, of its Waldensian
population, who had been peacefully living there after they settled in a few centuries before. This massacre foreshadowed
the wars of religion, which tore apart the kingdom for almost forty years.
The Tragedie du Sac de Cabrieres is the only play devoted to these events. This is a critical edition and English translation
of the French play. Three critical editions of the play have been published in 1927, 1928, and 1998, and this new edition
complements the previous works. This is the first English translation of the play and makes it available to an international
audience of scholars and students of the early modern period.
This edition "translates" the moment of the play's creation, the representation of the event, and its importance in the
narrative of religious persecutions in sixteenth-century France. It explains how history is dramatized through the creation
of the scenic story and scenic play of Cabrieres. and how the specific retelling of the events of Cabrieres makes this a tool
of historical narration, thus allowing the audience to participate in the unfolding of history before their eyes. Therefore,
they become part of history, because it is played before their eyes so that they can not only witness it but also propagate the
glory of the martyrs for future generations.
This is not only a translation and a work of literary scholarship, it is an analysis of the literary, political, and religious
production of this period, and a multidisciplinary analysis of Waldensianism in southeastern France.
Critique: A seminal work of impressively meticulous scholarship and fluency, this newly translated edition of "The
Tragedy of the Sack of Cabrieres" into English from the original French by Professor Charles-Louis Morand-Metivier
(who also provides an informative Introduction), is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, college, and university library Medieval/Renaissance Literary Studies and supplemental curriculum lists.
Editorial Note: Charles-Louis Morand-Metivier is an associate professor of French at the University of Vermont.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
Budapest Blackout: A Holocaust Diary
Maria Madi, author
James W. Oberly, editor
University of Wisconsin Press
728 State Street, Suite 443, Madison, WI 53706-1418
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299343101, $79.95, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Budapest-Blackout-Holocaust-M%C3%A1ri%C3%A1-M%C3%A1di/dp/0299343103
Synopsis: Maria Madi (1898-1970) was a Roman Catholic Hungarian physician living in Budapest during World War II.
Stuck in the city, she vowed to become a witness to events as they unfolded and began keeping a diary to chronicle her
everyday life, as well as the lives of her Jewish neighbors, during what would be the darkest periods of the Holocaust.
From the time Hungary declared war on the United States in December 1941 until she secured an immigrant's visa to the
US in late 1946, she wrote nearly daily in English, offering current-day readers one of the most complete pictures of
ordinary life during the Holocaust in Hungary. In the form of letters to her American relatives, Madi addressed a wide
range of subjects, from the fate of small countries like Hungary caught between the major powers of Germany and the
Soviet Union, to the Nazi pogrom against Budapest's Jews, to family news and the price of food.
Madi's family donated the entire collection of her diaries to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. This edition of
"Budapest Blackout: A Holocaust Diary", published by the University of Wisconsin Press, transcribes a selection of Madi's
writings focusing on the period of March 1944 to November 1945, from the Nazi invasion and occupation of Hungary,
through the Battle of Budapest, to the ensuing Soviet occupation.
While bearing witness to the catastrophe in Hungary, Madi hid a Jewish family in her small flat from October 1944 to
February 1945. She received a posthumous Righteous among Nations Medal from Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust
Remembrance Center.
Editorial commentary by James W. Oberly situates Madi's observations, and a critical introduction by the Holocaust
scholar Andras Lenart outlines the wider sociopolitical context in which her diaries gain meaning.
Critique: Deftly edited by James W. Oberly, Maria Madi's personal and detailed memoir, "Budapest Blackout: A Holocaust
Diary" is an inherently fascinating and impressively informative read from start to finish -- as well as a welcome, unique,
authentic, and unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, college, and university
library 20th Century Biography/Memoir/Diary collections in general, and supplemental Holocaust Studies curriculum
studies lists.
Editorial Note: The Maria Madi diaries
(https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn50967#) consists of seventeen bound volumes containing diaries written by Dr. Maria Madi, a non-Jewish female
physician living in Budapest, Hungary, between December 1941 and September 1945. In the diaries, which are
handwritten in English, Dr. Madi describes what she is hearing about the war, about propaganda in Hungary, and about
missing her daughter, who immigrated to the United States in 1939 and started a family. After the German invasion of
Hungary in March 1944, Dr. Madi describes constant air raids, intense deprivation, and what she knows and sees of the
ongoing persecutions against Jews. She also references a young boy whom she hides in her home in the fall of 1944. The
diaries include photographs, clippings, and correspondence, as well as pencil notations Dr. Madi made in the 1960s. Also
includes one diary from Budapest during World War I.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design