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| Volume 34, Number 9 | September 2024 | Home | IBWIndex |
Table of Contents
| Reviewer's Choice | Writing/Publishing Shelf | AI Shelf |
| Education Shelf | Health/Medicine Shelf | Cookbook Shelf |
| American History Shelf | World History Shelf | Military History Shelf |
| Civil War Shelf | Political Science Shelf | Mythology Shelf |
| Archaeology Shelf | Pets Shelf | Wildlife Shelf |
| Nautical Shelf | Art Shelf | Biography/Memoir Shelf |
| General Fiction Shelf | Historical Fiction Shelf | Literary Fiction Shelf |
| Romantic Fiction Shelf | Western Fiction Shelf | Mystery/Suspense Shelf |
| Fantasy/SciFi Shelf | Graphic Novel Shelf | Library CD Shelf |
| Railroading Shelf | Business Shelf | Christian Studies Shelf |
| Judaic Studies Shelf | Geography Shelf | Architecture Shelf |
| Money/Finance Shelf | Needlecraft Shelf | Gardening Shelf |
| Wine/Liquor Shelf | Sports Shelf | Travel Shelf |
| Parenting Shelf | Computer Shelf | Interior Design Shelf |
| Genealogy Shelf | Metaphysical Studies Shelf |
Reviewer's Choice
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey
Press 49
https://www.press49.com
9781953315427, $29.99, PB, 270pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kamala-Motherland-Dr-Nii-Quartelai-Quartey/dp/1953315429
Synopsis: "Kamala, The Motherland, and Me", a memoir by Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, who takes the reader on a journeyof self-discovery and political revelation --including being aboard Air Force Two, when he accompanied Vice PresidentKamala Harris on a historic voyage to Africa, -- the homeland of his father.
As a Ghanaian-American political journalist and advocate, Quartey brings a fresh perspective to Vice President Harris'sleadership and challenges assumptions about Africa's place in global politics.
Through personal anecdotes and astute political analysis, Quartey delves into Vice President Harris's visit to Ghana,Tanzania, and Zambia, offering insights into the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. He reflects on the significanceof the trip, from discussions on human rights to female empowerment initiatives, shedding light on the complexities ofAfrican identity and the global impact of US policies.
"Kamala, The Motherland, and Me" not only invites readers to reconsider their preconceptions about Vice President Harrisbut also prompts critical examination of media representation and societal biases. Quartey's transparent narrative exploresthemes of belonging, acceptance, and the pursuit of progress, resonating with readers across cultural divides.
Critique: Timely, informative, inherently interesting, and a 'must read' pick for the growing legions of Kamela Harris fanswith respect to her current presidential campaign, "Kamala, The Motherland, and Me" is a high value, high priorityacquisition for community and college/university library political biography/memoir collections. For personal reading listsof anyone seeking to learn more about Kamela Harris and what she stands for -- make "Kamala, The Motherland, and Me"by Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey your next book.
Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree
Karin Klein
Harper Horizons
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400334476, $29.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-College-Thriving-Without-Degree/dp/1400334470
Synopsis: It is a common belief that a college degree is the only path to success. But many college graduates end up miredin debt and underemployed, working jobs that don't even require a degree. The good news? There are many promisingcareer options for those who don't want to or can't attend college.
With the publication of "Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree", award-winning journalist KarinKlein sets out a new path for our country's students and their families. Klein examines why the traditional college-for-allmodel has been overhyped and is growing less relevant, then shares practical advice and real-world examples of exactlyhow others have succeeded without a four-year degree.
"Rethinking College" reveals an abundance of alternative paths, including white-collar apprenticeships, certificateprograms, entrepreneurship, creative careers, residential public-service work, and more.
"Rethinking College" will guide you step-by-step toward a broad range of fulfilling and well-paid careers that don't requirea degree -- ranging from pilots, costume designers, influencers, writers, computer programmers, corporate headhunters,film editors, and so many more.
Critique: "Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree" from Harper Horizon is especially andunreservedly recommended reading for: Those who are unsure of their next education or career steps; Those looking tomake a job pivot; Parents seeking guidance for their child; School counselors who want to offer their students more andbetter options. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "Rethinking College" must be considered ahigh value core addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library ContemporaryEducation/Vocational Education collections.
Editorial Note: Karin Klein (www.latimes.com/people/karin-klein) has been a member of the Los Angeles Times editorialboard for the past 20 years, covering education, medicine, science, and environment, and was a regular columnist for theSacramento Bee for four years. She shared in two staff Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of breaking news and was the 2006recipient of the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writers, the Logan Science Writing Fellowship at Woods Holeand Arctic Alaska, and the Metcalf Institute Environmental Writing Fellowship. She also has won numerous national,regional, and local journalism awards, including the Education Writers Association award for her creation of an interactiveeducation page for The Times.
Terrible Humans
Patrick Alley
Monoray
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781800961982, $19.99 PB, $12.99 Kindle, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Terrible-Humans-Worlds-corrupt-super-villains/dp/1800961987
Terrible Humans: The World's Most Corrupt Super-Villains - and the Fight to Bring Them Down is a study inpsychopaths, justice, and power plays that profiles selected super-villains of corruption, war, and greed. Some of theworld's worst are presented here; but to mitigate the impact of their power, there are also surveys of those who track themoney, expose behind-the-scenes deal-making, and work hard to keep the super-powerful and wealthy in check. Thebiographical sketches and insights are absolutely fascinating (and frightening) - perfect for book club discussion groups,classrooms looking for biographical sketches of wealthy megalomaniacs, or history courses considering the regulation ofwealth and activities stemming from it.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
SJ Banham
White Owl
c/o Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399035149, $24.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Creative-Writing-SJ-Banham/dp/1399035142
Synopsis: Does the idea of creative writing excite you, but you have no idea how to begin?
Do you want to write a story, a local interest book, or even complete a book of poetry? Maybe you would enjoy creating alegacy piece to hand down to future generations, or capture the essence of your relative's lives but don't know where tostart or what to include?
Between suggestions, tips, anecdotes, and exercises, with the publication of "A Guide to Creative Writing" by SJ Banhamyou will glean a mountain of information that will set you on your way no matter if you are new to creative writing oralready have a book or three under your belt.
With a friendly, accessible tone, "A Guide To Creative Writing" gives you all the tools you will need to write just for thelove of it or to take it further -- even professionally.
Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly in style, organization and presentation, "A Guide To Creative Writing" iscompendium of invaluable suggestions, tips, anecdotes, and exercises to help you get started in Creative Writing. Inspiringand 'real world practical, this DIY paperback edition of "A Guide to Creative Writing" by SJ Banham is especially andunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university Creative Writing collections andsupplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, aspiring authors, and non-specialist general readerswith an interest in the subject that "A Guide To Creative Writing" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$12.99) as well.
Editorial Note: SJ Banham has been writing for almost four decades, penning a dozen fiction, non-fiction, and severalghost written books. She runs her own business nurturing new writers and helping to develop the skills of those moreexperienced. ( (www.loveofbooks.co.uk) A member of Society of Authors and Alliance of Independent Authors, she wasawarded a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Creative Writing in 2020. She lives in England.(https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/SJ-Banham/a/5895)
The Supreme Guide to Writing
Jill Barton
Oxford University Press
www.oup.com/us
9780197754351, $99.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Guide-Writing-Jill-Barton/dp/019775435X
Synopsis: In "The Supreme Guide to Writing: Become a Great Writer with the U.S. Supreme Court as Your Guide", lawprofessor and seasoned journalist Jill Barton cuts through competing advice to detail definitive grammar rules based on thenation's unequivocal authority: the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The Supreme Guide to Writing" details a revolution in legal writing, with the justices progressing beyond the drab andtechnical for the deft and lyrical. With the first-ever analysis of 10,000 pages of Court opinions, this instructional guidepinpoints grammar and style rules that the justices follow -- and describes the outdated rules they leave behind.
Today's Court casts aside formality in favor of pop-culture references, contractions, and approachable language. In additionto establishing grammar and style rules, "The Supreme Guide to Writing" illustrates best practices with hundreds ofexamples of the justices' most brilliant sentences from the past several years.
With its step-by-step instructions, "The Supreme Guide to Writing" describes how to emulate the justices' writing styles bybreaking down their strategies and techniques. It also shows how Justice Elena Kagan lands amusing quips and weavestogether down-to-earth analogies, how Justice Neil Gorsuch executes witty retorts, and how Chief Justice John Robertspens unforgettable lines with understated style and humor.
The best writing appears effortless, but it also takes tremendous effort. Legal writing even more so. "The Supreme Guideto Writing" provides a nonpartisan look at how the justices present their words to the world.
Critique: Taking a unique approach as a DIY instructional guide on the art and craft of writing, Jill Barton's "The SupremeGuide to Writing: Become a great writer with the U.S. Supreme Court as Your Guide" from the Oxford University Press isessentially a complete, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in terms of content, organization and presentation.While also available in a paperback edition (9780197754368, $27.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49) forstudents, academia, judicial writers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, "The Supreme Guideto Writing" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/universitylibrary Constitutional & Administration Law instructional writing collections and supplemental curriculum studieslists.
Editorial Note: Jill Barton (www.jillbarton.net) has published two legal writing textbooks and hundreds of news articles asa journalist for the Associated Press. She currently serves as a professor and the legal writing director at the University ofMiami School of Law. She authored So Ordered: The Writer's Guide for Aspiring Judges, Judicial Clerks, and Interns.And she coauthored The Handbook for the New Legal Writer, a popular law school textbook now in its third edition, thataims to demystify the process of legal writing and inspire beginning and experienced legal writers. She has worked as anappellate judicial clerk, conducted workshops for regional and national law firms, and presented her work at conferencesnationally, becoming a leading voice in the conversation on the best practices in writing.
The Poet's Guide to Publishing
Katerina Stoykova
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476694153, $19.99, PB, 189pp
https://www.amazon.com/Poets-Guide-Publishing-Conceive-Arrange/dp/147669415X
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Poet's Guide to Publishing: How to Conceive, Arrange, Edit, Publish and Market aBook of Poetry" from McFarland & Company, Katerina Stoykova provides an ideal DIY guide to publishing poetry.
This instructional 'how to' guide is specifically designed for the poet on a journey from producing a pile of poems tocelebrating at a book launch. If you have been writing poetry for some time and have accumulated a volume of work, "ThePoet's Guide to Publishing" will meet you where you are in your book creation or publication process.
"The Poet's Guide to Publishing" is organized into five sections to mimic the distinct phases of conceiving, arranging,editing, publishing, and promoting a poetry collection. Each section provides a mix of theoretical materials and practicalassignments to demystify and ground the publication process.
Critique: Comprehensive, thoroughly DIY 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, Katerina Stoykova's "The Poet'sGuide to Publishing: How to Conceive, Arrange, Edit, Publish and Market a Book of Poetry" is a 'must' for any and allwriters of poetry who would like to see their work published and marketed to their intended readership. The equivalent of a4-Week poetry publishing workshop under one cover, "The Poet's Guide to Publishing" is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections.
Editorial Note: Katerina Stoykova is the founder and senior editor of Accents Publishing, where she has selected, edited,and published more than 100 poetry collections. She also serves as the director of the Kentucky Book Festival, the Directorfor the Center of the Book in Kentucky and hosts the Accents podcast on WUKY 91.3 in Lexington, Kentucky. She can beseen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@accents.publishing
The AI Shelf
Donald Clark
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398615779, $134.00, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intelligence-Learning-Generative-Development/dp/1398615773
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Artificial Intelligence for Learning: Using AI andGenerative AI to Support Learner Development" by Donald Clark continues to be an essential guide for learningprofessionals who want to understand how to use AI to improve all aspects of learning in organizations. This new editiondebunks the myths and misconceptions around AI, discusses the learning theory behind generative AI and gives strategicand practical advice on how AI can be used.
The new edition of "Artificial Intelligence of Learning" also includes specific guidance on how AI can provide learningsupport, chatbot functionality and content, as well as ideas on ethics and personalization. This instructional textbook isnecessary reading for all learning practitioners needing to understand AI and what it means in practice.
Critique: Of immense and timely value for businesses seeking to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations,this newly up-to-date second edition of Donald Clark's "Artificial Intelligence for Learning: Using AI and Generative AI toSupport Learner Development" from Kogan Page is a prized pick for personal, professional, community, corporation, andcollege/university library Human Resources/Leadership Training/Personnel Management & Artificial Intelligencecollections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, and corporateexecutives with an interest in the subject that this new second edition of "Artificial Intelligence for Learning: Using AI andGenerative AI to Support Learner Development" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398615663, $42.00) and in adigital book format (Kindle, $40.84).
Editorial Note: Donald Clark has over 30 years' experience in online learning, simulations, virtual reality, mobile andartificial intelligence projects. He was a founding member of Epic Group plc and the Founder and CEO of WildfireLearning. He is a frequent global speaker, blogger, advisor and researcher on AI in learning and is also a Visiting Professorat the University of Derby. (https://www.koganpage.com/authors/donald-clark)
Confident AI
Andy Pardoe
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398616202, $71.00, HC, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Confident-AI-Essential-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1398616206
Synopsis: Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of our everyday lives. But it remains an elusive, complex andintimidating technology that has hundreds of iterations and nuances. With "Confident AI: The Essential Skills for WorkingWith Artificial Intelligence" by AI expert Andy Pardoe you can build your confidence when working with AI by learningthe fundamentals and discovering the intricacies of the industry.
Andy Pardoe has spent decades working with AI, not only as an influential academic but also within corporations and as aconsultant and accelerator for AI start-ups. He with the publication of "Confident AI" he has drawn upon his expertise andlived experience to offer the essential skills and tools that you need to succeed with Artificial Intelligence, whether you arepursuing it as a career or simply working with AI in your work-life.
Critique: An invaluable and timely contribution to our national discourse on the subject of artificial intelligence (AI),"Confident AI: The Essential Skills for Working With Artificial Intelligence" is the ideal introduction for bothprofessionals, students, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject. Expertly written, organized and,presented "Confident AI" is specifically recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, andcollege/university library Artificial Intelligence collections and supplemental AI curriculum studies lists. It should be notedthat "Confident AI" is also available from Kogan Page in a paperback edition (9781398615724, $19.99) and in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Andy Pardoe (https://pardoe.ai) is a leading AI thought leader, consultant, speaker and author. He is theFounder & CEO of the Wisdom Works Group consultancy and is also the Managing Partner of Wisdom Works Ventures,a specialist accelerator for AI startups. Based in London UK, ee is the Chair of the Deep Tech Innovation Centre at theUniversity of Warwick.
The Education Shelf
Tom Rademacher
Shell Education
c/o Teacher Created Materials
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com
9798765965733, $24.99, PB, 80pp
https://www.amazon.com/50-Strategies-Learning-without-Screens/dp/B0CV9JX557
Synopsis: In a world buzzing with screens, "50 Strategies for Learning without Screens" by Tom Rademacher offerseducators engaging, hands-on learning experiences tailored for various grade levels -- preschool & K-12.
Each individual strategy deliberately steps away from the digital noise, concentrating on future-ready skills such ascuriosity, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and compassion.
These practical strategies are crafted to engage students and foster deeper learning competencies. This resource providesstrategies that empower students to navigate a world driven by innovation, adaptability, and critical thinking.
With complete sample lessons and digital resources, classroom teachers can seamlessly integrate these strategies into theircurriculum. The adaptability of each strategy allows customization to fit individual content, style, and, most importantly,the diverse needs of students, making education a personalized and enriching journey.
Critique: Given the ubiquity of smart phones and the continuing rise of social media, this large format paperback edition ofTom Rademacher's "50 Strategies for Learning without Screens" from Shell Education is an ideal and 'real world practical'resource for K-12 classroom teachers, as well as family daycare, preschool, and community library EducationTheory/Student Management collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for school districtin-service training programs, and personal reading lists of parents and non-specialist general readers with an interest in thesubject that "50 Strategies for Learning without Screens" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.94)as well.
Editorial Note: Tom Rademacher (www.mrtomrad.com) has spent the last two decades devoted to students and education.As an acquisitions editor, he acquires, develops, and sometimes writes books with the goal of helping educators do thehard work of teaching well. He's the author of It Won't Be Easy and Raising Ollie and has written for Huffington Post,Education Post, City Pages, and more. As an educator, Tom was named Minnesota's 2014 Teacher of the Year, spoke atnational conferences and TEDx events, and was interviewed by the BBC, the Associated Press, and Education Week.
Understanding and Teaching Religion in US History
Karen J. Johnson & Jonathan M. Yeager, editors
University of Wisconsin Press
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299346300, $34.00, HC, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Teaching-Religion-History-Goldberg/dp/0299346307
Synopsis: Religion is deeply embedded in American history, and one cannot understand American history's broaddynamics without accounting for it. Without detailing the history of religions, teachers cannot properly explain key themesin US survey courses, such as politics, social dynamics, immigration and colonization, gender, race, or class.
From early Native American beliefs and practices, to European explorations of the New World, to the most recentpresidential elections, religion has been a significant feature of the American story.
With the publication of "Understanding and Teaching Religion in US History", a diverse group of eminent historians andhistory teachers provide a practical tool for teachers looking to improve history instruction at the upper-level secondary andundergraduate level.
Co-edited by Karen J. Johnson and Jonathan M. Yeager, "Understanding and Teaching Religion in US History" offers abreadth of voices and approaches to teaching this crucial part of US history. Religion can be a delicate topic, especially inpublic education, and many students and teachers bring strongly held views and identities to their understanding of thepast. The editors and contributors aim to help the reader see religion in fresh ways, to present sources and perspectives thatmay be unfamiliar, and to suggest practical interventions in the classroom that teachers can use immediately.
Critique: In addition to an informative introduction (Why Religion Matters in Teaching US History) by co-editors andacademicians Johnson and Yeager, "Understanding and Teaching Religion in US History" is comprised of twenty-threeerudite articles deftly organized into two major sections (Frameworks for Teaching Religion in American History &Teaching Religion in American History in Specific Periods). Additionally there is a complete listing of the contributorsand their credentials, as well as a thirteen page Index. A part of the University of Wisconsin Press 'Harvey Goldberg Seriesfor Understanding and Teaching History', this hardcover edition of "Understanding and Teaching Religion in US History"is an exceptional and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community andcollege/university library American History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Karen J. Johnson, an associate professor and chair of history at Wheaton College, is the author of One inChrist: Chicago Catholics and the Quest for Interracial Justice.
Editorial Note #2: Jonathan M. Yeager is the LeRoy A. Martin Professor of Religious Studies at the University ofTennessee at Chattanooga. He is the author of Jonathan Edwards and Transatlantic Print Culture, named Book of the Yearby the Jonathan Edwards Center at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Sets and Numbers for the Very Young
Irving Adler & Ruth Adler, authors
Peggy Adler, illustrator
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887711294, $18.00, PB, 47pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sets-Numbers-Young-Irving-Adler/dp/B0C7FH6JMP
Synopsis: This boy has two cars with which he hears,
One nose that he blows.
Two lips with which he sips.
Two hands on which he sometimes stands.
This girl is on her way to school.
Her clothes are clean and neat.
She has two hats upon her head.
And one shoe on her feet.
Ears, lips, hands, feet, fingers, hats, shoes -- all come in sets. Many things come in sets. They may be sets of ten or two,one or three or a thousand. A number tells how many.
With sets and numbers young readers will learn about adding and taking away, about matching and comparing, aboutputting together and taking apart, about left and right, about before and after, about counting."Sets and Numbers for theVery Young" will help children to see all that they can learn from sets and numbers!
Critique: An ideal supplement for home-schooling families, preschool and daycare center workers, and elementary schoolclassroom math themed curriculums, "Sets and Numbers for the Very Young" features a good many DIY exercises that areboth fun and educational. It should be noted that "Sets and Numbers for the Very Young" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $4.00) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Irving Adler, whose book The New Mathematics was the first on its subject for the adult general reader,wrote "Sets and Numbers for the Very Young" for very young children with his wife Ruth. The holder of a Ph.D. in puremathematics from Columbia University, Irving Adler was an instructor in math at Columbia as well as at BenningtonCollege and was formerly head of the mathematics department of a New York City public high school.
His wife Ruth taught mathematics in public schools In the Greater New York area. Ruth Adler died in 1968, one year priorto the publication of this book by The John Day Company. Irving Adler had 87 titles to his name when he passed away in2012, at almost 100 years of age. His books were published in 31 countries, in 19 different languages.
Editorial Note #2: Peggy Adler is the daughter of Irving and Ruth Adler and author of BearManor's Peggy's Puzzles -Volume One (2023) and Pallenberg Wonder Bears - From The Beginning (2022). Previously, she authored the 2019, awardwinning pictorial history, Images of America CLINTON (Arcadia) and five books for New York City publishers (The JohnDay Company & Franklin Watts). Additionally, Ms Adler illustrated two dozen books and provided art for the Bronx Zoo;the Humane Society of the United States; Little, Brown & Company and many others.
Building Blocks for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings, 4th Edition
Susan R. Randall, et al.
Brookes Publishing Company
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681257990, $54.95, PB, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Building-Teaching-Children-Inclusive-Settings/dp/1681257998
Synopsis: Enhanced with new content, new topics, and more tools for planning effective instruction in a newly updatedand expanded fourth edition, "Building Blocks for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings" from the BrookesPublishing Company will prepare early childhood educators to teach children ages 2-5 in inclusive settings.
This updated "Building Blocks" guide gives pre- and in-service teachers three types of practical, evidence-based inclusionstrategies: curriculum modifications, embedded learning opportunities, and child-focused instructional strategies.Educators will learn how to apply these three strategies for the benefit of all children; review the latest research thatsupports the Building Blocks model; -and find ready-to-use tips and guidance on key topics, from fostering friendships topromoting positive behavior.
New reproducible forms support planning and assessment, and seven training modules make it easy to teach the "BuildingBlocks" framework in college courses and professional development sessions.
Equally useful as a student-friendly textbook and a go-to guide for practicing educators, "Building Blocks for TeachingYoung Children in Inclusive Settings, 4th Edition" is an invaluable resource readers will return to again and again forproven, easy-to-use strategies that support all young learners.
While all chapters have now been updated, it should be noted that there is a new chapter on Ongoing Assessment andInstructional Decision-Making; a new chapter on Implementing the Building Blocks Framework; 8 new checklists andplanning forms to support implementation; A new section on the impact of implicit bias on teachers' perception ofchallenging behavior; Expanded content on key topics such as collaboration, curriculum modifications, friendships andsocial relationships; plus Updated vignettes, terms, resources, and references.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this large format (8.75 x 0.75 x 11.25 inches, 1.6pounds) paperback edition of " Building Blocks for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings" by co-authors SusanR. Sandall, Ariane N. Gauvreau, Gail E. Joseph, and Ilene S. Schwartz is an ideal and unreservedly recommended textbookfor school district teacher in-service training programs, as well as college/university Teacher Education collections andsupplemental Early Childhood Education/STEM Education curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Dr. Ariane N. Gauvreau is a clinical faculty member and Field Director of the Special EducationProgram at the University of Washington.
Editorial Note #2: Dr. Gail E. Joseph is the Bezos Family Distinguished Professor in Early Learning at the College ofEducation at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Editorial Note #3: Dr. Susan R. Sandall is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington. She has directed personnelpreparation projects, developed curriculum materials for all age groups, and published materials on educational practices tofacilitate optimal outcomes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities.
Editorial Note #4: Dr. Ilene S. Schwartz is Professor of Special Education and Director of the Haring Center at theUniversity of Washington. Dr. Schwartz is also the Director of Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatmentfor Autism), a school based early intervention intensive behavioral intervention program for children with autism.
Gender-Inclusive Schools
Dave Edwards
Free Spirit Publishing
www.freespirit.com
9798885543965, $39.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Inclusive-Schools-Gender-Expansive-Students-Professional%C2%AE/dp/B0CW5HVJWM
Synopsis: Gender-expansive youth need school policies and practices that focus on their happiness, health, safety, andprivacy. Schools and teachers need concrete, accessible strategies and tools for supporting them. "Gender-InclusiveSchools: How to Affirm and Support Gender-Expansive Students" by Dave Edwards empowers every educator with thosetools and strategies. Whether educators are brand new to or already familiar with gender diversity topics, they will findopportunities to learn and practice in a judgment-free, low-stakes way.
This is a 'must-have' resource that will:
Helps educators understand, advocate for, and implement research-based best practices for gender-expansive youth.
Includes discussion prompts and reflection activities at the end of each chapter.
Shares strategies for affirming students through social transitions at school.
Supports educators by offering model language to address challenging questions related to gender in schoolcommunities.
Provides concrete actions educators can take to adopt gender-inclusive language and create learning environments thatwelcome students of all genders.
Offers perspectives from gender-expansive youth in their own words.
Written by educator and advocate Dave Edwards (founder of the Gender Inclusive Schools organization),"Gender-Inclusive Schools: How to Affirm and Support Gender-Expansive Students" grew from the resources andeducation-specific trainings he has developed working with school districts, independent schools, and educatorsthroughout the United States and in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Digital content includes reproducibleforms from the book.
Critique: A seminal, ground-breaking, and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide, this large format (8.5 x 0.4 x 11inches, 15.7 ounces) paperback edition of "Gender-Inclusive Schools: How to Affirm and Support Gender-ExpansiveStudents" from Free Spirit Publishing is ideal for school district teacher in-service training programs and an unreservedlyrecommended addition to personal/parental, professional, K-12 school district, and college/university Gender EqualityEducation Policy/Practice collections
Editorial Note: Dave Edwards is a queer person and career educator who has served in almost every role in preschool/K -12 school communities: special education paraprofessional, special education teacher, middle and high school classroomteacher, special education coordinator, dean of students, and assistant head of school. Dave was lead instructor for thenontraditional teacher licensure program in emotional and behavioral disorders at the University of Minnesota Twin Citiesand a professor in the teacher preparation program at Hamline University before devoting his efforts full-time to GenderInclusive Schools. Dave is the proud parent to a transgender daughter. The discrimination she experienced in kindergartenled to his vocation of helping school communities create safe learning environments. He also serves on the board of theMinnesota Transgender Health Coalition, and his family is heavily involved with Transforming Families Minnesota.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Dr. Claire Stagg
TriMark Press
www.TriMarkPress.com
9798988206187, $39.99, PB, 315pp
https://www.amazon.com/Smile-Its-Connected-Claire-Stagg/dp/B0D1RK885F
Synopsis: With the publication of "Smile, It's All Connected! Whole Health Through Balance" Dr. Claire Stagg primarymessage is that the teeth and mouth are profoundly connected with the health of the rest of the body, and vice versa. Theseconnections are far more extensive than most dentists are aware of! Health Connections Dentistry(R) is Dr. Stagg'sholistic, integrative and comprehensive way of practicing dentistry.
In "Smile, It's All Connected! Whole Health Through Balance", Dr. Stagg reveals the interconnection between oralsystemic health and overall well-being in a captivating and enlightening way. By partnering with patients, her passion forknowledge and helping others "think outside the box", Dr. Stagg helps them take charge of their journey toward root causehealing and optimal health, instead of temporarily covering up symptoms that will only get worse and result in poorhealth.
She also connects dental and oral solutions to medical conditions via conservative approaches to dental care with anemphasis on growth development and maintenance of the facial skeleton and airways, from infancy to puberty andbeyond.
"Smile, It's All Connected! Whole Health Through Balance" is designed to help specifically the lay person and will benefitmany generations to come. Readers are also invited to visit HealthConnectionsDentistry.com for more groundbreakingopportunities to be empowered, a means of finding knowledge and health wellness, thereby accelerating the momentum ofchanges in all care delivery for the mastery of humanity.
Critique: This large format (11 x 8.5 x 0.75 inches, 1.94 pounds) paperback edition of Dr. Claire Stagg's "Smile, It's AllConnected! Whole Health Through Balance" from TriMark Press exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization andpresentation, making it an ideal, comprehensive, and unreservedly recommended textbook for dental school andcollege/university collections and supplemental Dentistry curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Dr. Claire Stagg (https://smileprofessionals.com) received her Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) from theUniversity of Bordeaux, France, in 1982. She was awarded her Fellowship by the American Academy of Craniofacial Painin 2008 and completed a Master of Science from Tufts University of Dental Medicine in 2011, with a focus on the area ofCraniofacial Pain. She also has extensive training in Dental Rehabilitation, TMJ and Sleep Breathing Disorders.
Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine
The National Academies Press
www.nap.edu
9780309706957, $40.00, PB, 260pp
https://www.amazon.com/Charting-Future-Sequencing-RNA-Modifications/dp/0309706955
Synopsis: Concerted efforts to deepen understanding of RNA modifications and their role in living systems hold thepotential to advance human health, improve crop yields, and address other pressing societal challenges.
RNA, which carries the information encoded by DNA to the places where it is needed, is amazingly diverse and dynamic.RNA is processed and modified through natural biological pathways, giving rise to hundreds, in some cases thousands, ofdistinct RNA molecules for each gene, thereby diversifying genetic information.
RNA modifications are known to be pivotal players in nearly all biological processes, and their dysregulation has beenimplicated in a wide range of human diseases and disorders. Yet, our knowledge of RNA modifications remainsincomplete, hindered by current technological limitations.
Existing methods cannot discover all RNA modifications, let alone comprehensively sequence them on every RNAmolecule. Nonetheless, what is known about RNA modifications has already been leveraged in the development ofvaccines that helped saved millions of lives worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
RNA modifications also have applications beyond health, for example, enhancing agricultural productivity.
"Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine" calls for a focused,large-scale effort to accelerate technological innovation to harness the full potential of RNA modifications to addresspressing societal challenges in health, agriculture, and beyond. This report assesses the scientific and technologicalbreakthroughs, workforce, and infrastructure needs to sequence RNA and its modifications, and ultimately understand theroles RNA modifications play in biological processes and disease.
"Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications" proposes a roadmap of innovation that will make itpossible for any RNA from any biological system to be sequenced end-to-end with all of its modifications - a capabilitythat could lead to more personalized and targeted treatments and instigate transformative changes across various sectorsbeyond health and medicine.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking study, "Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Erafor Biology and Medicine" must be considered an essential and required addition to personal, professional, medical school,and college/university library Genetics & Medical Research collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It shoudbe noted for students, academia, and genetic researchers, that "Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and ItsModifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.99) aswell.
Editorial Note: The National Academies Press (https://nap.nationalacademies.org) publishes the publications of theNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. They publish more than 200 publications per year on a widerange of topics in science, engineering, and medicine, providing authoritative, independently researched information onimportant matters in science and health policy.
Stronger
David Vaux
Short Books
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781780726090, $19.99 PB, $1.99 Kindle, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-strength-secret-longer-healthier/dp/1780726090
Stronger: How to Build Strength: The Secret to a Longer Healthier Life comes from an osteopath who has advised patientson healthy aging and building strength to encourage better outcomes long-term. More than an idealistic survey, DavidVaux reviews the latest scientific research on strength training in midlife to point out tested and confirmed ways readerscan employ such training to transform, reinforce, and enhance their muscles and bones. Steps for success are presented in a10-step strength program that is easy to do, translates the basics of strength training into digestible programs, and offerssolutions that lend to creating lifetime habits rather than short-term exercise programs. The result is clearer, more inviting,and easier to translate to daily effort than most exercise and health guides, making Stronger: How to Build Strength: TheSecret to a Longer Healthier Life a top pick for discriminating libraries and readers looking for tried-and-tested routinesthat are easy to understand and incorporate into any kind of lifestyle.
The Cookbook Shelf
Francesca Huntingdon
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600638261, $24.99, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Every-Day-Year-timeless/dp/060063826X
Synopsis: Compiled by Francesca Huntingdon, "A Recipe For Every Day of the Year" is a magnificent collection of 365recipes presenting a year long menu that is interesting and varied.
Reflecting the changing seasons and linking to events on key dates (pumpkin-spiced for Halloween, festive goose forChristmas) these wonderful and 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes offer a wide range of recipes that change according to theseasons, which coincides with the key seasonal fruits and vegetables at grocery stores and farmers markets.
Whether you are craving a hearty breakfast, or you want to tantalize your taste buds with an indulgent dinner, browsethrough "A Recipe For Every Day of the Year" for a joyful celebration of tried-and-true favorite dishes.
Dive straight in to discover 365 recipes, with their easy-to-follow instructions, and covering many sweet and savourydishes including stews, casseroles, pot roasts, risottos and desserts.
Critique: A carefully developed collection of 365 delicious recipes (one to cook on every day of the year and reflective ofthe changing seasons), "A Recipe For Every Day of the Year" is a delight to browse through and to plan memorable menuswith. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), Francesca Huntingdon's "A Recipe For Every Day of theYear" is an especially recommended pick for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbookcollections.
Editorial Note: Francesca Huntingdon is a home cook, recipe writer and food stylist based in Bath. She has over 20 yearsof experience - learning to cook from her mother, grandmother and brothers. She specialises in creating inspiring,dependable and fuss-free recipes - with a strong emphasis on flavour - that can help anyone become a better cook.
The Wizard of Oz: The Official Cookbook
Elena P. Craig, Emma Carlson Berne, and Elizabeth Fish, authors
Insight Editions
www.insighteditions.com
9798886635195, $29.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Oz-Official-Cookbook/dp/B0CL3BP76V
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Wizard of Oz: The Official Cookbook", the iconic film legions of fans can nowcelebrate a timeless classic with more than 70 dishes drawn from the charming fantasy world of The Wizard of Oz! Filledwith magically tasty mains, appetizers, and desserts straight from the Emerald City, this family-friendly cookbook includesan enchanting roster of recipes that fans will love.
With this deluxe cookbook, you won't need to leave Kansas (or your home) to share a magical meal. Featuring full-colorphotography, comprehensive nutritional information, and helpful tips and tricks, "The Wizard of Oz: The OfficialCookbook" will prove that there's no place like home!
Critique: Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "The Wizard of Oz: The Official Cookbook" showcasesmore than 70 palate pleased, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes of dishes inspired by Dorothy, the CowardlyLion, the Tin Man, and so many other residences of Oz will bring a very special culinary magic from the Emerald City intoyour kitchen. Enhanced with the inclusion of beautifully full color photographs of the finished dishes, "The Wizard of Oz:The Official Cookbook" is a very special and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and communitylibrary cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Elena Pons Craig (www.epcfoodstyling.com) is a food and prop stylist and recipe developer with morethan 25 years of experience in culinary design, marketing, photography, and publishing. With her husband and twochildren, she has developed superhero cooking skills that cross generations, genders, and genres.
Editorial Note #2: Emma Carlson Berne (www.emmacarlsonberne.com) is an author who often writes about food, history,and pop culture. Her other books include The Minecraft Cookbook and The Ultimate Driving Book, as well as the thrillersNever Let You Go and Still Waters. Emma lives in Cincinnati with her husband, two cats, and three boys who loved"helping" her watch The Wizard of Oz as she researched this book.
Editorial Note #3: Liz Fish (www.instagram.com/lizfishcooks) is a recipe developer and caterer with more than 45 years inthe food industry. Having lived in London, Istanbul and NYC, her love for food has gained her a community wherever shegoes. Her interest in developing recipes started as a food columnist and cooking instructor for expats, teaching them howto make foods they were familiar with but using locally available ingredients.
Pixar: The Official Cookbook
Tara Theoharis & S. T. Bende
Insight Editions
www.insighteditions.com
9781647229702, $39.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pixar-Official-Cookbook-Tara-Theoharis/dp/1647229707
Synopsis: Launch your kitchen "to infinity and beyond," with "Pixar: The Official Cookbook", an inspiring, high-qualityculinary compendium featuring more than 75 delicious recipes inspired by beloved Pixar films! This comprehensive,family-friendly cookbook features nearly every Pixar short and film in chronological order and includes a creativecollection of colorful appetizers, mains, and desserts that fans will adore, from Ratatouille from Ratatouille to Trenette alPesto from Luca!
With more than 75 recipes, there is a movie themed dish for everyone from young fans to experienced foodies to enjoy.Featuring stunning, in-world photography, suggestions for alternate ingredients, and tips and tricks from belovedcharacters, "Pixar: The Official Cookbook" is the perfect companion for family chefs everywhere!
Critique: One of the most beautifully illustrated cookbooks ever based on animated movie characters, Pixar: The OfficialCookbook features full-color photos of the finished dishes showcased in a kitchen cook friendly format of stet-by-steprecipes will help ensure successful and memorable menus for both formal and informal dining. Also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $16.99), this edition of "Pixar: The Official Cookbook" will prove to be a popular andtreasured addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Tara Theoharis (https://taratheoharis.com) is the creator of the recipe and party blog The Geeky Hostessand author of The Minecrafter's Cookbook and Break an Egg! The Broadway Cookbook. She loves creating approachablerecipes inspired by her favorite fandoms.
Editorial Note #2: S.T. Bende (www.stbende.com) is a young-adult and children's author, known for the Norse mythologyseries Viking Academy and the Aere Saga. She's also written books for Disney, Lucasfilm, Pixar, The Jim HensonCompany, and Marvel. She lives on the West Coast, where she spends far too much time at Disneyland, and she dreams ofskiing on Jotunheim and Hoth. www.stbende.com
Let's Bake: Over 100 Dessert Recipes for Gifting & Giving
Gail Sweeney
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578269600, $25.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Bake-Recipes-Gifting-Sharing/dp/1578269601
Synopsis: The most satisfying part of baking is the happiness it brings to ourselves and to others. This spirit of giving isbaked into the pages of "Let's Bake: Over 100 Dessert Recipes for Gifting & Giving", a unique and very special cookbookby experienced baker Gail Sweeney.
From traditional favorites to new creations, "Let's Bake" offers a bevy of options for gifting and sharing from your kitchenwith additional features such as:
Best way to present what you've made at a gathering
Tips on wrapping/packaging or gift boxing
Occasions and celebrations best suited for certain recipes
Furthermore, this edition of "Let's Bake" from Hatherleigh Press is lavishly illustrated, making it a pleasure to simplebrowse through as well as ideal for gift giving occasions.
Some of the incredible recipes specifically chosen for their ease of sharing and gifting comprising "Let's Bake"include:
Irish Whiskey Bread Pudding
Toffee Pecan Crunch
Mango Chocolate Tart
Easy Chocolate Lava Cakes
15-Layer Hazelnut Cake
Lemon Bars with Blackcurrant Jam
Dulce de Leche Alfajores
Maple Cookies -- And so much more!
Critique: Fun to simply browse through one delicious baked goods page at a time and ideal as a DIY instructional guide forfamily bakers at all skill levels, "Let's Bake: Over 100 Dessert Recipes for Gifting & Giving" will prove an unconditionallyprized and high value addition to personal, family, professional, and community library Baked Goods, Baking Cookbook,and Baked Desert collections.
The Bento Lunchbox
Sachiko Horie, author
Makiko Itoh, translator
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805318195, $18.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bento-Lunchbox-Delicious-Japanese-Lunches/dp/4805318198
Synopsis: "The Bento Lunchbox: Delicious Japanese Box Lunches in 30 Minutes or Less" by Sachiko Horie (and ablytranslated into English by Makiko Itoh) provides easy, step-by-step instructions showing how to create six basic boxlunches with many variations, and over 125 different recipes in a rainbow of colors -- the key to making your lunchboxlook great.
American family cooks will enjoy learning how to make fun and easy Japanese style bento lunch boxes with a variety ofbasic preparations, such as:
Steamed rice with teriyaki chicken, sesame spinach and sauteed root vegetables
Egg salad sandwiches with crunch carrots and cucumbers
Ramen noodles with warm dipping sauce, savory pork and spinach
Picnic bento with nori rolls, crispy mackerel, miso green beans and glazed sweet potatoes
Culinary author Sachiko Horie is a trained nutritionist who provides calorie counts for each recipe along with tips forhealthy, balanced lunches that appeal to kids and adults. Detailed menu plans, make-ahead instructions, and color-codedassembly diagrams ensure that the entire family will be out the door on time with beautiful bento lunches in hand!
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, :The Bento Lunchbox: Delicious Japanese Box Lunches in 30Minutes or Less" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and provides practical inspiration for something a little different (and fullyJapanese) for lunch menus. Fun to browse through and inspiring to plan lunch menus with, "The Bento Lunchbox" is aunique, special, and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbookcollections. It should be noted that "The Bento Lunchbox" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$18.04) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Sachiko Horie is a nutritionist, food coordinator and culinary artist in Japan. She worked at the YokoYusei Culinary Arts School before starting her own business. She appears regularly in the media and is renowned for hersimple, tasty, and healthy recipes for bentos, home-style meals, snacks, baby food and more. Her books include 3 Dishes in15 Minutes! A Month of Super Shortcut Low-Carb Dinners, Shop for a Week and Use it All Up! A Month of Low-CarbDinners (both from Shufu to Seikatsu Co.) and Cute Cutouts for Grownups (Shufu no Tomo Co.).(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sachiko-Horie)
Editorial Note #2: Makiko Itoh (https://justhungry.com/about) writes the food blog, Just Hungry, established in 2003. Ithas been featured numerous times by the press including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The ChicagoTribune, The Guardian, Epicurious, Gourmet Magazine, Saveur, The Japan Times, Cooking Light and Food and Wine, andmuch more.
Fermentation for Life
Misa Enomoto
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805318065, $19.99, HC, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fermentation-Life-Japanese-Probiotic-Rich-Ingredients/dp/4805318066
Synopsis: Now with the publication of "Fermentation for Life: 100 Easy Japanese Inspired Recipes Using Probiotic-RichIngredients", American family cooks can harness the probiotic powers of fermented foods so well known to the Japanese --at every meal! From breakfast to midnight snacks, these fermentation-forward recipes comprising "Fermentation for Life"contain intensely rich flavors and healthy probiotic power in every mouthful.
From simple sauces, soups, salads and stir fries to elegant main courses, savory snacks and decadent desserts,"Fermentation for Life" covers all the bases!
With "Fermentation for Life", fermentation expert and lifestyle guru Misa Enomoto offers readers dozens of ways toincorporate fermented foods into their daily meals so they can eat foods that taste better and are better for you all the timewith:
Hearty Soups (From Green Onion & Tofu, to Broccoli & Bacon, and Curried Corn & Cheese Miso)
Simple Salads (Daikon Radish Kimchi, Soybean Yogurt Salad and Avocado & Cherry Tomatoes with Kimchi)
Familiar Dishes Transformed (Natto Carbonara, Chicken Tenders with Sesame Miso, Chicken Amazake Teriyaki andAmazake French Toast)
Delicious Stir Fries (Stir-fried Pork and Cabbage with Miso, Chicken and Kimchi Stir Fry, Sweet and Sour Pork and SpicyBeef Bulgogi)
Beverages (Blueberry Lassies, Carrot Vinegar Smoothies, Black Vinegar Ginger Ale and Salt Koji Lemon Soda)
Decadent Desserts and Snacks (Amazake Banana Ice Cream, Strawberry Yogurt Cream Parfait, White Miso Cookies andRich Sake Lees Cheesecake).
Critique: This large format hardcover edition of Misa Enomoto's "Fermentation for Life: 100 Easy Japanese InspiredRecipes Using Probiotic-Rich Ingredients" from Tuttle Publishing is beautifully illustrated throughout with full colorphotos of finished dishes. Each individual and authentically Japanese recipe is fully 'American kitchen cook friendly' inorganization and presentation. Highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbookcollections. It should be noted that "Fermentation for Life" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) aswell.
Editorial Note: Misa Enomoto is a chef and fermentation master and the author of Pickled Vegetables, Quick Miso Recipesfor a Healthy Life and Easy Preserved Seasonal Foods. Her areas of specialization include small-batch miso, rice bran anddesserts and sweets made with mirin. She can be followed on YouTube at "Misa Enomoto's Seasonal Cooking," Instagram@misa_enomoto or Twitter @misa_enomoto or visit her website: www.futari-gohan.jp, which offers seasonal handicraftand recipe ideas for couples.
Coffee Creations
Celeste Wong
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729615, $22.99, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Creations-delicious-recipes-perfect/dp/1784729612
Synopsis: The first book from internationally renowned coffee expert and top barista Celeste Wong and showcasing 90delicious recipes of creating that perfect cup, "Coffee Creations" is a comprehensive and foolproof guide to every coffeebeverage you might ever have contemplated making at home and some you haven't.
Celeste provides friendly and accessible advice on equipment, how to choose between beans, ground coffee and pods, aswell as which roasts and flavours you should select to maximise on flavour and suit personal preferences.
Recipes are divided into chapters including: Mastering your 'traditional' barista creations at home (cappucino, latte, flatwhite, macchiato and cortado); Hot days (iced lattes and cold brews); Cold days (Baileys and Biscoff lattes); Evenings in(coffee co*cktails from espresso martinis to cold brew negronis); Novelty creations (dalgona, unicorn and orange juice andespresso); Baking with coffee (cheat's coffee ice cream and the perfect coffee and walnut cupcakes).
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs of finished beverages, professional barista CelesteWong's "Coffee Creations" is a 'must' for the legions of adventurous coffee enthusiasts and a prized pick for personal,professional, and community library collections. It should be noted that "Coffee Creations" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $10.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Celeste Wong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celeste_Wong) has held top positions in leading artisan cafesall over the world for well over a decade. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, since migrating to the UK, Celeste has beenlisted as one of five top baristas in the Financial Times and noted for her excellence in a plethora of other publications. Sheis the coffee expert at Olive magazine and has appeared on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen and NBC's The Today Show as acoffee expert. (Instagram: @the_girl_in_the_cafe)
Taste of Home: What's For Dinner?
Taste of Home
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889770510, $22.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Whats-Dinner-QUESTION/dp/B0CWZ16PHW
Synopsis: "What's for dinner?" is a question family cooks have faced (and dreaded) for decades. Now it's easier than everto solve this mealtime quandary thanks to "What's for Dinner?" from the pros at Taste of Home.
Half the work of preparing dinner is deciding what to make, so that question is responded to with 358 dinner ideas that areideal for busy week nights and weekend menus alike. Featuring hundreds of half-hour dishes as well as 5-ingredientfavorites, slow-cooked specialties and other easy entrees, this kitchen companion transforms ho-hum dinner staples intoextraordinary eats.
Of special note for family cooks is the inclusion of a bonus chapter of 10-minute sides and desserts, no-fuss servingsuggestions that round out main courses and five At-a-Glance Icons to help you find the perfect dinner any night of theweek. Say goodbye to mealtime monotony and relish incredible new tastes any night of the week. It's a snap with "What'sfor Dinner?" from Taste of Home.
Critique: Illustrated throughout with full color (and mouth watering) photos of finished dishes, 'Clip-and-Keep List ofPantry Staples' guide for stocking your kitchen cabinets with the ingredients needed to whip up hearty meals., and ServingSuggestions' offering effortless and inspiring ideas to round out entrees and help you set memorable menus on the tableeven on your busiest nights, "Taste of Home: What's For Dinner?" will prove an immediately welcome and enduringlypopular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. An inspirational joy toplan menus with for any and all dining occasions both formal and informal, "Taste of Home: What's For Dinner?" is alsoreadily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking andentertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands ofsubscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web siteis a top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has morethan 6.3 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.6 million Pinterest followers and receives morethan 28 million unique monthly visitors. Visit Taste of Home on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more.
Taste of Home: Lazy-Day Dinners, Desserts & More
Taste of Home
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889770381, $19.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Lazy-Day-Dinners-Desserts/dp/B0CM29R2MZ
Synopsis: What to cook when you don't feel like cooking! Discover the joy of nearly effortless cooking with "Taste ofHome: Lazy-Day Dinners, Desserts & More", a cookbook made with the busy cook in mind.
With this culinary compendium of dishes that are so easy for the family chef to prepare that they practically makethemselves, you can say goodbye to long ingredient lists and hours of kitchen prep, and say hello to delicious homemademeals that dazzle with their simplicity.
That's the magic of 'dump recipes' -- they are unbelievably simple yet incredibly tasty dishes that require so little effort,they practically cook themselves! Using just a few ingredients and following simple steps, you can create mouthwateringdishes on your timetable - things like breakfast while you sleep, meals ready to serve when you walk in the door, and evenhot homemade breads, scrumptious dump cakes and astoundingly simple sweets.
"Taste of Home: Lazy-Day Dinners, Desserts & More" offers: Mealtimes made easy with 200+ flavorful dishes you justtoss together and cook. We've rounded up our un-fussiest recipes into one handy collection; Recipes for every type of dish- from breakfast that cooks while you sleep to simmer-all-day soups and dump desserts ready in a flash; Easy, breezygatherings, thanks a Sandwiches chapter brimming with sloppy joes, pulled barbecues and more crowd-pleasing options,plus simple Snacks & Sips; Handy freeze icon indicates recipes store well and cook up in a jiffy; Pantry sweets and breadsthat have never been easier with short ingredient lists, simple mix-and-bake techniques and shortcut products makehomemade cakes, dump desserts and even breads a snap.
Also featured are budget-friendly and versatile ingredients adding up to go-to recipes the busy cook will reach for time andagain and a bonus chapter of "Dump & Go Meal Preps" that is packed with timesaving ways to win the what's-for-dinnergame. Prep, freeze and go for future meals.
Critique: Replete throughout with full page, full color photos of finished dishes, "Taste of Home: Lazy-Day Dinners,Desserts & More" is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation making it an ideal and candidlyrecommended pick for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted thatthis edition of "Taste of Home: Lazy-Day Dinners, Desserts & More" from Taste of Home is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $11.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking andentertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands ofsubscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web siteis a top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has morethan 6.3 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.6 million Pinterest followers and receives morethan 28 million unique monthly visitors.
Chinese Cuisine
Margot Zhane, author
Zhao En Yang, illustrator
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105152, $19.95, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Cuisine-Recipes-Anecdotes-Gastronomic/dp/0228105153
Synopsis: In China, one is saluted in any venue with the question, "Have you eaten?" This simple phrase suggests howdeeply anchored nourishment is in Chinese daily life. Food is about sustenance, but also communication of love andrespect. A meal is about food but also memories and friendship.
"Chinese Cuisine: Recipes and Anecdotes from Chinese Gastronomic Culture" is the fourth in a series of illustrated guidesto Asian cuisines and food culture and where you will find:
An introduction to the three important daily meals
Utensils from chopsticks to bamboo steamers and woks
Cutting and chopping tools and techniques
Sauces and broths
Ingredients like bok choi, oyster sauce, kumquats and chillies.
There is also a rundown on the eight regional Chinese cuisines, which are very different from Hunan to Sichuan:
Main ingredients: wontons and noodles, rice in all its forms, mushrooms and sprouts
The principal proteins: pork, chicken and tofu
Chinese herbal medicines and foods that cure
Street food, dishes/cakes for special occasions (steamed sponge cake, mooncake).
Charming full-color illustrations show every kind of ingredient and dish, from the familiar to the unusual, and depictpeople in authentic situations enjoying food in their homes, at restaurants and on the street. The color illustrations ofvegetables, utensils and labels make this guide very easy to follow for the novice and a warm reminder for readers ofChinese heritage.
Critique: Of special and particular interest to reader's with an interest in authentic Chinese cuisine, "Chinese Cuisine:Recipes and Anecdotes from Chinese Gastronomic Culture" is a massively illustrated and thoroughly 'kitchen cookfriendly' compendium of clearly laid out step-by-step instructions for an impressive series of Chinese dishes that willelevate both formal and informal dining occasions to an impressive level of culinary excellence -- making this paperbackedition of "Chinese Cuisine: Recipes and Anecdotes from Chinese Gastronomic Culture" a welcome an unreservedlyrecommended pick for personal, family, professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Margot Zhane has a YouTube site at www.youtube.com/c/MargotZhang.
Editorial Note #2: Zhao En Yang is on Instagram at www.instagram.com/yangyangcourage
The Slimming Foodie: Easy Meals Every Day
Pip Payne
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781783255658, $26.99 HC, $1.99 Kindle, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Slimming-Foodie-Easy-Meals-Every/dp/178325565X
The Slimming Foodie: Easy Meals Every Day, Healthy Dinners for the Whole Family provides some 100 recipes that usefamiliar ingredients and streamline processes to make meal planning and preparation a snap. Chapters cover each day ofthe week, provide weekly meal plans and shopping lists, and include color photos to reinforce the family-friendly appeal ofeach dish. International influences are present, but are based on ingredients easily available in modern American markets.Cooks will be attracted to such fare as a Simple Red Lentil Dal, an easy version of Sweet & Sour Pork, or a hearty yetbasic Black Bean, Kale & Sweet Potato Curry. Readers interested in slimming, attractive, easily-produced-at-home farewill find plenty to choose from in The Slimming Foodie: Easy Meals Every Day.
The American History Shelf
Ron Tarver, photographer
Art T. Burton. essayist
George F. Thompson Publishing
c/o Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781960521026, $45.00, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Ride-Home-Cowboys-America/dp/1960521020
Synopsis: Here's something that Hollywood movies neglected to depict -- about 1 in 3 cowboys in the American Old Westwere African-American.
"The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America" by photographer Ron Tarver is among the first pictorial history booksto tell the story of the Black cowboy experience in contemporary America. Although Black cowboys have been a fixture onthe American landscape since the nineteenth century, few people are aware of their enduring contributions to the history ofthe West and how their unique culture continues to thrive in urban as well as rural areas all over the country.
"The Long Ride Home" features Tarver's beautiful, compelling, and often surprising contemporary photographic images ofAfrican-American cowboys that not only convey the Black cowboy's way of life and its rich heritage, but also affirm athriving culture of Black-owned ranches and rodeo operations, parades, inner-city cowboys, retired cowhands, and Blackcowgirls of all ages, too.
Tarver, who comes from a family of Black cowboys in Oklahoma, uses his artistry to question, if not upend, long-heldnotions of what it means to be a cowboy and, with that, what it means to be an American.
In addition to Tarver's captioned photographs, "The Long Ride Home" includes an informative essay by Art T. Burton,who is an expert on the history of Black cowboys. This impressive compendium of captioned photography is both a tributeto and a celebration of the Black cowboy in America, providing an invaluable and unique perspective on American historyand culture as well as the Black experience in America.
Critique: This large format (11.81 x 0.63 x 9.76 inches, 2.7 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "The Long RideHome: Black Cowboys in America" is a genuine pleasure to browse through and an exceptionally unique, very special, andfully recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library Western American History, African-American History, and Contemporary American Photography collections.
Editorial Note #1: Ron Tarver (www.rontarverphotographs.net) comes by his interest in contemporary Black cowboysthrough his own experience. His grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was a working cowboy during the 1940s who drove cattlealong the Verdigris River, from Fort Gibson to Catoosa, Oklahoma, and was reported to have one of the best roping horsesin the area. Tarver grew up in northeastern Oklahoma, in the small agricultural community of Fort Gibson, where he spentmany long, hot summer days hauling hay and working on local farms. He is co-author, with journalist Yvonne Latty, of"We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans" (Harper Collins, 2004), which was accompanied by a travelingexhibition that debuted at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Editorial Note #2:Art T. Burton (https://www.artburton.com) retired in 2015 after spending thirty-eight years in highereducation as a history professor at Prairie State College and South Suburban College, both in Illinois, and as anadministrator in African-American Student Affairs at Benedictine University, Loyola University Chicago, and ColumbiaCollege Chicago. He is the author of several books, including Black, Red and Deadly: Black and Indian Gunfighters in theIndian Territory, 1870 - 1907 (Eakin Press, 1991), Black Buckskin and Blue: African-American Scouts and Soldiers on theWestern Frontier (Eakin Press, 2008), Cherokee Bill: Black Cowboy-Indian Outlaw (Eakins Press, 2020), and Black Gun,Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves (Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press,2022).
The Traitor's Homecoming
Matthew E. Reardon
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611216981, $34.95, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Traitors-Homecoming-Benedict-Connecticut-September/dp/1611216982
Synopsis: Every student of the American Revolution is familiar with the name of at least one Revolutionary War battles.Some, like Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown are household names. Others are less wellknown but readily recognized when mentioned. But an engagement in Connecticut during the war's seventh year,commanded by one of history's most infamous military names, is not among them.
Author and historian Matthew E. Reardon has set out to rectify that oversight with the publication of "The Traitor'sHomecoming: Benedict Arnold's Raid on New London, Connecticut, September 4-13, 1781".
By 1781, the war in North America had reached a stalemate. That changed during the summer when the combinedFranco-American armies of Generals George Washington and Jean-Baptiste comte de Rochambeau deceived BritishGeneral Sir Henry Clinton into believing they were about to lay siege to New York City. In fact, they were moving southtoward Yorktown, Virginia, in a bid to trap Lord Cornwallis's British army against the sea. Clinton fell for the deceptionand dispatched former American general Benedict Arnold to attack New London, Conneticut. Clinton hoped to destroy theprivateers operating out of its harbor and derail militia reinforcements and supplies heading from Connecticut to the alliedarmies outside New York City.
Situated in southeastern Connecticut, New London was the center of the state's wartime naval activities. State andContinental naval vessels operated out of its harbor, which doubled as a haven for American privateers. Arnold landed onSeptember 6 and, in a textbook operation, defeated local militia, took possession of the town, harbor, and forts, and setNew London's waterfront ablaze. But that is not how it is remembered.
The Connecticut governor's vicious propaganda campaign against the British and Arnold, who was already infamous forhis treachery, created a narrative of partial truths and embellishments that persist to this day. As such, most of the attentionremains on the bloody fighting and supposed "massacre" at Fort Griswold. There is much more to the story.
"The Traitor's Homecoming" uses dozens of newly discovered British and American primary sources to weave a balancedmilitary study of an often forgotten and misunderstood campaign. Indeed, Reardon achieves a major reinterpretation of thebattle while dismantling its myths. Thirteen original maps and numerous illustrations and modern photographs flesh outthis provocative and groundbreaking study.
Critique: A seminal, inherently fascinating, iconoclastic, and documented military history, "The Traitor's Homecoming:Benedict Arnold's Raid on New London, Connecticut, September 4-13, 1781" is a long needed and deftly craftedreexamination of Benedict Arnold's 1781 raid on New London, Connecticut, dispelling myths and offering a balancedmilitary study of this episode in the American Revolutionary War. Informative enhanced for the reader's benefit thirteenMaps, nine Appendices, a fourteen page Bibliography, and a fifteen page Index, "The Traitor's Homecoming" is anessential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryAmerican Revolutionary War 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 Traitor's Homecoming" is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.95).
Editorial Note: Matthew Reardon is a native of northeastern Connecticut. He earned his BA in history and an MA ineducation from Sacred Heart University. His research interests mainly focus on Connecticut during the AmericanRevolution and the Civil War. He served as executive director of the New England Civil War Museum & Research Centerfor more than 15 years. He currently works as a middle school teacher in Vernon, Connecticut, and serves as a commandhistorian for the Connecticut Military Department.
The Colfax County War
Corey Recko
University of North Texas Press
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574419320, $34.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Colfax-County-War-Territorial-C/dp/1574419323
Synopsis: When New Mexico became part of the United States, the territory contained 295 land grants, the largest of thesebeing the Maxwell Land Grant. The size and boundaries of the grant were disputed, with some believing that much of theland was public domain. Settlers on this land were fought not only by the land grant owners but also by a group of corruptpoliticians and lawyers known as the Santa Fe Ring (most notably Thomas Catron and Stephen Elkins) who tried to use thesituation for personal profit and land acquisition.
The fight escalated in late 1875 with the assassination of Reverend F. J. Tolby, an outspoken critic of the Santa Fe Ring. Ina confession one of the assassins stated that men connected to the ring had paid to have Tolby killed. Outrage, civil unrest,and more murders followed. The town of Cimarron alone was the scene of a lynching, a barroom gunfight in the St. JamesHotel involving legendary gunman Clay Allison, and a nighttime murder of a prisoner.
For a time the troubles in New Mexico were ignored by the federal government. But in 1878 the murder of John Tunstallset off a wave of violence known as the Lincoln County War. Following that, a letter came to light that appeared to showthat the governor of the territory, Samuel B. Axtell, planned a mass execution of critics of the Santa Fe Ring, who heconsidered to be agitators in the Colfax County troubles.
Finally, officials in Washington took notice and sent Frank W. Angel with orders to investigate the violence, murders, andcorruption that plagued the territory. Following his investigation, Angel concluded, "It is seldom that history states morecorruption, fraud, mismanagement, plots and murders, than New Mexico, has been the theatre under the administration ofGovernor Axtell." The actions taken as a result of Angel's investigation wouldn't end the violence in New Mexico, but theydid lead to the end of the Colfax County War.
Critique: An absolutely fascinating read from cover to cover, "The Colfax County War: Violence and Corruption inTerritorial New Mexico" by Corey Recko is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of severalmaps and illustrations, a fourteen page Bibliography, twenty-eight pages of End Notes, and a nine page Index. Animpressive work of original scholarship and historical research, "The Colfax County War" is a welcome and unreservedlyrecommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library 19th Century American History collectionsand supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Colfax County War" fromthe University of North Texas Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.96).
Editorial Note: Corey Recko (www.coreyrecko.com) is the author of Murder on the White Sands: The Disappearance ofAlbert and Henry Fountain (UNT Press), winner of the Best Book of the Year award from the Wild West HistoricalAssociation. He also wrote A Spy for the Union: The Life and Execution of Timothy Webster.
The World History Shelf
Richard Estep
Visible Ink Press
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578598397, $69.95, HC, 480pp
https://www.amazon.com/Handy-World-War-Answer-Book/dp/1578598397
Synopsis: From the Pearl Harbor attack and the D-Day invasion to the Holocaust and the Manhattan Project, World War IIhas had a lasting impact on the world. Larger-than-life heroes and villains were minted: Hitler, MacArthur, Stalin, andChurchill, to name a few. The ballistic missile, atomic bomb, radar, and other inventions were developed that came todefine modern life.
The impact of World War II cannot be underestimated. This Visible Ink Press edition of "The Handy World War II AnswerBook" by Richard Estep looks at the Blitzkrieg, Hiroshima, concentration camps, and the rest of the war's history. It alsoanswers 550 of the most intriguing questions about the war ranging from Why did Italy and Germany become allies?, toWho were the Desert Rats?, to Why was Iwo Jima so difficult for the Americans to capture?, to What happened to theJapanese emperor Hirohito?
Fought all over the world, there were battles and operations, warships and warplanes, guns and bombs, attacks and sieges,soldiers and leaders. There was despair and victory, triumph and tragedy, struggle and sacrifice. Learn all about the conflictin "The Handy World War II Answer Book"!
Critique: An extraordinary compendium of information about World War II, and featuring more than 120 photos andgraphics, "The Handy World War II Answer Book" is a fascinating and comprehensive tome that also features a helpfulbibliography and an extensive index. Simply stated, "The Handy World War II Answer Book" is a clear and unreservedlyrecommended addition to personal, professional, K-12 school, college/university, and community/public library 20thCentury Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "The Handy WorldWar II Answer Book" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781578598106, $29.95) and in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Richard Estep (www.richardestep.net) is a paramedic and paranormal investigator who hails from GreatBritain, and currently make my home in the United States. His work features on the TV series "Haunted Case Files,""Haunted Hospitals," and "Paranormal 911." When he is not traveling the world collecting ghost stories and investigatinghaunted houses, he is writing about those very same places, or having fun writing fiction with a distinctly supernaturaltheme to it.
The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr
June Woolerton
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399054447, $34.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Death-Katherine-Parr-Happened/dp/1399054449
Synopsis: What killed Katherine Parr?
She was the ultimate Tudor survivor, the queen who managed to outwit and outlive Henry VIII. Yet just over eighteenmonths after his passing, Katherine Parr was dead. She had been one of the most powerful people in the country, evenruling England for her royal husband, yet she had died hundreds of miles from court and been quickly buried in a tinychapel with few royal trappings. Her grave was lost for centuries only for her corpse to be mutilated after it wasrediscovered during a tea party. The death of Katherine Parr is one of the strangest of any royals -- and one of the mostmysterious.
The final days of Henry VIII's last queen included a faithless husband and rumors of a royal affair while the weeks after herfuneral swirled with whispers of poison and murder. With the publication of "The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr:What Really Happened to Henry VIII's Last Queen?" author June Woolerton dives into the calamitous and tumultuousevents leading up to the last hours of a once powerful queen and the bizarre happenings that followed her passing.
From the elaborate embalming of her body, that left it in a state of perfect preservation for almost three centuries despite aburial just yards from her place of death, to the still unexplained disappearance, without trace, of her baby, the manyquestions surrounding the death of Queen Katherine are examined in a new light.
With "The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr: What Really Happened to Henry VIII's Last Queen?" royal author andhistorian June Woolerton brings together, for the first time under one cover, all the known accounts of the strangerediscovery of Katherine's tomb and the even odder decision to leave it open to the elements and graverobbers for decadesto ask -- How did Katherine Parr really die?
Critique: Fascinating, enthralling, informative, iconoclastic, and memorable, "The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr:What Really Happened to Henry VIII's Last Queen?" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,professional, community, and college/university library Royal British Biography History & Biography collections andsupplemental British Royal History curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialistgeneral readers with an interest in the Tudor Era that "The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr: What Really Happened toHenry VIII's Last Queen?" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99) as well.
Editorial Note: June Woolerton (https://junewoolerton.com) is an author and journalist who's spent twenty years reportingon and writing about royalty and royal history. She's the editor of a major royal website and has written extensively formagazines and publications on history's most famous monarchies and rulers as well as presenting podcasts and radio showson royalty. After graduating in history, she enjoyed a broadcasting career before moving into print and obtaining a degreein psychology. She lives near London with her husband and son.
Women and Warfare in the Ancient World
Karlene Jones-Bley
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399068918, $39.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Women-Warfare-Ancient-World-Virgins/dp/1399068911
Synopsis: With the publication of "Women and Warfare in the Ancient World: Virgins, Viragos and Amazons", author andhistorian Karlene Jones-Bley presents a broad view of women and female figures involved in war in the ancient world,incorporating mythological, legendary, archaeological, and historical evidence for women in a military setting. Within thiscontext are to be found not only fighters but also strategists, trainers, and leaders who may not have been on the actualbattlefield.
Exploring women and war within the Indo-European and Near Eastern worlds, "Women and Warfare in the AncientWorld" successfully challenges the misogynist view that women do not fight and that war is completely a male occupation-- a view expressed as early as Xenophon and as late as the end of the 20th century.
In "Women and Warfare in the Ancient World", Karlene Jones-Bley begins her study by defining Virgins, Viragos, andAmazons, going on to explore war goddesses, legendary, and historical women giving insights into different cultures, theirattitudes towards women and how these have developed over time. Recent archaeological evidence supports herconclusions that women have always been a part of warfare.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-eight page Bibliography, twenty pages ofEndnotes, a three page listing of Classical References, and a seventeen page Index, "Women and Warfare in the AncientWorld: Virgins, Viragos and Amazons" is a seminal and ground-breaking history of the role women played in militarysettings from antiquity down to the present day. As fascinating as it is informative, and a work of meticulously presentedand original scholarship, "Women and Warfare in the Ancient World" is a unique and welcome contribution to personal,professional, community, and college/university library Women's History & Military History collections and supplementalcurriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in thesubject that "Women and Warfare in the Ancient World" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.28)as well.
Editorial Note: Karlene Jones-Bley has taught archaeology and an introduction to Indo-European Studies at UCLA, historyat Marlbough School for Girls, and linguistics at California State University Los Angeles. She has also written a number ofarticles regarding women and war as well as queenship, mythology, and burial ritual that have appeared in peer-reviewedjournals and anthologies. From 1997 to 2007, she served as co-editor of the Proceedings of the of the Annual UCLAIndo-European Conference. As a result of her excavations and research in Russia, she produced the monograph, Early andMiddle Bronze Age Pottery from the Volga-Don Steppe.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/222785.Karlene_Jones_Bley)
King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia
Tony Sullivan
Pen & Sword History
c/o Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399048682, $36.95, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/King-Arthur-Battle-Britannia-Bellorum/dp/1399048686
Synopsis: King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia is the last in a series of three books by Tony Sullivan and published byPen & Sword Books.
The first, "King Arthur: Man or Myth", weighed the evidence for and against a historical figure. The second, "The Battlesof King Arthur", looked in detail at the famous battle list from the Historia Brittonum.
Having looked at the questions of whether and where, this final book, "King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia: DuxBellorum and the Kings of the Britons" takes on the different question of who was Arthur? This historical study is intendedto save readers time and money wading through the scores of competing theories. It explains the problems with many ofthese theories to date, their failure to gain widespread support and why many historians remain sceptical about theexistence of a historical Arthur.
There is however a reasonable consistency in medieval genealogies and a good reason why Arthur does not appear in anyof the list of kings of early kingdoms. Instead he is placed in the context of a fragmenting post-Roman provincial structure,alongside the emergence of petty kingdoms with new cultural identities. A heroic Brythonic culture in the west and northand a Germanic culture in the east and south.
"King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia: Dux Bellorum and the Kings of the Britons" examines at the evolution of thelegend comparing the chivalric French Romances with the Arthur of the darker Welsh tradition. A mythical figure mayhave emerged from the mead halls and war band culture of the sixth century. However this study focuses on describinghow an historical figure may have been mythologised -- and who such a warrior may have been.
Critique: A simply fascinating read from start to finish, "King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia: Dux Bellorum and theKings of the Britons" is exceptionally well written and impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. Amodel of historical research, "King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia: Dux Bellorum and the Kings of the Britons" alsofeatures twelve pages of Notes, a seven page References & Bibliography, four page Index. While also available forpersonal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99), this outstanding edition of Tony Sullivan's "King Arthurand the Battle for Britannia: Dux Bellorum and the Kings of the Britons" is a very highly rated and unreservedlyrecommended addition to community and college/university library Arthurian Studies and Welch History collections.
Editorial Note: Tony Sullivan lives in Kent with his wife and children. He spent 31 years in the London Fire Brigade andhave recently retired. He has been interested in dark age history and King Arthur in particular for many years.
The Teutonic Knights Strike East
William Urban & Darius Baronas
Greenhill Books
c/o Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781805000549, $34.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Teutonic-Knights-Strike-East-Lithuania/dp/1805000543
Synopsis: The history of the Teutonic Knights is one of crusading in an era of wars, intrigues, assassinations and betrayals.Originally established as a hospital order during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land during the late 12th century, the orderevolved into a formidable military force dedicated to defending and expanding Christianity in the Baltic region.
Co-authored by Crusader historians William Urban and Darius Baronas, "The Teutonic Knights Strike East: The 14thCentury Crusades in Lithuania and Rus'" explores the crusade aimed at Lithuanian pagans in the Middle Ages, whencrusaders from the Holy Roman Empire, France, England and Scotland came to Prussia to fight alongside the TeutonicKnights.
What ensued was a long-drawn out, many-sided struggle, with Lithuania and Poland first becoming powerful states, thenexpanding into Belarus and Ukraine, where the Mongols and Tatars had long held sway. This study then culminates withLithuania converting to the Roman Catholic Church and the dramatic sieges of Vilnius.
Written by two leading experts on the Crusades in an enjoyable and compelling style, this is an accessible narrative of acomplex political and military history.
Critique: Impressively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a fourteen page section of color & B/Willustrations, "The Teutonic Knights Strike East: The 14th Century Crusades in Lithuania and Rus'" by academiciansWilliam Urban and Darius Baronas also features a ten page Bibliography and an eleven page Index. A masterpiece ofhistorical scholarship, exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, this is a seminal, groundbreaking,and unreservedly recommended pick (which is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99) for personal,community, and college/university library Crusader History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: William L Urban (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Urban) is an internationally recognizedauthority on the history of European warfare. He served as L Morgan Professor of History and International Studies atMonmouth College (Illinois). For several years he was editor of the Journal of Baltic Studies. He has written some twodozen scholarly books including The Teutonic Knights (2003) and Small Wars, and their Influence on the Nation State(2016)
Editorial Note #2: Darius Baronas (https://istorija.academia.edu/DariusBaronas) is a medieval historian and professor atthe University of Vilnius, Faculty of History. His chief research interests lie in the study of the Christianization ofLithuania and her relations with neighboring countries and regions.
Clash of Crowns
Harry Pearson
Pen & Sword Military
c/o Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399035910, $42.95, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Clash-Crowns-Battle-Forgotten-Victory/dp/1399035916
Synopsis: The battle of Byland, on 14 October 1322, was a crucial battle in the Wars of Scottish Independence. "Clash ofCrowns: The Battle of Byland 1322: Robert the Bruce's Forgotten Victory" is an absorbing and informative study fromHarry Pearson sheds new light on one of the most overlooked battles in British history.
The area of the North York Moors National Park contains some of the most dramatic and scenic landscapes in the North ofEngland, and none more so than the section of the Cleveland Way, which clings to the edge of the escarpment that marksthe western boundary of the Hambleton Hills. On a clear day, the entire Vale of Mowbray can be seen. When visiting thearea today it is hard to imagine thousands of English and Scottish troops engaged in bitter conflict there.
At first light on the morning of October 14th in 1322, the armies of two kings confronted each other over this sameground. The soldiers of King Edward II of England looked down from the heights at a force of several thousand men led byKing Robert I 'the Bruce' of Scotland, as they deployed below Sutton Bank in the area around Gormire Lake, withthousands more approaching from the direction of Northallerton to the north-west.
Although a daunting sight for the English defenders, they no doubt had confidence in the strength of their seeminglyimpregnable position. The early morning air would have been thick with the call of shouted orders and war cries and theclamour of the readying of weapons, armour and harness as the Scots drew up into battle-formation, ready to attack up thesteep, narrow, and heavily defended pass.
Critique: This updated edition of "Clash of Crowns: The Battle of Byland 1322: Robert the Bruce's Forgotten Victory"features fresh research results and more than 100 images and maps, telling the inherently fascinating story of the ensuingbattle, the dramatic circ*mstances which brought it about and the impact it had on the history of 14th Century Britain. Awelcome and recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library British/Scottish Military Historycollections, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that"Clash of Crowns: The Battle of Byland 1322: Robert the Bruce's Forgotten Victory" from Pen & Sword Books is alsoavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.00) as well.
Editorial Note: Harry Pearson volunteers with North York Moors National Park in a number of roles, and is a keenamateur historian. His other passions include shooting the traditional English longbow, writing poetry, andsilversmithing.
The Battle of Thapsus (46 BC)
Gareth C. Sampson
Pen & Sword Military
c/o Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781526793669, $36.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Thapsus-46-BC-Metellus/dp/1526793660
Synopsis: Despite defeating his opponent Pompeius Magnus at Pharsalus, and the latter's subsequent murder by theEgyptians, Caesar still faced a determined opposition in the Civil War that had engulfed the late Roman Republic.
Having become entangled in the intrigues and wars of the East, Caesar gave his opponents time to regroup under the leadof Metellus Scipio and Cato the Younger, scions of two of the Republic's greatest families. Under their leadership Caesar'sdominance of the Republic was seriously challenged, culminating in a decisive battle at Thapsus in what is nowTunisia.
With the publication of "The Battle of Thapsus (46 BC): Caesar, Metellus Scipio, and the Renewal of the Third RomanCivil War", Gareth Sampson describes the campaigns that set the context for the battle, including the role played by thevarious regional powers drawn into the Roman Civil War. He then recounts the battle itself in detail, analyzing the relativestrengths of the armies involved, their organization, equipment and tactics.
Sampson also assesses the opposing commanders and the strategies on the day which led to another victory for Caesar. Hethen concludes with a discussion of the bloody aftermath of the battle and the myths that developed around the deaths ofCaesar's opponents.
Critique: A work of exceptional scholarship and impressively enhanced with the inclusion of numerous Maps & Diagrams,a Timeline, Notes on Roman Names, four Appendices, a seven page Bibliography, eight pages of Notes, and a four pageIndex, this edition of author and historian Gareth C. Samson's "The Battle of Thapsus (46 BC): Caesar, Metellus Scipio,and the Renewal of the Third Roman Civil War" from Pen & Sword Books is a high value and firmly recommendedaddition to personal, community, and college/university library Ancient Roman History collections and supplementalcurriculum studies lists. Noted for the reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with aninterest in Roman Histories/Biographies is that "The Battle of Thapsus (46 BC): Caesar, Metellus Scipio, and the Renewalof the Third Roman Civil War" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49).
Editorial Note: After a successful career in corporate finance, Gareth C Sampson returned to the study of ancient Romeand gained his PhD from the University of Manchester, where he taught history for a number of years. He now lives inPlymouth with his wife and children. His previous books, The Defeat of Rome (2008), The Crisis of Rome (2010), TheCollapse of Rome (2013), Rome Spreads Her Wings (2016) and Rome, Blood and Politics (2017) were also published byPen & Sword. (www.goodreads.com/author/show/2218684.Gareth_C_Sampson)
Penda, Mercia's First King
Paul Barrett
Pen & Sword Military
c/o Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781036102562, $42.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Penda-Mercias-First-King-Anglo-Saxon/dp/1036102564
Synopsis: Since the Venerable Bede wrote his iconic Ecclesiastic History of England in the eighth century, King Penda hasbeen relegated to the role of villain and treated as a barrier to advancement in a battle between new ideas and a newculture.
With the publication of "Penda, Mercia's First King: The Last Great Heathen Warlord of Anglo-Saxon England", authorPaul Barrett outlines the background to the Anglo-Saxon takeover in England and explores the broad concepts of theAngles' traditional culture, before delving into the life of Penda (605 - 655).
Penda's life spanned the first half of the seventh century, the era which gave birth to national identities which still form thecentral components of modern Britain; Wales, Scotland, and England all take shape through this period.
Penda's seemingly impossible ascent to prominence starts on the very periphery of power and ends with the dominance ofBritain. He is at the centre of Mercia's birth, expansion and rise. Throughout his reign his kingdom becomes a bastion ofstability in a period of endemic warfare, climate change challenges, cultural competition, and unstable nation-to nationrelationships.
Throughout his life Penda challenges the status quo and shows the value of cultural pluralism in a time when the growingpower of a new faith, Christianity, was pushing all others into extinction.
Guided by his loyalty to an ancient culture, service to his family, and his powerful Queen Cynewise, Penda launchedMercia towards eventual supremacy, which would last for over 200 years. He was the last of the great Anglo-Saxonheathen warlords.
Critique: A simply fascinating and definitive study from start to finish, "Penda, Mercia's First King: The Last GreatHeathen Warlord of Anglo-Saxon England" (featuring a Prologue, Epilogue, four pages of Notes, a nine pageBibliography, and an 8 page Index), is an extraordinary and detailed account of the founding of Mercia under the reign ofKing Penda and his wife Queen Cynewise. While also available from Pen & Sword Books in a digital book format(Kindle, $25.00), "Penda, Mercia's First King: The Last Great Heathen Warlord of Anglo-Saxon England" is especiallyrecommended for personal, community, and college/university library British History/Biography collections andsupplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Paul Barrett has been researching Penda's life for many years. For the past 25 years he has also taken part inthe modern revival of the heathen faith practiced by Penda. He is a Coast Guard Officer and lives in British Columbia,Canada. Paul Barrett has a Bachelor of Science (honors) in Sustainable Maritime Operations from the University ofPlymouth.
Women of the Jacobite Rebellions
Phil Carradice
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399053297, $42.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Women-Jacobite-Rebellions-Phil-Carradice/dp/1399053299
Synopsis: The flight of King James II in November 1688 was a seminal moment in British history. The deposed CatholicKing set up house and home in Paris, William and Mary succeeded to the throne of England. Then began over fifty yearsof trouble, strife, war and execution began to consume England, Scotland and Ireland. The Jacobites - supporters of thedethroned Stuart dynasty - were adamant that James and his heirs should sit once more on the English throne. Invasionfollowed invasion, battle came after battle, culminating with the defeat of Charles Edward Stuart at Culloden in 1745.
The story of those battles and invasions has often been told. However, they have invariably focused on the maleparticipants, from Scottish clansmen to men like Rob Roy and Bonnie Dundee, from the Old to the Young PretenderBonnie Prince Charlie, the darling of the late Jacobite movement, they created a legend that still hovers over the period.But very little has ever been written about the women who were involved.
Apart from figures of note like Flora MacDonald, the role of women in the rebellions and risings has been largelyforgotten. Yet there were hundreds involved in the Jacobite cause. Women tended to wounded soldiers, gave safety andcomfort to fleeing Jacobites, and sometimes led the riots and rebellions themselves. Many were imprisoned, many sentaway from their homelands, deported to strange and distant lands.
Others carried out daring escapes from prisons like The Tower of London and wrote poems and songs that are still readand sung today. Some, women like Jenny Cameron and Grizzel Mhor, became household names for a short while,forgotten now but resurrected here. There are many more, women like Anne Farquharson, Colonel Anne as she wasknown, who defeated 1500 redcoats with a team of five servants in an engagement called the Rout of Moy. They were -and remain - mostly unknown and forgotten. With the publication of "Women of the Jacobite Rebellions", Phil Carradicetells their long forgotten stories.
Critique: As an author and historian, Phil Carradice's well-researched and easy, elegant style of writing laid out in thepages of "Women of the Jacobite Rebellions" brings these forgotten women and their times vividly back to life with aparticular elegance that lifts this work of British history to an impressive level of literary elegance. While a stronglyrecommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections and featuring a 12page of B/W photos, five pages of Notes, three page Bibliography, it should be noted that "Women of the JacobiteRebellions" is also readily available for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that'Women of the Jacobite Rebellions" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.00) as well.
Editorial Note: Phil Carradice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Carradice) is a well-known writer and historian withover 60 books to his credit. A poet, story teller and broadcaster, his most recent books are 'The Cuban Missile Crisis' (Penand Sword), 'The Call Up' (Fonthill) and the novel 'Stargazers' for Accent Press. He is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radioand TV, presents the BBC Wales History programme 'The Past Master' and is widely regarded as one of the finest creativewriting tutors in Wales.
The Military History Shelf
Dr. Randy Carol Goguen
Naval Institute Press
www.nip.org
9781682478899, $34.95, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Yeomanettes-Fighter-Jets-Century-Transforming/dp/1682478890
Synopsis: With the publication of "From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets: A Century of Women in the U.S. Navy", RandyCarol Goguen addresses a major element of twenty-first century sea power -- the integration of women into all militaryunits of the U.S. Navy.
Goguen delineates the cultural, economic, and political conditions as well as the technological changes that shaped thismovement over the course of a century. Starting with the establishment of the Yeomen (F) in World War I and continuingthrough today to address the current arguments over the registration of women for Selective Service and the reform of themilitary justice system, Goguen describes how changes in civilian society affected the U. S. Navy and the role of Navywomen.
Gouen also highlights the contributions of key women and men in the military and civilian spheres who were willing tochallenge convention and prejudice to advance the integration of women and make the U.S. Navy a strongerinstitution.
Today women in the U.S. Navy have proven themselves essential to the mission success of the service. They are forwarddeployed around the world, sharing the same risks as their male counterparts. Some have commanded logistics andcombatant ships, including aircraft carriers. They fly and maintain combat and patrol aircraft and serve as crew memberson ships and submarines. Some hold major commands ashore and have risen to the highest echelons of navyleadership.
Integrating women into the U.S. Navy has been a long and often contentious process, as women strived to overcomeresistance imposed by prevailing cultural and institutional norms and patriarchal prejudices.
Goguen, who is a retired naval reserve officer holding a PhD in military history from Temple University, has written acomprehensive and up-to-date history of women's integration into the Navy. She argues that throughout the process, thedecisive force driving progress was exigency. That exigency took various forms: two world wars, communistexpansionism in the Cold War, the ending of the draft and the establishment of the All-Volunteer Force, as well as thepolitical pressures posed by social change, especially the mid twentieth-century feminist and contemporary "Me Too"movements.
Despite a deeply ingrained institutional resistance cultivated within an insular, often misogynist, sea-going subculture,today's U.S. Navy could not meet its mission requirements without women. Goguen asserts, "Exigency is the mother ofintegration."
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a 14 page section of historic B/W photos,forty-four pages of Notes, a fourteen page Bibliography, and a fifteen page Index, "From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets: ACentury of Women in the U.S. Navy" is a seminal and ground-breaking work of original and meticulous scholarship and aninherently interesting read from start to finish. A comprehensive and skillfully written history of women serving in theAmerican navy, "From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets: A Century of Women in the U.S. Navy" from the Naval Institute Presswill prove a welcome and core addition to personal, community, and college/university library American Military Historycollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist generalreaders with an interest in the subject of women in the military that "From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets: A Century ofWomen in the U.S. Navy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.95) as well.
Editorial Note: Randy Carol Goguen served as an enlisted Marine and a Navy Yeoman in the reserves before she wascommissioned as a naval intelligence officer in 1987. She retired at the rank of commander in 2010 with more thanthirty-two years of naval service. She was employed as the civilian historian for the Office of Naval Intelligence from 2002until her retirement in 2022.(https://www.usni.org/people/randy-goguen)
Graphic War Navy
Donald Nijboer
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228104841, $49.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Graphic-War-Navy-Drawings-Illustrations/dp/022810484X
Synopsis: Military history buffs can prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey into the heart of naval warfare duringWorld War II with "Graphic War Navy: The Secret Naval Drawings and Illustrations of World War II" by DonaldNijboer.
Following the success of "Graphic War: The Secret Aviation Drawings and Illustrations of World War II", this newvolume dedicated navies of World War II, Donald Nijboer unveils a treasure trove of top-secret drawings that haveheretofore remained unpublished.
"Graphic War Navy" is meticulously curated collection showcases a wealth of training manuals, vibrant wartime posters,and captivating illustrations. Scouring archives around the world, Nijboer has included naval material from Great Britain,The United States, Germany, and Canada.
One of the highlights of "Graphic War Navy" is the stunning cutaway drawings of naval vessels and their armaments.These visuals played a pivotal role in the strategies of both Allied and Axis forces. In an era where there was limitedintelligence about enemy craft, these illustrations were indispensable.
Readers will delve into the world of anonymous graphic artists and technical illustrators who, though unrecognized in theirtime, left an indelible mark on history. Their work, revived within these pages, offers a rare glimpse into war room tacticsand the training of personnel.
Whether you're a naval enthusiast, a modeller, an artist, or simply someone fascinated with World War II history, GraphicWar Navy promises an enthralling insider's view of the epic battles fought in the vast expanse of the open sea.
Critique: This large format (7.87 x 5.51 x 0.39 inches, 2.31 pounds) hardcover edition of "Graphic War Navy: The SecretNaval Drawings and Illustrations of World War II" from Firefly Books is an inherently fascinating, impressivelyinformative, exceptionally well organized and presented volume that will be a unique and welcome addition to personal,professional, community, and college/university library World War II Naval History collections and supplemental WorldWar II History curriculum studies lists.
The Civil War Shelf
Ronald D. Kirkwood
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217063, $34.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Mother-Not-Worry-Gettysburgs/dp/1611217067
Synopsis: The George Spangler Farm in Gettysburg is today a place of reverence. Nurses held the hands of dying soldiersand prayed and spoke last words with them amid the blood, stench, and agony of two hospitals. Heroic surgeons resolutelyworked around the clock to save lives. Author Ronald D. Kirkwood's best-selling "Too Much for Human Endurance": TheGeorge Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg established the military and medical importance of theSpangler farm and hospitals.
"Tell Mother Not to Worry": Soldier Stories From Gettysburg's George Spangler Farm is Ron's eagerly awaitedsequel.
Kirkwood researched thousands of pensions and military records, hospital files, letters, newspapers, and diaries of thosepresent at the hospitals on Spangler land during and after the battle. The result is a deeper and richer understanding of whatthese men and women endured -- suffering that often lingered for the rest of their lives. Their injuries and deaths, Yankeeand Rebel alike, carried with it not only tragedy and sadness for parents, spouses, and children, but often financialdevastation as well.
"Tell Mother Not to Worry" profiles scores of additional soldiers and offers new information on events and experiences atthe farm, including the mortally wounded Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead. This sequel also includes anotherchapter on the often-overlooked First Division, II Corps hospital at Granite Schoolhouse, a wounded list for that division,and a chapter on Col. Edward E. Cross, who died at Granite Schoolhouse in the middle of Spangler land.
Kirkwood concludes by continuing the story of George and Elizabeth Spangler and their four children after the war andends with an uplifting chapter on their modern-day descendants and how they were found after the release of "Too Muchfor Human Endurance."
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a number of B/W historic photos, fourAppendices, an eight page Bibliography, a ten page Index, and a five page listing of Acknowledgments, ""Tell Mother Notto Worry": Soldier Stories From Gettysburg's George Spangler Farm" is an inherently fascinating, meticulously researched,and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library AmericanCivil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, historians, andnon-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that ""Tell Mother Not to Worry": Soldier Stories FromGettysburg's George Spangler Farm" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.95) as well.
Editorial Note: Ronald D. Kirkwood has been a Gettysburg Foundation docent at the George Spangler Farm Civil WarField Hospital Site since it opened in 2013. He is a native of Dowagiac/Sister Lakes, MI, and a graduate of CentralMichigan University, where he has returned as guest speaker for journalism classes as part of the school's Hearst VisitingProfessionals series. Kirkwood's sequel increases the understanding of the lives of the soldiers and their families and addsdepth to the story of George and Elizabeth Spangler's farm.
Union General Daniel Butterfield
James S. Pula
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217001, $32.95, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Union-General-Daniel-Butterfield-Biography/dp/1611217008
Synopsis: As an officer in the Union army, Dan Butterfield played a pivotal role during the Civil War. He led troops in thefield at the brigade, division, and corps level, wrote an 1862 Army field manual, was awarded a Medal of Honor,composed "Taps", and served as the chief-of-staff for Joe Hooker in the Army of the Potomac.
Butterfield also introduced a custom that remains in the U.S. Army today: the use of a distinctive hat or shoulder patch todenote the soldier's unit. Butterfield was also controversial, not well-liked by some, and tainted by politics. Award-winningauthor James S. Pula unspools fact from fiction to offer the first detailed and long overdue treatment of the man and theofficer in "Union General Daniel Butterfield: A Civil War Biography".
Butterfield was born into a wealthy New York family whose father co-founded American Express. He was one of the war'searly volunteers and made an important contribution with his manual Camp and Outpost Duty for Infantry (1862). Hegained praise leading a brigade on the Virginia Peninsula and was wounded at Gaines' Mill, where his heroism would earnhim the Medal of Honor in 1892.
It was in the solemnity of camp following the Seven Days' Battles that he gained lasting fame for composing "Taps." Whenits commander went missing, Butterfield took command of a division at Second Bull Run and did so with steadiness andintelligence. His abilities bumped him up to lead the Fifth Corps during the bloodbath at Fredericksburg, where he wascharged with managing the dangerous withdrawal across the Rappahannock River.
Shocked and hurt when he was supplanted as the head of the Fifth Corps, he received another chance to shine whenGeneral Hooker named him chief-of-staff of the Army of the Potomac. In this capacity Butterfield was largely responsiblefor several innovations. He used insignia he designed himself to identify each corps, streamlined the supply system, andimproved communications between commands.
He played a pivotal role during the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns in managing logistics, communications,and movements, only to be discarded while home recuperating from a Gettysburg wound. Politics and his testimony beforethe Committee on the Conduct of the War tainted his rising star. When Hooker was sent west, Butterfield went along aschief-of-staff and earned positive comments from Hooker and Gens. George Thomas, William T. Sherman, and U. S.Grant. Butterfield led a division in the XX Corps during the Atlanta Campaign with conspicuous ability at Resaca before arecurring illness forced him from the field.
Critique: "Union General Daniel Butterfield: A Civil War Biography" effectively raises a key Union army figure from anundeserved obscurity. Civil War historian James A. Pula's absorbing prose, meticulous research into primary sourcematerial, and evenhanded treatment of this important Civil War along with featuring numerous Maps, Illustrations, a tenpage Bibliography, and a nine page Index, "Union General Daniel Butterfield: A Civil War Biography" is an essential,core, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryAmerican Civil War History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for thepersonal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Union GeneralDaniel Butterfield: A Civil War Biography" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.95).
Editorial Note: James S. Pula is a Professor of History Emeritus at Purdue University Northwest and the formereditor-in-chief of Gettysburg Magazine. Dr. Pula is the author or editor of more than two dozen books, including Under theCrescent Moon with the XI Corps in the Civil War (winner of the U.S. Army Historical Foundation Distinguished WritingAward); The Civil War from Its Origins to Reconstruction; The 117th New York Infantry in the Civil War: A History andRoster; For Liberty and Justice: A Biography of Brigadier General Wlodzimierz B. Krzyzanowski, 1824 - 1887; and TheSigel Regiment: A History of the 26th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 1862 - 1865.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/283564.James_S_Pula)
The Blood-Tinted Waters of the Shenandoah
Jonathan A. Noyalas
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217155, $16.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Tinted-Waters-Shenandoah-Campaigns-Emerging/dp/1611217156
Synopsis: Decades after the Civil War's end, Confederate veteran John Alexander Stikeleather reflected on his experiencesas a soldier in the 4th North Carolina Infantry. He had served in many engagements during his four years of service, butthere was one in particular that Stikeleather believed should "never be forgotten": Cool Spring.
While largely overlooked or treated as a footnote to Gen. Jubal A. Early's raid on Washington in the summer of 1864, thefight at Cool Spring, which one soldier characterized as "a sharp and obstinate affair," proved critical to Washington'simmediate safety. The virtually unknown combat became a transformative moment for those who fought along the banksof the Shenandoah River in what ultimately became the war's largest and bloodiest engagement in Clarke County,Virginia.
With the publication of "The Blood-Tinted Waters of the Shenandoah" author Jonathan A. Noyalas examines Gen. HoratioWright's pursuit of Jubal Early into the Shenandoah and the clash on July 17 - 18, 1864. Noyalas also analyzes thedecisions of leaders on both sides, explores the environment's impact on the battle, and investigates how the combatimpacted the soldiers and their families -- in its immediate aftermath and for decades thereafter.
Years of archival research (including an investigation into the backgrounds of the Union and Confederate soldiers whoperished in the fighting) coupled with intimate knowledge of the battlefield helps preserve the memory of the fight thatshould "never be forgotten."
Author Jonathan Noyalas's study offers not only a history of an overlooked engagement in the oft-contested ShenandoahValley, but (as Pulitzer Prize finalist Brian Matthew Jordan notes in the book's Foreword) -- It is "a keen reminder thatCivil War battles are rich laboratories in which to observe the human experience in all its complexity."
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking study that is enhanced for the reader's benefit with numerous B/W historic photosand maps, "The Blood-Tinted Waters of the Shenandoah: The 1864 Valley Campaign's Battle of Cool Spring, July 17-18,1864" is a vividly informative read from start to finish. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.00) fromSavas Beatie, "The Blood-Tinted Waters of the Shenandoah: The 1864 Valley Campaign's Battle of Cool Spring, July17-18, 1864" is a valued and recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library American CivilWar History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Jonathan A. Noyalas is a history professor at Shenandoah University and director of its McCormick CivilWar Institute. He is the author or editor of 15 books. Noyalas is the recipient of numerous awards for his teaching andscholarship, including the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia's Outstanding Faculty Award.
"Strong Men of the Regiment Sobbed Like Children"
John Michael Priest
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611216899, $37.50, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Regiment-Sobbed-Like-Children/dp/1611216893
Synopsis: The fighting on the first day at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, was unexpected, heavy, confusing, and in manyways, decisive. Much of it consisted of short and often separate simultaneous engagements or "firefights," a term soldiersoften use to describe close, vicious, and bloody combat. Several books have studied this important inaugural day ofGettysburg, but none have done so from the perspective of the rank and file of both armies. John Michael Priest's "StrongMen of the Regiment Sobbed Like Children": John Reynolds' I Corps at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 from Savas Beatierectifies this oversight eloquence and style.
When dawn broke on July 1, no one on either side could have conceived what was about to take place. Anticipating a fightand with a keen appreciation for terrain, Brig. Gen. John Buford deployed his Union cavalry in a giant arc north and westof Gettysburg to slow down any Confederate advance until Maj. Gen. John Reynolds could bring up his infantry.
By the time the foot soldiers of the I Corps arrived, A. P. Hill's heavy Confederate formations had pushed back the troopersfrom the west. Richard Ewell's troops would soon arrive from the north, threatening the town and its key road network.Reynolds, who would die early in the fighting, poured his troops in as they arrived.
The road system and undulating ground broke up command control, and the various ridges, tall ground cover, and powdersmoke made target recognition difficult. Brigades and regiments often engaged on their own initiatives without thedirection of a division or corps commander. The men of both armies fought with determination born of desperation, valor,and fear. By the time the fighting ended, the I Corps was in shambles and in pell-mell retreat for Cemetery Hill. Its boldstand, together with the XI Corps north of town, bought precious hours for the rest of the Army of the Potomac to arriveand occupy good defensive ground.
As an author and Civil War buff, Priest spent a decade researching this study and walking the ground to immerse readersinto the uncertain world of the rank-and-file experience. He consulted more than 300 primary sources, including letters,diaries, memoirs, newspaper accounts, recollections, casualty lists, and drill manuals to present the battle from the groundup. Nineteen detailed regimental-level maps illustrate the ebb and flow of the battle. The result is a fast-paced narrativesure to please the most demanding students of the Civil War. The footnotes alone are worth the price of admission.
Readers will close the book with a full understanding of why a veteran New Yorker spoke for the survivors of both armieswhen he wrote, "Strong men of the regiment sobbed like children."
Critique: One of the best Civil War accounts of Gettysburg ever published, no personal, professional, or academic libraryAmerican Civil War collections can be considered up-to-date with the inclusion of "Strong Men of the Regiment SobbedLike Children": John Reynolds' I Corps at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863". An exceptional, seminal and ground-breakingwork, "Strong Men of the Regiment Sobbed Like Children": John Reynolds' I Corps at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 is asolid and impressive addition to personal, community, and college/university library American Civil War Historycollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readerswith an interest in the subject that "Strong Men of the Regiment Sobbed Like Children": John Reynolds' I Corps atGettysburg on July 1, 1863 is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.50) as well.
Editorial Note: Retired high school history teacher John Michael Priest has been interested in Civil War history since anearly age. He is a graduate of Loyola College in Baltimore and Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. He enjoys studyingand writing history with a grassroots-level perspective. John appeared on Discovery Channel's Unsolved History: "Pickett'sCharge" (2002) and has written extensively about the Civil War. His most recent book was "Stand to It and Give ThemHell": Gettysburg as the Soldiers Experienced It from Cemetery Ridge to Little Round Top, July 2, 1863 (2016).(www.goodreads.com/author/list/161823.John_Michael_Priest)
The Political Science Shelf
Matthew Ferrence
West Virginia University Press
www.wvupressonline.com
9781959000273, $21.99, PB, 228pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hate-Here-Please-Vote-Political/dp/1959000276
Synopsis: When a progressive college professor runs for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a deeplyconservative rural district, he loses. That's no surprise. But the story of how Matthew Ferrence loses and, more importantly,how American political narratives refuse to recognize the existence and value of non-conservative rural Americans offersinsight into the contemporary political morass of our nation.
In eleven eloquent essays (and the four page bibliography A Poetically Political Reading List) focused on showing goats atthe county fair, planting native grasses in the front lawn, the political power of poetry, and getting wiped out in an election,Ferrence offers a counter-narrative to stereotypes of monolithic rural American voters and emphasizes the way stories toldabout rural America are a source for the bitter divide between Red America and Blue America.
Critique: A fascinating, eloquent, insightful, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and timely contribution to our on-goingnational political discourse, "I Hate It Here, Please Vote for Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay" by Matthew Ferrence isa fun and engaging read that will have a special appeal and value to readers with an interest in the American ElectionSystem, democracy, and political biographies/memoirs. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.89), "IHate It Here, Please Vote for Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay" from West Virginia University Press is an especiallyand unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryContemporary Political Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Matthew Ferrence (https://matthewferrence.com) lives and writes at the confluence of Appalachia and theRust Belt. With "I Hate It Here, Please Vote For Me", he has now completed a trilogy (of sorts) focused on ruralAppalachian identity and political narrative. He teaches creative writing at Allegheny College.
The Mythology Shelf
Ariel Slick & Fiona Baile, authors
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105060, $29.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Mythology-Monsters-Legends-Ancient/dp/0228105064
Synopsis: Alongside the mummies and the great treasure-filled burial chambers of the Pyramids are the many gods, heroes,monsters and legends that defined their universe. Atum, the first being (who then begat Nut, the sky goddess and Geb, thegod of the land) and their union in turn producing Osiris, Seth, Isis and Nephthys.
With the publication of "Egyptian Mythology: The Gods, Heroes, Monsters and Legends of Ancient Egypt" readers willenjoy exploring Ancient Egypt's creation myths, including the Book of the Dead, and the evolution of pictograms andhieroglyphs, which documented many aspects of Egyptian life. They will learn how, across the long duration of theAncient Egyptian age, animals such as cats, falcons, baboons and scarab beetles became sacred, and how species like thejackal, lion and the Nile crocodile became intertwined with the gods.
Death and the afterlife occupied a central place in the Ancient Egyptian belief system, and this well-illustratedcompendium of ancient Egyptian mythology and folklore explores the extraordinary lengths and care given to funerarypractices, including the Weighing of the Heart and the elaborate rituals to ensure the successful passage of the deceasedpharaohs into the afterlife -- to live in Paradise with Osiris.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 1 x 10.75 inches. 2.55 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "EgyptianMythology: The Gods, Heroes, Monsters and Legends of Ancient Egypt" by co-authors Ariel Slick and Fiona Baile ismassively illustrated with photographs of shrines and statuary. This impressive and gift worthy Firefly Books edition of"Egyptian Mythology" is the impressively informative, beautifully illustrated and definitive guide to the dark, complex andextraordinary mythology of Ancient Egypt. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "EgyptianMythology" highly recommended for personal and professional reading lists -- and is an ideal 'Memorial Fund' accusationselection for community and college/university library Mythology/Folklore collections.
Norse Mythology
Finn D. Moore
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105046, $29.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Norse-Mythology-Monsters-Legends-Culture/dp/0228105048
Synopsis: The Norsem*n of old Scandinavia were a tough and hardy people, best known today for their prowess in bloodycombat and storytelling. Because they had no writing, Norse mythology and storytelling was passed down from generationto generation in oral traditions.. With the publication of "Norse Mythology: The Gods, Heroes, Monsters and Legends ofthe Viking Culture", Finn D. Moore documents the Norse myths that were sources of entertainment, comfort andexplanations of the universe ranging from animals, to the seasons, to the afterlife.
Given that there are no surviving texts, the remaining myths have been changed through hundreds of years of Norse oraltraditions. "Norse Mythology" draws on Prose Edda and Poetic Edda which are the two earliest and most faithfulrecordings of Norse myths.
The chapters comprising "Norse Mythology include:
An introduction to Norse history and culture -- Vikings, long ships, and raiding
Cyclical time: Runes, the creation of the Cosmos, First Gods
Yggdrasil and the Nine Realms
The Aesir Gods (Odin, Thor, Loki, Sif, Baldur, Idun)
The Vanir Gods (Njord, Freyr, Freyja, The Mighty Thor)
The Jotnar (Hela, Skadi, Skoll and Hati)
Other myths (why is the sea salty?)
Ragnarok and the Rebirth of the World.
Monsters and other creatures (Dwarves, light elves Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse, Kraken, trolls)
Critique: Impressively informative, illustrated throughout with museum quality artwork, enhanced for the reader's benefitwith numerous maps and photos of archaeological treasures, "Norse Mythology: The Gods, Heroes, Monsters and Legendsof the Viking Culture" is an entertaining and fun read from cover to cover. This large format (8.5 x 1 x 10.75 inches, 2.6pounds) hard cover, coffee-table style edition "Norse Mythology: The Gods, Heroes, Monsters and Legends of the VikingCulture" from Firefly Books is an extraordinary and highly recommended pick for personal, highschool, community, andcollege/university library Mythology/Folklore collections.
Editorial Note: Finn D. Moore is a graduate of Ithaca College and has an MA from the New School. He also wrote TheArmchair Travel Guide to Ireland and currently resides in Linden, New Jersey.
The Archaeology Shelf
David Saunders, et al.
Getty Publications
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606069059, $40.00, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Worlds-Storytelling-Greek-Pottery/dp/1606069055
Synopsis: Satyrs and sphinxes, violent legumes, and a dancing maize deity figure in the stories painted on the potteryproduced by the ancient Greek, Moche, and Maya cultures, respectively.
"Picture Worlds: Storytelling on Greek, Moche, and Maya Pottery" is the first published study to examine the elaboratelydecorated terracotta vessels of these three distinct civilizations.
Although the cultures were separated by space and time, they all employed pottery as a way to tell stories, explain theworld, and illustrate core myths and beliefs. Each of these painted pots is a picture world. But why did these communitiesreach for pottery as a primary method of visual communication? How were the vessels produced and used?
In "Picture Worlds", a variety of experts offer introductions to the civilizations, exploring these foundational questions andexamining the painted imagery. The result is that readers will be rewarded with a better understanding of each of theseancient societies, receive fascinating insights into their cultural commonalities and differences, as well as freshperspectives on image making and storytelling, practices that remain vibrant to this day.
This edition of "Picture Worlds: Storytelling on Greek, Moche, and Maya Pottery" from Getty Publications is published toaccompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa from April 10 to July 29, 2024, and at theMichael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University from September 14 to December 15, 2024.
Critique: This large format (9 x 0.7 x 10 inches, 2.3 pounds) paperback edition of "Picture Worlds: Storytelling on Greek,Moche, and Maya Pottery" by the team of co-editors David Saunders and Megan E. O'Neil, and featuring contributions byKathleen Lynch, Ulla Holmquist Pachas, Andrew D. Turner, Jeffrey Quilter, Elena Vega, and Carlos Rengifo is especiallyand unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Archeology, CeramicArt, and Mayan/Native American History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted forstudents and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Picture Worlds" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $32.30) as well.
Editorial Note #1: David Saunders is associate curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum.
Editorial Note #2: Megan E. O'Neil is assistant professor of art history at Emory University.
Editorial Note #3: J. Paul Getty Museum (www.getty.edu/museum) is commonly referred to as the Getty. It is an artmuseum in located in Los Angeles, California and housed on two campuses: the Getty Center and Getty Villa. It isoperated by the J. Paul Getty Trust.
The Pets Shelf
Jennifer S. Holland
National Geographic Press
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426222719, $30.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Smart-Life-Changing-Lessons-Intelligence/dp/1426222718
Synopsis: With the publication of "Dog Smart: Life-Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence", Jennifer Holland takes herreaders on a powerful search to unlock the secrets of dog cognition, based on evidence from trainers, owners, behaviorists,and the animals themselves. With in-depth reporting and more than a few personal adventures, Holland digs into whatintelligence really means.
Readers will meet a pack of genius dogs embodying all types of smarts. Holland heads into the field with a cadaver dogand his trainer to learn about "nose intelligence." To unpack emotional intelligence, she examines how dogs help peopledealing with trauma. To investigate task learning ability, she seeks agility trainers, TV-dog trainers, and a man whose doghas learned to hang glide -- one step at a time. She interviews police-dog trainers (volunteering to be attacked by a bite dogin the name of science), service-dog trainers, and trainers who rehabilitate "bad" dogs. And she gets to know breeds thatare considered especially intelligent - border collies, cattle dogs, and German shepherds -- to discover whether they aretruly "smarter" or just more willing to do as they're told.
In between field experiences, Holland spends time with the dogs she knows best while pondering the lessons the animalsteach us about ourselves. And she poses entrancing philosophical questions: How do we define intelligence in anotherbeing? Where do "instinct" and "intelligence" meet and diverge? Can we be more "dog smart" in our own lives?
Both surprising and heartwarming, "Dog Smart" is one woman's quest to understand what it means to be smart -- and howdogs got that way.
Critique: Absolutely recommended reading for anyone with a canine companion of their own, "Dog Smart: Life-ChangingLessons in Canine Intelligence" is an extraordinary, fascinating, informative, and fun read from cover to cover. While alsoavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "Dog Smart" is a highly commended addition to personal, professional,community, and college/university library Dog Training & Canine Pet Care collections and reading lists.
Editorial Note: Jennifer S. Holland (www.jenniferhollandwriter.com) is the author of "Unlikely Friendships". She is also acontributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and NPR, she splits her time between Maryland and Virginiawith her husband and two beloved dogs.
The Wildlife Shelf
Gary Brown
The Lyons Press
www.lyonspress.com
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493086450, $29.95, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Almanac-Comprehensive-Guide-Bears/dp/1493086456
Synopsis: The bears of the world (from the polar bears of the Arctic to the Andean bears of South America) are among themost studied and beloved of all wild creatures. In this newly revised and updated edition of "The Bear Almanac: AComprehensive Guide to the Bears of the World", bear expert Gary Brown collects what is known about the world's bears,capturing in words and images a complete factual compendium of bear knowledge for the amateur naturalist and the bearspecialist alike.
"The Bear Almanac" is an ideal and informative reference source for anyone who has ever paused to wonder at both themight (and the mind) of the bear. Beyond their well-known, imposing physical traits, these generally shy creaturescommand the ability to learn rapidly and to reason.
In addition to addressing such topics as bear physiology, social behavior, and habitats, "The Bear Almanac: AComprehensive Guide to the Bears of the World" is a comprehensive resource that lists endangered bears by state andcovers a breadth of other bear-related topics, such as the effects of war on bears and what to do if you meet up with one, aswell as issues in the news related to the most beloved, and mysterious, of creatures.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated with color photography throughout, "The Bear Almanac: A Comprehensive Guide to theBears of the World" is comprehensively informative and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation.Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of two Appendices ('Stratigraphic Periods' & 'InternationalConservation Organizations'), a two page Glossary, a twelve page Bibliography, and a thirteen page Index, "The BearAlmanac: A Comprehensive Guide to the Bears of the World" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended additionto personal, professional, community, and college/university Wildlife collections in general and Bear Biology collectionsin particular.
Editorial Note: Gary Brown was a retired National Park Service ranger and an expert on conservation and bearmanagement. The author of "Outwitting Bears" and "Safe Travel in Bear Country", he lived in Bozeman, Montana. Hedied in 2022.
The Nautical Shelf
Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley, Barrie Smith
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228104650, $35.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Bible-Complete-Sailors-Experienced
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated, expanded, and revised third edition, "The Sailing Bible: The Complete Guide for AllSailors from Novice to Experienced Skipper" by co-authors Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley and Barrie Smith continues to bethe complete, hands-on manual, essential instructional guide that is packed from cover to cover with detailed, step-by-stepdiagrams, lively action photos, and helpful advice on getting the most out of your sailing at every level.
Whether one is a dinghy or yacht sailor, just learning the basics or wanting tips on sailing with the best, "The SaildingBible: 3rd Edition will deliver all the answers needed including:
What type of dinghy or yacht?
Cruising and racing
Launching, helming and capsizing
Mastering the trapeze
Sailing with a spinnaker
Managing a crew
Reading the weather
Racing techniques and tactics
Buoyage, tides, charts and navigation
Anchoring, and marina berthing
Knots, ropes and flags
Boat etiquette and seamanship
Rules of the road, safety and emergencies
Boat maintenance and repair.
This new third edition has been thoroughly revised and brought completely up to date with the inclusion of hundreds ofimprovements cover new technology to help with navigation, communications and safety. It should be noted that there isalso an increased coverage of dinghies and racing.
Critique: Simply stated "The Sailing Bible" fully lives up to its title and this fully updated and expanded third edition of"The Sailing Bible: The Complete Guide for All Sailors from Novice to Experienced Skipper" by sailing experts and co-authors Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley, Barrie Smith is profusely illustrated in full color throughout, and an essential, coreacquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Sailing instructional referencecollections.
Editorial Note #1: Jeremy Evans writes sailing books for the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and also writes forYachting Monthly and Yachts and Yachting magazines.
Editorial Note #2: Pat Manley is an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and amember of the Yachting Journalists Association. He has written several books on boat maintenance and is a regularcontributor to Practical Boat Owner magazine.
Editorial Note #3: Barrie Smith is an RYA Yachtmaster who has skippered or crewed on numerous yacht delivery trips andlong-distance races.
The Art Shelf
Susie Hodge
Ivy Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711287938, $26.00, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Heist-Artworks-Will-Never/dp/0711287937
Synopsis: An intriguing investigation into over 50 elusive artworks that were stolen and never recovered as resulted in thepublication of "Art Heist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See" by art expert Suzie Hodge.
For viewing such iconic paintings as Mona Lisa, Starry Night, Birth of Venus, people travel for hundreds of miles toobserve these breathtaking paintings with their own eyes. Now with "Art Heist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See" thepublic will be introduced to highly acclaimed works of that nobody can ever see -- and the fascinating stories behind theirdisappearance.
The among the 50 daring heist stories compiled in "Art Heist are included:
Michelangelo's Mask of a Faun
Caravaggio's Nativity
Rembrandt's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Cezanne's View of Auvers-sur-Oise
Van Gogh's The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring
With meticulous research and engaging storytelling, "Art Heist" uncovers the mysteries surrounding the thefts of thesevaluable artworks and many more.
Each fated work is informatively discussed to reveal why it, and the artist who made it, was significant -- thereby gaining adeeper appreciation for these artists, and the lasting impact they have had on the art world.
"Art Heist" also answers key questions about each missing piece, including:
Why and how was it stolen?
What attempts have been made to recover it?
Leads, red herrings, and suspects.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photos of each work discussed, "Art Heist: 50Artworks You Will Never See" offers a compelling narrative that will keep the fully engaged from start to finish. Aseminal and ground-breaking study, "Art Heist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See" is essential reading for anyone curiousabout the intersection of art, crime, and history, Also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.70), "ArtHeist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See" is a unique and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists, aswell as professional, community, and college/university library Art History collections and supplemental curriculumstudies lists.
Editorial Note: Susie Hodge (www.susiehodge.com) is a UK author who has written widely on art, art history and arttechniques. She has published over 100 books, including The Short Story of Art, Why Your Five Year Old Could NotHave Done That: Modern Art Explained and Modern Art Explained
Draw Manga: 10 Step-by-Step Projects
Keroko James
GMC Books
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946371, $24.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Manga-Step-Step-Projects/dp/1784946370
Synopsis: Manga refers to the Japanese graphic novel and comic strip art based on line drawings of characters noted fortheir highly stylized facial features. Manga is one of the most popular forms of comic illustration today. "Draw Manga: 10Step-by-Step Projects" by Keroko James is for anyone interested in drawing manga, from beginners who want to learn thebasics of drawing figures and poses to more experienced artists who are keen to discover the key techniques and detailsthat make manga art so distinct.
Each project covers an element of drawing manga, from faces, body shapes and proportions to different angles andexpressions and creating action poses. This bite-size approach allows the reader to build up their skills and confidencebefore they create more ambitious drawings of their own. The book finishes with composition ideas and how to addbackgrounds, giving the reader the tools they need to create their own manga stories.
In contrast to most manga books, "Draw Manga: 10 Step-by-Step Projects" features fully illustrated step-by-stepinstructions for every stage of the projects, so even the most novice reader will know exactly when and where each line ordetail should be added. There is also a wealth of tips and advice to help avoid common pitfalls and difficulties, based onthe author's years of experience tutoring manga workshops.
Critique: A complete course of step-by-step instruction on Manga illustration under one cover, this large format (8.5 x 0.5x 11 inches, 1.34 pounds) paperback edition of Keroko James' "Draw Manga: 10 Step-by-Step Projects" is impressivelythorough, completely DIY 'user friendly' in organization and presentation -- making it an ideal and unreservedlyrecommended pick for personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university library Manga & Pop CultureArt collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Keroko James (http://neokeroko.com) is a Japanese illustrator, graphic designer and manga tutor based innorth London. Since 2017 she has run Froggy Manga, providing manga drawing classes for children. She has also workedwith local authorities to deliver manga workshops in local libraries and youth groups and gives workshops as a part ofchildren's parties.
She grew up loving manga and anime culture in the 1970s and 80s in Japan, which eventually led to her earning a BA inFine Art. In 2008 she moved across the world to the UK, exhibiting at Hyper Japan and Comic Con. She also ran MangaSocial Night, a monthly gathering of manga and anime fans, for seven years. Keroko loves to draw and enjoys promotingJapanese culture to anyone who is interested.
Draw Amazing Faces
Pypah Santos
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760389218, $22.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Amazing-Faces-Basics-Develop/dp/0760389217
Synopsis: "Draw Amazing Faces: Learn the Basics and Develop Your Own Style" is your go-to reference for craftingstunning portraits from scratch. Join Pypah Santos, the celebrated artist and YouTube sensation, as she unveils:
Techniques for both male and female faces of different ages
Signature techniques for rendering hair, including different types, textures, and styles
Shading and rendering techniques that infuse vitality into your portraits
Inspiration for developing your distinct style in portraying fantastic faces
QR codes linked to videos that further demonstrate important techniques
Step-by-step guidance for constructing heads from diverse angles, mastering proportions, sketching facial features, andeliciting a spectrum of expressions
"Draw Amazing Faces: is your DIY instructional guide to the captivating world of portraiture. With Pypah's expertise, youwill master the intricacies of portraying faces using her straightforward techniques. Whether you're a fine artist, illustrator,comic book artist, you will elevate your artistry, infuse life into your sketches, and uncover your distinct style, all whilehoning your ability to create awe-inspiring, lifelike faces.
Critique: Thoroughly and impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11inches, 1.4 pounds) paperback edition of Pypah Santos' "Draw Amazing Faces: Learn the Basics and Develop Your OwnStyle" from Quarry Books is an ideal addition to personal, professional, highschool, community, art school, andcollege/university library Art Portraiture & Figure Studies collections and supplemental Pen/Ink Drawing curriculumstudies lists. It should be noted for aspiring artists that "Draw Amazing Faces: Learn the Basics and Develop Your OwnStyle" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).
Editorial Note: Filipa "Pypah" Santos (www.pypahsart.com) was born and raised in Porto, Portugal, then moved to theUnited Kingdom to pursue her art education. She now lives and works as a freelance artist and YouTube content creator inManchester, England. Pypah is driven to help others explore their creative interests, improve their art skills, and developtheir own style. She can be found on: Instagram: @pypahs_art, YouTube: @Pypahsart, and on Pinterest: @pypahs_art
The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors
Ben Carter
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760385845, $30.00, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Low-Fire-Glazes-Potters-Sculptors/dp/076038584X
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors: Techniques,Recipes, and Inspiration for Low-Temperature Firing with Big Results", glazing expert Ben Carter invites the reader toexplore the creative possibilities of an incredibly versatile range of glazes with this comprehensive guide for ceramic artistsof all levels of experience.
Specifically designed to unlock the world of low-fire glazes with "The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters andSculptors" challenges the belief that serious artists work exclusively with high-temperature materials, sharing years ofresearch on crafting exquisite low-fire pots and glazes. This instruction manual delves into the benefits of firing at lowertemperatures, explores the visual nuances of low-fire glazes, and witnesses renowned artists thriving in this temperaturerange.
Illustrated with stunning photography of work by Carter and other artists, this visually captivating resource covers:
1. Insights into the benefits and visual attributes of low-fire glazes
2. Guidance on setting up a glaze lab
3. An explanation of how glaze is formulated
4. Troubleshooting tips for common glaze faults
5. Designing and making test tiles
6. Techniques for layering, using glaze as form, integrating decals, atmospheric firing, and more
7. Tried-and-true glaze recipes for varied finishes and color creation
Critique: A complete, comprehensive, and 'user friendly' course of instruction in the art and craft of low-temperatureglazing, "Whether you are new to the world of ceramic glazes or looking to expand your knowledge of low-fire glazes,"The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors: Techniques, Recipes, and Inspiration forLow-Temperature Firing with Big Results" is an unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,community, college and university library Ceramic Art & Craft instructional reference collections. It should be noted thatthis large format (8.25 x 0.69 x 10.25 inches, 2 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes forPotters and Sculptors" from Quarry Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.99).
Editorial Note: Ben Carter (www.carterpottery.com) is a studio potter and workshop instructor and the author of Masteringthe Potter's Wheel. He received his BFA in ceramics/painting from Appalachian State University and his MFA in ceramicsfrom the University of Florida. He has lectured and presented workshops at universities and craft centers in the UnitedStates, China, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and exhibited internationally in numerous invitational and juriedshows. Ben's work has been featured in the Australian Journal of Ceramics, Pottery Making Illustrated, and CeramicsMonthly; Pottery Making Illustrated named him Ceramic Arts 2016 Yearbook Artist of the Year. Since 2012, he has beenhosting and producing the popular podcast, Tales of a Red Clay Rambler. (www.talesofaredclayrambler.com)
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
David Alan Johnson
Prometheus Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
https://rowman.com
9781633889989, $32.95, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Admiral-Canaris-Hitlers-Intelligence-Betrayed/dp/163388998X
Synopsis: Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, was Adolf Hitler's chief of military intelligence. He accomplished something thatneither President Franklin D. Roosevelt nor Prime Minister Winston Churchill could ever achieve -- he saved the lives ofhundreds Jewish refugees and other racial and political undesirables by rescuing them from Nazi Germany and otherNazi-occupied countries.
Seen as a quiet and uninteresting career naval officer, Canaris' unmilitary bearing was actually a cover he had devised forhimself, camouflaging a very sharp, and rebellious, mind. The life of Admiral Canaris is a compulsively dramatic andpage-turning story abut one of the most important and least likely saboteurs within the Third Reich.
Initially a supporter of Hitler and the plan to re-arm Germany, Canaris was appointed to direct the Abwehr (Germany'smilitary intelligence agency) after a long career in the navy built on fostering relationships with foreign agents. But whenthe Nazis began their campaign of assassination and terror, including the systematic murder of thousands of Jews and other"undesirables," the admiral became determined to do everything possible to fight Hitler and the Nazis.
After the failure of Operation Pastorious, a spy mission to disarm American manufacturing plants, Hitler extolled hisexecutive committee for risking German lives instead of the lives of "criminals or Jews". That speech gave Canaris anidea. He would go on to disguise refugees as Abwehr agents and sent them to South America, under the officialdesignation of "infiltration agents," where they joined hundreds of authentic German agents operating in Argentina,Uruguay, Brazil, and nearly every other South American country.
Canaris' anti-Nazi activities, along with some health issues, finally resulted in his dismissal as head of the Abwehr. He wassuspected of inefficiency and incompetence by senior Nazi officers (who had no idea that he had turned against the Hitlerregime) and exiled to a desk-job in the Economic Warfare Department. Little did the Fuhrer know, this placement was thebest thing that could have happened to Canaris' resistance efforts.
Critique: With the publication of "Admiral Canaris: How Hitler's Chief of Intelligence Betrayed the Nazis" fromPrometheus Press, author and biographer David Alan Johnson through his in-depth research and impressive storytellingapproach, deftly paints the picture of a driven and devious mind working amidst the darkest evil to save all those that hecould. An impressive and high value contribution to personal reading lists of military history buffs, as well as the growingcommunity and academic library collections of World War II Biographies & Histories.
Editorial Note: David Alan Johnson (www.davidalanjohnson.com) is the author of eleven books, including The LastWeeks of Abraham Lincoln and Decided on the Battlefield: Grant, Sherman, Lincoln, and the Election of 1864.
Queen of the Court
Madeleine Blais
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802128324, $30.00, HC, 432pp
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Court-Extraordinary-Tennis-Legend/dp/0802128327
Synopsis: In August 1939, Alice Marble graced the cover of Life magazine, photographed by the famed Alfred Eisenstaedt.She was a glamorous worldwide celebrity, having that year won singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles tennis titlesat both Wimbledon and the US Open, a then an unprecedented feat. Yet today one of America's greatest female athletesand most charismatic characters is largely forgotten.
But now with the publication of "Queen of the Court: The Many Lives of Tennis Legend Alice Marble", biographerMadeleine Blais places Alice back on center stage.
Born in 1913, Marble grew up in San Francisco; her favorite sport, baseball. Given a tennis racket at age 13, she took tothe sport immediately, rising to the top with a powerful, aggressive serve-and-volley style unseen in women's tennis.
A champion at the height of her fame in the late 1930s, she also designed a clothing line in the off-season and sang as aperformer in the Sert Room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York to rave reviews.
World War II derailed her amateur tennis career, but her life off the court was, if anything, even more eventful. She alsowrote a series of short books about famous women. She turned professional and joined a pro tour during the War,entertaining and inspiring soldiers and civilians alike.
Ever glamorous and connected, she had a part in the 1952 Tracy and Hepburn movie Pat and Mike, and she played tenniswith the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, and her great friends, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.
However, perhaps her greatest legacy lies in her successful efforts, working largely alone, to persuade the all-white USLawn Tennis Association to change its policy and allow African American star Althea Gibson to compete for the USchampionship in 1950, thereby breaking tennis's color barrier.
In two published memoirs, Marble also showed herself to be an at-times unreliable narrator of her own life -- which in thisedition of "Queen of the Court", biographer Madeleine Blais navigates skillfully, especially Marble's dramatic claims ofhaving been a spy during World War II.
Critique: An inherently fascinating life story of an inherently fascinating woman, "Queen of the Court: The Many Lives ofTennis Legend Alice Marble" rescues from an undeserved obscurity a true legend of women's sports both off and on thetennis court. Alice Irene Marble (September 28, 1913 - December 13, 1990) was an American tennis player who won 18Grand Slam championships between 1936 and 1940. Exceptionally well written and presented, "Queen of the Court" is awelcome and strongly endorsed pick for community and college/university library 20th Century American Women's &Sports Biography/Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Madeleine Blais was a reporter for the Miami Herald for years and won a Pulitzer Prize before joining thefaculty of the Department of Journalism at the University of Massachusetts. She is the author of To the New Owners, InThese Girls, Hope Is a Muscle, Uphill Walkers, and The Heart Is an Instrument, a collection of her journalism. She lives inAmherst, Massachusetts. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Blais)
Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life
Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500027035, $39.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ronald-Moody-Ego-Ahaiwe-Sowinski/dp/050002703X
Synopsis: Ronald Moody (12 August 1900 - 6 February 1984) was a significant artist of the twentieth century, yet untilnow there has been no comprehensive monograph on his work. "Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life" is a detailed biographythat explores the development of his sculpture, reestablishing his place within the story of twentieth-century art.
Born in Jamaica, Moody arrived in Britain in 1923, establishing studios in London and Paris. In 1939, his works wereshown alongside African American artists in a large survey exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art. By 1941 he hadproduced some forty known sculptures in bronze and wood, and was regularly exhibiting internationally. Immersed in theart world, he formed friendships with journalists, actors, and artists including Marie Seton, Wifredo Lam, and Man Ray,until forced to flee the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940. Back in London, he continued to work and exhibit for nearly halfa century, accepting the prestigious Gold Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica for his eminence as aninternational sculptor in 1977.
Contributions by those who knew him (Paul Dash, David A. Bailey, Cynthia Moody, Errol Lloyd, and Val Wilmer)punctuate Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski's account exploring the artist's work and broader creative endeavors, including poetry andbroadcasts for the BBC World Service. Scores of Moody's works are illustrated, from large-scale figurative sculpturescarved in wood through to postwar experimentation with concrete and resin casting. These pieces are set within the contextof his contemporaries Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, and artists he exhibited alongside, such as Althea McNish andAubrey Williams, who were part of the group known as the Caribbean Artists Movement, of which Moody was a foundingmember.
Critique: Deftly edited by Eleanor Clayton, "Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life" by Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski is informativelyenhanced for the reader's benefit with 124 color illustrations, contributions from David A. Bailey, Errol Lloyd, CynthiaMoody, and Val Wilmar, plus eight pages of Notes, a two page listing of Exhibitions & Awards, a one page listing ofReading & Resources, and a four page Index. This hardcover edition of "Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life" from Thames &Hudson is an exceptionally informative, detailed, documented, and unreservedly recommended pick personal, professional,community, and college/university library Sculptor biography/memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski is a Ronald Moody specialist. She is the coeditor of and contributing author toMirror Reflecting Darkly: The Rita Keegan Archive; contributing author to Archiving Caribbean Identity: Records,Community, and Memory; and contributing coauthor to Communities, Archives and New Collaborative Practices.
Journey from the North: A Memoir
Storm Jameson
Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781805330448, $35.00, HC, 800pp
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-North-Memoir-Storm-Jameson/dp/1805330446
Synopsis: Featuring an informative introduction by Vivian Gornick, "Journey from the North: A Memoir" is acompulsively readable, beautifully written account of Margaret Ethel Storm Jameson (8 January 1891 - 30 September1986), a fascinating twentieth-century woman and the life she lived. This is a candid, affecting portrait of a woman wholoathed domesticity and explores how she sought to balance a literary career with political commitment.
Towards the end of her life, Storm Jameson began her memoir by asking, "can I make sense of my life?" This questionpropelled her through an extraordinary reckoning with how she had lived: her early years in Whitby, shadowed by hertempestuous, dissatisfied mother; an early, unhappy marriage and repeated flights from settled domesticity; a tenaciouslypursued literary career, always dogged by a lack of money; and her lifelong political activism, including as the first femalepresident of English PEN, helping refugees escape Nazi Germany.
In a richly ironic, conversational voice, Storm Jameson also tells of the great figures she knew and events she witnessed:encounters with H.G. Wells and Rose Macaulay, travels in Europe as fascism was rising and a 1945 trip to recentlyliberated Warsaw. Throughout, she casts an unsparing eye on her own motivations and psychology, providing a rigorouslycandid and lively portrait of her life and times.
Critique: Written with an impressive eloquence and literary skills, Storm Jameson's "Journey from the North: A Memoir"is the extraordinary account of an extraordinary woman who lived in extraordinary times. A simply fascinating andcompelling read from start to finish, "Journey from the North: A Memoir" is an especially and unreservedly recommendedpick for community and college/university library 20th Century Women's Biography/Memoir collections. It should benoted for personal reading lists that "Journey from the North: A Memoir" is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $21.99).
Editorial Note: Margaret 'Storm' Jameson was an English journalist and author. Born and raised in Whitby, she gained ascholarship to study English at the University of Leeds. After graduating with a First-Class degree, she moved to Londonwhere she became active in politics and began to write. Jameson remained committed to politics and literature throughouther life: she published a total of forty-five novels, as well as criticism, short stories and innumerable political articles; shewas also the first female president of the British section of International PEN. In later life, she turned to writing hermemoirs and produced the two volumes of Journey from the North, initially published in 1969 and 1970. Storm Jamesondied in 1986 at the age of ninety-five.
Editorial Note #2: Vivian Gornick Vivian Gornick is an American radical feminist critic, journalist, essayist, andmemoirist. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Gornick)
Son of the Old West
Nathan Ward
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802162083, $28.00, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Son-Old-West-Ward-Nathan/dp/0802162088
Synopsis: With the publication of "Son of the Old West: The Odyssey of Charlie Siringo, Cowboy, Detective, Writer of theWild Frontier" biographer Nathan Ward reveals that no figure in the Old West lived or shaped its history more fully thanCharlie Siringo.
Born in Matagorda, Texas in 1855, Charlie went on his first cattle drive at age twelve and spent two decades living hisboyhood dream as a cowboy. As the dangerous, lucrative "beeves" business boomed, Siringo drove longhorn steers northto the burgeoning Midwest Plains states' cattle and railroad towns, inevitably crossing paths with such legendary figures asBilly the Kid, Bat Masterson, and Shanghai Pierce.
In his early thirties he joined the Pinkerton Detective Agency's Denver office, using a variety of aliases to investigateviolent labor disputes and infiltrate outlaw gangs such as Butch Cassidy's train robbing Wild Bunch. As brave as he wasclever, he was often saved by his cowboy training as he traveled to places the law had not yet reached.
Siringo's bestselling, landmark 1885 autobiography, "A Texas Cowboy", helped make the lowly cowboy a heroic symbolof the American West. His later memoir, "A Cowboy Detective", influenced early hard-boiled crime novelists for whomthe detective story was really the cowboy story in an urban setting.
Sadly sued into debt by the Pinkertons determined to prevent their sources and methods from being revealed, Siringoeventually sold his beloved New Mexico ranch and moved to Los Angeles, where he advised Hollywood filmmakers, andespecially actor William S. Hart, on their early 1920s Westerns, watching the frontier history he had known first-handturned into romantic legend on the screen.
In his old age, Charlie Siringo was called "Ulysses of the Wild West" for the long journey he took across the westernfrontier. This edition of "Son of the Old West" from Grove Atlantic brings him and his legendary world vividly to life.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a four page Selected Bibliography, a fourpage Epilogue Memories, a six page listing of Acknowledgments, eighteen pages of Notes, and an eighteen page Index,"Son of the Old West: The Odyssey of Charlie Siringo, Cowboy, Detective, writer of the Wild Frontier" is a seminal,documented, and fascinating biography of a unique and remarkable character from America's western frontier. Whileespecially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library 19th Century AmericanBiography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Son of the Old West" is also readilyavailable in a paperback edition (9780802163660, $19.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Nathan Ward is the author of The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett, which was nominated forthe Edgar and Anthony awards, as well as Dark Harbor: The War for the New York Waterfront. He has written for theNew York Times, Wall Street Journal, Crimereads, and Westword and was an editor at American Heritage Magazine forseveral years. Though he lives in Brooklyn, NY, he has had a lifelong interest in the American West and its history.
Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers
Ian O'Connor
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
Harper Audio
www.harperaudio.com
9780063297869, $29.99, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Out-Darkness-Mystery-Aaron-Rodgers/dp/0063297868
Synopsis: Aaron Rodgers is among the two or three most talented players to ever hold the most important job in Americanfootball -- the quarterback. He also stands as the most mysterious and polarizing figure in the modern-day national pastimethat is professional football.
From his controversial Covid stance, to his methods of spiritual awakening, to his estrangement from his family, to hishigh-profile romances, to his devastating Achilles injury a mere four plays into his New York Jets career, Rodgers has longdominated the NFL's news cycle.
At thirty-nine, in search of a challenge that would rejuvenate him, Rodgers divorced the iconic Green Bay Packers ofVince Lombardi fame for the Jets, who have not appeared in a Super Bowl since Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon.The trade made Rodgers the biggest story in the biggest league in the biggest market. By far.
That story only got bigger when Rodgers shockingly went down on the night of 9/11, in front of a packed house that roaredfor him when he took the field carrying an American flag, and in front of the biggest Monday Night Football audience inESPN history, peaking at more than 25 million viewers across all platforms. Rodgers then shocked the world by pulling offthe fastest recorded comeback from an Achilles tear, returning to practice eleven weeks after surgery. Remarkably enough,he would have played again in the 2023 season, at age 40, had the Jets remained in playoff contention.
In writing "Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers", biographer Ian O'Connor uses hundreds of originalinterviews to pull back the curtain and answer the most penetrating questions about the league's most enigmatic player.Just like he did in his defining biographies of sports icons as Bill Belichick, Mike Krzyzewski, Derek Jeter, Jack Nicklaus,and Arnold Palmer, O'Connor reveals all sides of an all-time great and delivers a portrait of a complex man that willforever shape the way he is viewed.
Critique: An absolute 'must read' pick for dedicated NFL fans in general, and the legions of Aaron Rogers fans inparticular, "Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers" is a definitively informative and exceptionally wellpresented biography. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library SportsBiography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of Ian O'Connor's "Out of theDarkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers" from Mariner Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Harper Audio, 9798874623791, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Ian O'Connor (www.ian-oconnor.com) is the author of five previous books, including four straight NewYork Times bestsellers - Coach K, Belichick, The Captain, and Arnie & Jack. He has finished in first place twenty times innational writing contests, including those conducted by the Pro Football Writers of America, Golf Writers Association ofAmerica, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Associated Press Sports Editors, who named him the No. 1columnist in the country in his circulation category three times. O'Connor has been a columnist at ESPN, The New YorkPost, USA Today, and The New York Daily News.
My Mother's Dream
George Henderson
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com
9780398094515, $29.95, PB, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/My-Mothers-Dream-First-Generation-College/dp/0398094519
Synopsis: "My Mother's Dream: The Story of a First-Generation College Student" by George Henderson is an inherentlyfascinating, impressively inspiring life story of a boy whose African-American family was forced by white supremacists toleave their home and move out of the state to be safe from life threatening, race driven persecution. It's the story of a boygrowing up with an understandable antagonism toward whites, the power of a parents' dream that their child would have abetter life than themselves, of what it was like to become the first member of a family to graduate highschool and thencollege.
It is also the story of the influence and impact teachers, school counselors, nurses, and other personnel have upon thestudents during their education K-12 education and beyond.. Their assistance can be helpful or hurtful to whatevergeneration of students they are helping.
Critique: "My Mother's Dream: The Story of a First-Generation College Student" from Charles C. Thomas Publishers isdeftly crafted, emotionally engaging, and simply impressive memoir by George Henderson that is especially andunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library African-AmericanBiography/Memoir collections and supplemental Contemporary Black History curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: George Henderson, the author of "Race and the University: A Memoir" has a listing of all his books athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/15043779.George_Henderson
Two Wars
David Colsin
TriMark Press
www.TriMarkPress.com
9798990600119, $21.95, PB, 222pp
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Wars-David-Colson/dp/B0D481BN3W
Synopsis: David Dolsin's first war was in Vietnam. The second occurred when he came home and fought battles on thestreets of Atlanta dealing and using drugs.
A hippie of the late 60s and early 70s, David was a kid who was nervous and excited when he was drafted, witnessedhorrors as a helicopter gunner in some of the toughest arenas in 'Nam, and returned to a home that was no longer thesame.
A true and honest recount of his life, "Two Wars" tells the ultimate experience of what it was like fighting, and thenreturning from a war no one wanted. Everything you've heard is true. David knows this because he lived it -- and nowshare it with you.
Critique: Impressively well written, candid, fascinating, thought-provoking, and an emotionally engaging read from start tofinish, this edition of David Colson's "Two Wars" from Trimark Press is expressly and unreservedly recommended forpersonal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoircollections.
Editorial Note: David Colson's stories are vivid, as if he has just lived through the experience instead of rememberingincidents from 50 years ago. He sums up his saga by saying that he also carries happy memories with children. "Life goeson," he writes. "I am now retired and living in my home state of Florida. I try to live a Christian life now."
The General Fiction Shelf
Eileen Goudge
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662518126, $16.99 PB, 335pp
https://www.amazon.com/All-They-Need-Know-Novel/dp/1662518129
Synopsis: On the run from her abusive husband, Kyra Smith hits the road. Destination unknown. With a neglected dog sherescued in tow, she lands in the peaceful California town of Gold Creek and is immediately befriended by an openheartedgroup of women called the Tattooed Ladies Club. They're there for Kyra -- and for each other.
The maternal Frannie is a tattoo artist struggling with a troubled daughter. Suzy is a self-described fashionista grandmabearing a painful estrangement from her son. Then there's Jo, whose enviable marriage is coming undone. And bookstoreowner Marisol. She longs for the kind of romance she only reads about. For them, and for Kyra, fortunes can change.
Just as Kyra parlays her artistic talents into a new career, and finally meets a man she can trust in and love, her ex tracksher down. He has a twisted plan to upend everything she now holds dear. Marshaling her renewed power and wisdom,Kyra will stop at nothing to put the past behind her. Once and for all. Whatever it takes.
Critique: An emotionally riveting read from start to finish (and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99), "AllThey Need To Know" by author Eileen Goudge is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for personalreading lists and community library Women's Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Eileen Goudge (www.eileengoudge.com) is the author of more than twenty novels, including Garden ofLies, One Last Dance, and The Diary. Eileen draws from her own experiences in writing women's fiction, exploringrecurring themes of sisterhood/friendship bonds, the joys and heartaches of romance, and reversals of fortune. Eileen gother start as a ghostwriter for the popular teen series Sweet Valley High, which spawned multiple spin-offs and a TVseries.
Veridian Sterling Fakes It
Jennifer Gooch Hummer
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662518997, $16.99, PB, 255pp
https://www.amazon.com/Veridian-Sterling-Fakes-Jennifer-Hummer/dp/1662518994
Synopsis: Freshly graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, Veridian Sterling is ready to hang her work in any ofthe countless New York galleries that are sure to give her a show. The problem is only one will, and they're not interestedin her art so much as her personal assistant skills.
No glitz, no glam, and definitely none of the money she needs to help her struggling mother finally realize her dream ofstarting her own business after having sacrificed everything for Veri to go to art school. So when she overhears her newboss discussing the impressive finder's fee for a lost van Gogh, Veri takes matters into her own hands. Maybe her ownartwork isn't celebrated, but she knows how to copy what is, and maybe those skills can help lead to a discovery.
But when a famous art dealer takes her under his wing (and his charming driver takes her interest), Veri realizes she's indeeper than she expected, and quite possibly with the wrong people. With her mother's dreams and her own future at stake,Veri will have to pull out every trick she can think of to wipe her canvas clean and erase the mess she's created before shegoes down for someone else's crimes.
Critique: Original, clever, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Veridian Sterling Fakes It" by author Jennifer GoochHummer will be of exceptional interest to fans of Contemporary General Fiction that are populated with deftly crafted andmemorable characters embedded in an inherently interest and unpredictable plot line. Highly recommended for communitylibrary collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of "Veridian Sterling Fakes It" is alsoreadily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Jennifer Gooch Hummer (https://jennifergoochhummer.com) received her BA in English from KenyonCollege before moving to Los Angeles to work as a script reader for a variety of production companies. She is also theaward-winning author of Girl Unmoored and Operation Tenley.
Between the Sound and Sea
Amanda Cox
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800742744, $17.99, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Between-Sound-Sea-Inspirational-Contemporary/dp/0800742745
Synopsis: Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after alawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouseon a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee the restoration of thelighthouse.
As the work begins, "Joey" discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls -- pages torn from alighthouse keeper's log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a womanlighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there's never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by thatname.
When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and hisdaughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts togetherthe pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story -- and one that's not over yet.
Critique: A multiple Christy Award winner, with the publication of "Between the Sound and the Sea" once again authorand skilled storyteller Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning torisk it all for a chance at happiness in here newest and timeless novel. A fun and interesting read from cover to cover,"Between the Sound and the Sea" is an ideal choice for community library fiction collections and readily available forpersonal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09) as well.
Editorial Note: Amanda Cox (AmandaCoxWrites.com) is the Christy Award-winning author of The Edge of Belonging,The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, and He Should Have Told the Bees. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible andtheology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studiesand her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters thatconnect emotionally with readers.
The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux
M. J. Robotham
Head of Zeus
https://headofzeus.com/home
9781035901104, $28.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Scandalous-Life-Ruby-Devereaux/dp/1035901102
Synopsis: From a teenager in wartime England to a veteran of modern-day London (via 1950's New York, the SwingingSixties, Cold War Berlin, Venice and Vietnam) Ruby Devereaux has lived one hell of a life: parties, scandals and conflictzones, meeting men and adventure along the way. In a writing career spanning seven decades and more than twenty books,she's distilled everything into her work. Or has she?
Now beyond her 90th year, Ruby's energy is ebbing and her beloved typewriter put away. Until a call from her publisherpresents Ruby with an ultimatum, and the impetus to embark on one last book -- "warts and all", as she says. Even in herdotage, Ruby M Devereaux has the power to surprise, because whatever this author does, she does on her own terms.Always.
Ruby is finally about to reveal the secrets of her infamous life!
Critique: Written in the style of a memoir, "The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux" is a fun rollercoaster of a ridethrough the latter half of the 20th Century as a woman details her life through an epic and fascinating story of a woman'sadventures in an relentlessly evolving world, With the publication of "The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux" author M.J. Robinson raises her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. While especially and unreservedly recommendedfor community/public library 20th Century American General Fiction, it should be noted for personal reading lists that"The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781035901128, $18.99) and ina digital book format ($2.99).
Editorial Note: M. J. Robotham saw herself as an aspiring author from the age of nine, but was waylaid by journalism,birth, children and life. After twenty years as a midwife and an MA in Creative Writing, she is now a full-time author,writing as Mandy Robotham. (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/mandy-robotham)
Once More from the Top
Emily Layden
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
9780063315099, $28.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Once-More-Top-Emily-Layden/dp/0063315092
Synopsis: Everyone in America knows Dylan Read, or at least has heard her music. Since releasing her debut album hersenior year of high school, Dylan's spent fifteen years growing up in the public eye. She's not only perfected her skillswhen it comes to lyrics and melody; she's also learned how to craft a public narrative that satisfies her fans, her label, andthe media. In the circles of fame and celebrity in which she now travels, the careful maintenance of Dylan Read pop star isoften more important than the songs themselves.
And so lots of people think they understand everything about Dylan Read. But what no one knows is the part of her originstory she has successfully kept hidden: her childhood best friend Kelsey vanished the year before Dylan became famous.Now, as Dylan's at the height of her career, Kelsey's body is found at the bottom of their hometown lake -- forcing Dylan toreckon with their shared past, her friend's influence on her music, and whether there's more to their story than meets theeye.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, and a compulsive page turner of a read from start to finish, "OnceMore from the Top" by novelist Emily Layden provides a simply riveting read -- one that will linger in the mind andmemory long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. With its themes of friendship, ambition, and the cost offame, "Once More from the Top" is a perfect pick for community/public library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Once More from the Top" is also readily available in a paperback edition(9780008587802, $19.99) and in digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Emily Layden (www.emilylayden.com) is a graduate of Stanford University. Her writing has appeared inThe New York Times, Marie Claire, The Billfold, and Runner's World. "All Girls" (St. Martin's Press, 2021) was her firstnovel. Find her at emilylayden.com or on Instagram @emilylayden
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Diane C. McPhail
A John Scognamiglio Book
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781496750884, $27.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Follow-Stars-Home-Diane-McPhail/dp/1496750888
Synopsis: It's a journey that most deem an insane impossibility. Yet on October 20th, 1811, Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt(daughter of one of the architects of the United States Capitol) fearlessly boards the steamship New Orleans in Pittsburgh.Eight months pregnant and with a toddler in tow, Lydia is fiercely independent despite her youth. She's also accustomed todefying convention. Against her father's wishes, she married his much older business colleague, inventor NicholasRoosevelt (builder of the New Orleans) and spent her honeymoon on a primitive flatboat. But the stakes for this trip areinfinitely higher.
If Nicholas's untried steamboat reaches New Orleans, it will serve as a profitable packet ship between that city andNatchez, proving the power of steam as it travels up and down the Mississippi. Success in this venture would revolutionizetravel and trade, open the west to expansion, and secure the Roosevelts' future.
Lydia had used her own architectural training to design the flatboat's interior, including a bedroom, sitting area, andfireplace. The steamship, however, dwarfs the canoes and flatboats on the river. And no amount of power or comfort couldshield its passengers from risk. Lydia believes herself ready for all the dangers ahead -- growing unrest among nativepeople, disease or injury, and the turbulent Falls of the Ohio, a sixty-foot drop long believed impassable in such a largeboat.
But there are other challenges in store, impossible to predict as Lydia boards that fall day. Challenges which (if survived)will haunt and transform her, as surely as the journey will alter the course of a nation.
Critique: Raising historical fiction to an impressive level of literary elegance, "Follow the Stars Home" by Diane C.McPhail is an extraordinary and engaging read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended forcommunity/public library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Follow the Stars"is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book(Blackstone Audio, 9798874830076, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Diane C. McPhail (www.dianemcphailauthor.com) is an artist, writer, and minister. In addition to holdingan MFA, an MA, and DMN, she has studied at the University of Iowa distance learning and the Yale Writers' Workshop,among others. Diane is a member of North Carolina Writers' Network and the Historical Novel Society.
Hill of Secrets:
Galina Vromen
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662520792, $16.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hill-Secrets-Novel-Galina-Vromen/dp/1662520794
Synopsis: Los Alamos, 1943. The US Army has gathered scientists to create the world's first nuclear weapon. Theirfamilies, abruptly moved to the secret desert base with no explanation, have simple orders: Stand by. Make do. Above all,don't ask questions.
Christine, forced to abandon her art restoration business in New York for her husband's career, struggles to reinvent herselfand cope with his increasing aloofness.
Gertie, the inquisitive teenage daughter of a German Jewish refugee physicist enlists Christine to help her unravel hiddentruths and deal with parents haunted by their past.
Gertie's father, Kurt, anguished by what the Nazis have done to his family and bent on defeating them, carries burdens helongs to share but cannot confide in his wife -- leading him to find comfort elsewhere.
And Jimmy, a young army technician, falls for Gertie but is unsure if even her deep affection can overcome his agonizingself-doubts.
Will so much secrecy save them or destroy them?
Critique: "Hill of Secrets" is a deftly crafted World War II era novel with which author Galina Vromen reveals a specialtalent for the kind of narrative driven historical fiction that makes for a fascinating and entertaining read from start tofinish. Also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99), "Hill of Secrets" is unreservedlyrecommended for community/public library Historical Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Galina Vromen (www.galinavromen.com) launched and directed two reading readiness programs in Israel,one in Hebrew (Sifriyat Pijama) and one in Arabic (Maktabat al-Fanoos). During her tenure, the two programs giftedtwenty million books to young children and their families and were named US Library of Congress honorees for bestpractices in promoting literacy. Vromen's stories have been performed on NPR's Selected Shorts program and appeared inmagazines such as American Way, the Adirondack Review, Tikkun, and Reform Judaism. She has an MA in literaturefrom Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a BA in media and anthropology from Hampshire College in Massachusetts.
The Paris Understudy
Aurelie Thiele
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639108619, $29.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Understudy-Novel-Aur%C3%A9lie-Thiele/dp/1639108610
Synopsis: 1938. Paris Opera legend Madeleine Moreau must keep newcomer Yvonne Chevallier, whose talent she fears,off the stage. As the long-standing star of the opera, she is nowhere near ready to give up her spotlight. The perfectsolution: enlist Yvonne as her understudy so she can never be upstaged.
When Madeleine is invited to headline at Germany's preeminent opera festival, she is sure this will cement her legacy. Butwar is looming, and when she learns that Adolf Hitler himself will be in attendance, she knows she's made a grave error.As Madeleine makes a hurried escape back to France, Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the limelight on theGerman stage.
When a newspaper photograph shows Hitler seemingly enraptured by Yvonne, Yvonne's life is upended. While she istrying frantically to repair her reputation at home, Yvonne's son is captured and held as a prisoner of war. Desperate to freeher son, she makes an impossible choice: turn to the enemy.
As the Nazis invade Paris, both women must decide what they are willing to do in pursuit of their art. They form anunlikely alliance, using their fame to protect themselves and the people they love from the maelstrom of history.
Painting an enrapturing portrait of resilient wartime women, "The Paris Understudy" is a kind of love letter to the arts anda stark depiction of the choices we make to survive,
Critique: A simply riveting and deftly crafted read from start to finish, "The Paris Understudy" by novelist Aurelie Thielewill have a special appeal to fans of World War II era fiction and the drama of two formerly competitive women comingtogether for a common cause -- the survival of themselves and their loved ones under Nazi occupation. While alsoavailable for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book(Blackstone Audio, 9798228006805, $45.95, CD) superbly narrated by Katherine Anderson, this Alcove Press edition of"The Paris Understudy" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library 20th Century HistoricalFiction collections.
Editorial Note: Aurelie Thiele (https://amsterlit.com/thiele-aurelie) is French American and lives in Dallas, TX. She hasstudied writing at the UCLA Extension School and Bennington Writing Seminars.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Val McDermid
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802164292, $22.00, HC, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Macbeth-Val-McDermid/dp/0802164293
Synopsis: A thousand years ago in an ancient Scottish landscape, a woman is on the run with her three companions -- ahealer, a weaver, and a seer. The men hunting her will kill her because she is the only one who stands between them andtheir violent ambition.
She is no lady: she is the first queen of Scotland, married to a king called Macbeth. As the net closes in, what unfurls is atale of passion, forced marriage, bloody massacre, and the harsh realities of medieval Scotland. At the heart of it is onestrong, charismatic woman, who survived loss and jeopardy to outwit the endless plotting of a string of ruthless andpower-hungry men. Her struggle won her a country. But now it could cost her life.
Britain's reigning "Queen of Crime" (The Scotsman), Val McDermid has ensnared audiences worldwide for over thirtyyears with her thrilling and masterfully plotted crime oeuvre. A radical, rip-roaring counternarrative drawing on thehistorical record, with her newest novel, "Queen Macbeth" she delivers an illuminating portrait of Shakespeare's mostfamous villain, and the treacherous pursuit of ambition that made her legendary. Immersive and utterly riveting, "QueenMacbeth" is an electric reimagining of one of Shakespeare's most celebrated tragedies
Critique: A compulsively fascinating and deftly crafted read from beginning to end, "Queen Macbeth" is an extraordinaryretelling of one of Shakespeare's iconic plays from a totally new perspective and brought vividly back to life through theimpressively original and exceptionally storytelling skills of novelist Val McDermid. While especially and unreservedlyrecommended for community library historical fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "QueenMacbeth" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.90) as well.
Editorial Note: Val McDermid (www.valmcdermid.com) is the author of novels that have won the Los Angeles TimesBook of the Year Award, and the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger and Cartier Diamond Dagger Award foroutstanding achievement. She is also a five-time finalist for the Edgar Award, including for the Fact Crime nomineeForensics and most recently the Sue Grafton Memorial nominee Past Lying. She lives in Scotland.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Elena Collins
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781802800371, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 528pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wicked-lady-elena-collins/1145532042
Synopsis: 1648 Herfordshire, England -- Thirteen-year-old Katherine Ferrers is in despair at being betrothed toarch-Royalist Thomas Fanshawe whose family are hellbent on plundering her family's fortune to champion the exiledCharles. As her unhappy marriage stretches before her, her only comfort is her beloved childhood home The Cell.
But as the years pass and Kate grows restless, a new passion, a new love and a dangerous calling threaten to upendeverything she's ever known.
Present Day Hertfordshire, England -- Charlie Wolfe jumps at the chance to help his uncle renovate a tumbledown cottageoverlooking Nomansland Common. Number One Constable's Cottages was once the home of the man charged with riddingthe common of the highwaymen who terrorised travellers.
But it's the story of The Wicked Lady, the notorious female highway robber, that captures Charlie's imagination, and somelong winter's nights he's sure he can the hoofbeats of her horse echoing across time. What drove this mystery woman torisk everything for a life of crime, and why is she still restless, wandering the common in grief?
It seems only Charlie can finally uncover the secret Katherine Ferrers has kept for hundreds of years; a secret of a terriblebetrayal and a tragic love that was never meant to end this way. . .
Critique: An original, fun, fascinating, deftly crafted novel that raises historical fiction to an impressive level of literaryelegance, this large print paperback edition of "The Wick Lady" by novelist Elena Collins from Boldwood Books is anextraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community/public library HistoricalFiction/Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Elenda Collins wrote novels under the pen name of Judy Leigh. These are uplifting stories of the lives ofolder women and the possibility of second chances, change and happiness. She also writes the Morwenna Mutton/Seal Baycozy crime series, set in Cornwall with a sixty-something sleuth who enjoys getting into mischief and solving crime.
Miss Bingley's Revenge
Eliza Austin
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836031895, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 506pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-bingleys-revenge-eliza-austin/1145183110
Synopsis: Aware that some people consider her unworthy of the title Mrs Darcy, Lizzy is determined to prove herdetractors wrong by throwing a magnificent house party at her new home, Pemberley. Nothing can possibly go wrong...can it?
Miss Caroline Bingley is quite determined to rescue Darcy from his reckless marriage. Convinced he must now regret hischoice, she finds an unlikely ally in George Wickham who also wishes to avenge Lizzy, albeit for a very different reason.If Darcy were to find his 'fine-eyed' wife in a compromising position with Wickham of all people, he would surely neverforgive her.
Lizzy finds herself in a desperate fight to save her marriage to Darcy, but can she ever compete with Miss Bingley andWickham's evil machinations? And what damage will this do to her own sisters' happiness?
Critique: An artfully penned Regency Romance novel that will have a very special appeal for fans of Jane Austin's "Pride& Prejudice", this large print paperback edition of Eliza Austin's "Miss Bingley's Revenge" from Boldwood Books is anexceptional and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community/public library HistoricalRomance collections.
Editorial Note: Eliza Austin (aka Wendy Soliman) writes novels based on Jane Austin's classic regency romance storiesincluding "Lady Catherine's Demands", "The Darling Miss Darcy", Kitty Bennet's Ruin" and "The Scandalous LydiaWickham". (https://wendysoliman.com/eliza-austin)
What The Lady Wants
Emma Orchard
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835610633, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 440pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-the-lady-wants-emma-orchard/1145414018
Synopsis: Autumn, 1816 -- Lady Ashby is grieving the death of her beloved husband, just two years earlier. Although stillyoung and beautiful, Isabella is resolved never to marry again, and plans to leave London, return to her parents' Yorkshirehouse, and resign from society before the year is over. But first, she wants one more taste of life...
Isabella has written a list, the contents of which, if discovered, would create a scandal that neither she nor her family wouldrecover from. A list of things she would like to experience, just once more, before she surrenders herself to the life of awidow. And she knows just the man to help her: her friend, the handsome and honorable Captain Leo Winterton.
But Captain Winterton has a secret of his own. He is in love with Isabella -- and when she makes her most improperproposal to him, he is powerless to resist her, even if she is resolved never to love again. Can he persuade her they aredestined to be together? Or will their impropriety be discovered, to the ruin of both?
Critique: A regency romance at its very best, this large print paperback edition from Boldwood Books of author EmmaOrchard's "What the Lady Wants" is a fun read from cover to cover. A carefully crafted historical romance "What the LadyWants" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick for both personal reading lists and community/public libraryHistorical Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Emma Orchard grew up in Salford and was given tickets to the grown-up library at the age of 11 becauseshe'd read all the children's books and the librarians were sick of the sight of her. She became obsessed with GeorgetteHeyer and hasn't stopped reading her novels since. She studied English Literature at university and went on to work atMills & Boon and behind the scenes in television and in publishing. Emma's first two Regency romances - The SecondLady Silverwood and The Runaway Heiress - were published in 2023.
Close Knit
Jenny Colgan
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063386662, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Close-Knit-Novel-Jenny-Colgan/dp/0063386666
Synopsis: In the northernmost reaches of Scotland, where a string of little islands in the North Sea stretches towardsNorway, lives Gertie MacIntyre, a proud island girl by birth. Her social circle is small but tight: family and friends,particularly the women in her knitting circle.
In the whitewashed cottages of their hometown, everyone knows everyone, and the ladies of the knitting circle know morethan most. In a place of long dark winters and geographic isolation, the knitting circle is a precious source of gossip, home,laughter, and comfort for them all. And while she knits, Gertie's busily plotting what to do with the rest of her life.
When Gertie develops a crush on Callum Frost, who owns the local airline, she dares herself to take a job as an airstewardess on the little plane that serves the local islands. Terrifying at first, the sixteen-seat puddle jumper also offers thefirst taste of real freedom she's ever known. Will Gertie's future lie in the skies? Or will she need to go further afield tofind the adventure she craves?
Critique: A perfectly crafted and fun read from cover to cover, "Close Knit" by author Jenny Colgan showcases herimpressive and narrative driven storytelling skills. While also readily available for personal reading lists in a paperbackedition (9780063260566, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), "Close Knit" is an unreservedlyrecommended pick for community/public library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Jenny Colgan (www.jennycolgan.com) is the author of numerous novels, including The ChristmasBookshop, The Bookshop on the Corner, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. Jenny, herhusband, and three children live in a genuine castle in Scotland.
How to Fall for a Scoundrel
Kate Bateman
St. Martin's Paperbacks
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250907370, $8.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-Fall-Scoundrel-Majestys-Rebels/dp/1250907373
Synopsis: As a founding member of King & Co., London's most successful private investigation firm, studious EleanorLaw delights in secretly proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a charming con man pretends tobe her fictional boss, "Charles King", Ellie knows he's lying, but accepting the scoundrel's offer of help might just be thekey to cracking her new case and recovering a priceless manuscript.
"Henri Bonheur" (or "Harry" as he asks to be called) claims his criminal past is behind him, but a man who steals andseduces with such consummate ease can never be trusted. As the investigation draws them deeper into danger and desire,Ellie's infuriated to realize she's developed feelings for her law-breaking accomplice.
How can she love the scoundrel when she doesn't even know his real name? And what will happen when Harry's pastfinally catches up with him?
Critique: A 'must' for the legions of Regency Romance fans, "How to Fall for a Scoundrel" by novelist Kate Bateman is anoriginal and fun read from cover to cover and will prove to be an exceptionally popular pick for personal reading lists andcommunity library Historical Romance collections.
Editorial Note: Kate Bateman (also writing as K. C. Bateman) is a bestselling author of historical romances, including herRITA(R)-nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil to Pay, the Ruthless Rivals series A Reckless Match, A Daring Pursuit,and A Wicked Game, the Bow Street Bachelors series This Earl of Mine, To Catch an Earl, and The Princess and theRogue, along with the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven's Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart.(https://www.kcbateman.com)
Perfectly Wicked
Lindsay Lovise
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9781639109531, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Wicked-Novel-Lindsay-Lovise/dp/1639109536
Synopsis: There have always been rumors that something magical is afoot at Wicked Good Apples. Rain during droughtsand other inexplicable happenings have long haunted the Maine orchard, but only Holly Celeste and her family know thetruth: the Celestes are just a little wicked.
Despite the magical secret ingredient in their cider, the family business is floundering. When Connor Grimm, a charmingand nationally beloved paranormal investigator, requests to film an episode of his popular TV show on the mysteriousfarm, Holly reluctantly accepts. She knows the publicity could be the miracle her family needs -- as long as Connor doesn'tmanage to actually make any paranormal discoveries while he's there.
Intent on keeping Connor in the dark and pushing him toward the ghost story believed by the locals, Holly joins him as heinterviews eyewitnesses, hunts for old records, and unearths potentially devastating stories from the past. Despite herresolution to dislike him, she begins to fall for the only man who's ever made her feel like strange could be normal.
As Connor gets closer to uncovering the real secrets behind the orchard, his and Holly's blooming romance begins tothreaten everything they value -- Connor's commitment to his career and Holly's commitment to protect her family.
Critique: A delightful mix of romance and magic, "Perfectly Wicked" by author Lindsay Lovise showcases a distinctiveand narrative driven story telling style that is as compelling as it is original. A fun read that will have tremendous appeal tofans of supernatural rom-com fantasy, "Perfectly Wicked" -- which is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $14.99) -- is a unique and unreservedly recommended pick for community/public library collections and personalreading lists.
Editorial Note: Lindsay Lovise (https://lindsaylovise.com) writes paranormal and historical romances with quirky heroinesand a dash of mystery. Although she earned degrees in English and teaching, she always knew she wanted to write storiesabout love. When she's not writing, Lindsay is reading (probably romance), drinking coffee, and avoiding laundry. Shecurrently lives in New York but was born and raised in Maine, where the winters make for perfect reading weather.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Greg Mitchell
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853391, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 288pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/montana-bound-greg-mitchell/1132682479
Synopsis: Cowboys Marty and Harvey, at the end of a trail drive, decide to explore Montana, but fall foul of Jason Thorpe,a bank robber masquerading as a town marshal. In revenge the two cowboys take a gold watch from him but, unbeknownto them, the watch links Thorpe to a Civil War murder - and the killer is determined to get it back. Marty and Harvey soonbecome caught up in fighting between Thorpe and his former gang members over stolen bank money. And if Thorpe hashis way, they will see Boot Hill before they see Montana.
Critique: Offering the reader a blaze of gunplay action in the Old West, "Montana Bound" by western novelist GregMitchell is a compelling page turner of a read from start to finish. This large print paperback edition of "Montana Bound"from the Linford Western Library collection is a solid and unreservedly recommended pick for community library WesternFiction collections and the personal reading lists of all dedicated western fans.
Editorial Note: Greg Mitchell is an Australian author. While working on big stations in the Outback, he started writinghow-to articles for horse magazines. Eventually he contributed to publications in England and USA. He also startedwriting historical features for Australian newspapers. and wrote his first Black Horse Western in 2006.
Gunn's Avengers
Alvin Ford
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853124, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 252pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gunns-avengers-alvin-ford/1130920591
Synopsis: Searching for his estranged sister who is homesteading in Dakota, Scottish clergyman Guthrie Gunn isbushwhacked, and subsequently discovers that the same outlaws had previously killed all but one of his livingrelatives.
Rescued by the Lakota, he finds his nephew living among them. Finding new faith after undergoing a Vision Quest, whichshows him that his destiny is to seek out the villain, he embarks on a search for the wrongdoers, preaching his own quirkybrand of religion along the way.
After seven years, he finds his way to Misery, Montana, where his enemies are now despotic lawmen. Gunn is joined by amotley band of avengers - including a Lakota tribesman, a reformed outlaw, a dime novelist, and two of the most notoriousoutlaws in the West - who will need all their diverse skills to stand a chance against the maniacal sheriff and his ruthlessdeputies.
Critique: A classic yet impressive original vengeance saga novel of the Old West, this large print paperback edition of"Gunn's Avengers" by Alvin Ford will prove an immediate and enduringly popular pick the for personal reading lists ofwestern action/adventure fans and community library collections.
Editorial Note: Alvin Ford (www.goodreads.com/author/show/18261120.Alvin_Ford) is also the author of "Brody'sPledge".
Time to Decide
Frank Chandler
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853117, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 240pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-to-decide-frank-chandler/1136775917
Synopsis: Riding to Colorado to investigate a shipment of doctored silver ingots, Trey Cormac comes across a robbery.Scattering the bandits and saving a hostage is what any professional bounty hunter would do, but nothing is quite what itseems. At twenty-five and slightly inexperienced, he lets himself be sweet-talked by a pretty young woman, which landshim in a whole load of trouble. Embarrassed at being such a gullible target, Trey sets out to restore his self-respect. Butchasing after the young woman only draws him in deeper. Framed and friendless, he is left to face a hostile jury and ahanging judge. Could things get any worse? Probably.
Critique: A fun read from cover to cover, this large print paperback edition of "Time to Decide" by western novelist FrankChandler is original, deftly crafted, and a welcome addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated westernaction/adventure fans, as well as community/public library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Frank Chandler is the author of five Black Horse Westerns: Baruch Elias; Black Hearts, Black Spades; TheDanville Stagecoach Robbery; Two Trees Hollow and Chace Hexx.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1143400.Frank_Chandler)
Texas Feverr
Paul Beford
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853469, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 246pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/texas-fever-paul-bedford/1132682502
Synopsis: John Ewing has a dream. He wants to put defeat in the war behind him, and make something of his life. In hiscase, that means taking a herd of three thousand Texas Longhorns along the Chisholm Trail, all the way from San Antonioto the Kansas Pacific railhead in Abilene, Kansas. A dangerous journey of over seven hundred miles, with seeminglyeverything against him. But he has far more to contend with than just hostile Indians, prejudice from the victoriousnortherners, and nature itself. Vernon Peck, an old Confederate Army comrade, turns up out of nowhere in desperate needof a job. His lethal talent with a gun brings undoubted benefits, but is employment all he is really after? And in addition,transcending all other concerns, there is the one thing that could ruin all of Ewing's hopes . . . Texas Fever!
Critique: "Texas Fever" by Paul Bedford has everything fans of the western genre require: a hero with a talent for gunplay,a dangerous cattle drive, bad guys with guns, and more plot twists thatn a Texas tornado. This large print paperback editionof "Texas Fever" from the Linford Western Library series is a welcome and recommended choice for personal reading listsand community/public library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Paul Bedford has a strong interest in the history of the American frontier, and he tries to make his BlackHorse Westerns as factually accurate and realistic as possible. A listing of his novels is available athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4575218.Paul_Bedford
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Allison Brook
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108459, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Booked-Murder-Haunted-Library-Mystery/dp/1639108459
Synopsis: Carrie Singleton is ready to kiss the single life goodbye. Her wedding to Dylan Avery is just a few weeks away,and a happy ending is about to be hers. But when a body is found on the lawn of their wedding venue, happily-ever-after islooking deadlier than ever.
The victim turns out to be Billy Carpenter, a young man recently released from prison after serving time for a bankrobbery. The stolen money he'd buried is gone and Carrie and the police suspect Billy's two alleged co-conspirators, hisfriends Luke Rizzo and Tino Valdez. But then Luke is murdered and Tino is nowhere to be found.
With no leads and only a week to go before her big day, Carrie is on the hunt for clues. She hopes to wrap up thisinvestigation with a neat bow before she and Dylan tie the knot. Carrie has something old, something new, and somethingborrowed ready for her walk down the aisle. Now she needs to find the killer without becoming the 'something blue.'
Critique: An original and fun read that has everything a cozy mystery fans needs in their murder mystery, including afemale amateur sleuth, an inherently fascinating plot, and 'whodunnit' originality of plot, all told in a compelling andnarrative driven storytelling style, "Booked on Murder" is a part of author Allison Brook's 'A Haunted Library Mystery'series and a welcome pick for public and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. This edition of "Booked onMurder" from Crooked Lane Books (a premier publisher of cozy mystery novels) is also readily available in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Allison Brook writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for young readers. She lives with her feistyred cat, Sammy, on Long Island, where she writes her charming Haunted Library mysteries.(https://cozy-mystery.com/allison-brook.html)
Quilty as Charged
Maggie Bailey
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639107995, $31.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Quilty-Charged-Measure-Sewing-Mystery/dp/1639107991
Synopsis: Lydia Barnes has made the picturesque town of Peridot, Georgia her home. But as the new owner of the MeasureTwice fabric store, all financial burdens fall on her. In an effort to unspool herself from this tangle of thread and boost thestore's income, she invites her regular customers to a sewing retreat at her friend Fran's Cherry Log mountain home. Inbetween sewing lessons and quick lunches, a severe winter storm approaches. When Fran's body is discovered murder isthe only explanation, and the remaining six attendants are all suspects.
Trapped, with the power and phone lines out, Lydia is restless to unmask Fran's murderer. With the help of Auden, thecabin's caretaker, Lydia must unravel the hidden lives of people she considered close neighbors and even friends,especially when another body is found along with a suicide note and a suspicious confession.
In a daring plan to uncover the killer, Lydia must risk it all, including her life, before she is cut asunder and the bobbin runsout.
Critique: "Quilty as Charged" is a crafts and hobbies cozy mystery and a part of novelist Maggie Bailey's 'A MeasureTwice Sewing Mystery'. A deftly crafted and impressively enjoyable read from start to finish, "Quilty as Charged"(featuring an amateur female sleuth becoming involved in a puzzling 'whodunnit' murder mystery) is a quality read that isunreservedly recommended for public and community library Mystery/Suspense Fiction collections and is also readilyavailable from Crooked Lane Books for the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans in a digital book format(Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Maggie Bailey (https: www.measuretwicemysteryseries.com) a graduate of Stanford, Oxford, Brown, andSewanee Universities, Maggie Bailey has previously published two volumes of poetry.
In the Event of Murder
Cynthia Kuhn
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639100705, $31.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Event-Murder-Cynthia-Kuhn/dp/1639100709
Synopsis: Nestled on the banks of a breathtaking Rocky Mountain river and dotted with delightful boutiques and galleries,Silvercrest, Colorado, is a book lover's paradise. Bookseller and literary event planner Emma Starrs is looking forward toattending the annual Silvercrest Library Gala, a glamorous evening with celebrities including the legendary WhitneyWillton, currently on the hit crime show Chasers, and her niece, party-planner-to-the-stars Lyra Willton.
Gala Week is full of exciting activities honoring both page and screen, and library board president Tabitha Baxter isbasking in the glow of her successful launch -- until Lyra is found dead.
With the gala only days away, the board asks Emma for help, despite Tabitha (her longstanding nemesis) bristling over thechoice. Emma agrees, even though she is already in charge of a classic mystery panel at her family's bookstore, StarlitBooks, which turns out to have its own challenges.
Meanwhile, Whitney, who is aware of Emma's sleuthing skills, begs her to find the killer. The case grows more complexwith the disappearance of several priceless objects, an attack on one of the attending celebrities, and other predicaments.Emma searches for clues while handling every unexpected twist and turn leading up to the extravagant affair.
But when the guests step onto the red carpet, a killer still lurks in the shadows -- and murder just might become the mainevent.
Critique: A fun and fascinating 'whodunnit' cozy mystery of a read that plays fair with reader from start to finish, "In theEvent of Murder" is the latest installment of novelist Cynthia Kuhn's 'A Sartlit Bookshop Mystery' series. One of the bestcozy mystery writers today, this edition of "In the Event of Murder" from Crooked Lane Books is specificallyrecommended for community and public library Mystery/Suspense Fiction collections. It should be noted that "In the Eventof Murder" is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Cynthia Kuhn (https://cynthiakuhn.net) writes the Starlit Bookshop mysteries and the Agatha Award -winning Lila Maclean Academic mysteries. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney's QuarterlyConcern, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. She is past president of Sisters in Crime- Colorado and currently serves on the national board.
A Poisonous Palate
Lucy Burdette
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108473, $29.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Poisonous-Palate-West-Critic-Mystery/dp/1639108475
Synopsis: When food critic Hayley Snow receives an intriguing email about a mysterious, decades-old disappearance, hercuriosity is piqued. Writer Catherine Davitt has returned to the Keys to research a book about Hemingway's wives, butshe's also on the hunt for the truth about her missing friend. Hayley quickly agrees to help investigate and they hit the roadto see what clues they might find.
Back in the late 1970s, Catherine and her friend Veronica were part of a group of lost souls camping in the mangroves ofBig Pine Key, until Veronica vanished, and the sheriff's office cleared out the camp. Catherine and Hayley begininterviewing Big Pine Key residents who were around at the time of Veronica's disappearance, but uncover more questionsthan answers.
Catherine and Hayley stop to speak with a motel owner who frequented the fringes of the commune, but they find himstabbed to death. Then Catherine also goes missing, and signs point to a connection between the old case and the newmurder. It's up to Hayley to unravel the knot of secrets and lies before time runs out.
Critique: A 'culinary' cozy mystery that also includes recipes, "A Poisonous Palate" by skilled novelist Lucy Burdette is afun read and a part of her popular 'A Leu West Food Critic Mystery' series. Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read fromcover to cover, "A Poisonous Palate" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public libraryMystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for cozy mystery fans that "A Poisonous Palate" is also readily availablein a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Lucy Burdette (https://lucyburdette.com) is the author of twenty-two mysteries, including "A Clue in theCrumbs" -- the latest in the Key West series featuring food critic Hayley Snow (Crooked Lane Books). The tenth book inher Key West food critic mystery series, "The Key Lime Crime" won the Florida Book Award's bronze medal for popularfiction. Her first thriller, "Unsafe Haven" was published by Severn House in 2021. Her books and stories have beenshort-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. She's a past president of Sisters in Crime and is currently servingas president of the Friends of the Key West Library.
The Jig Is Up
Lisa Q. Mathews
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108510, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Jig-Up-Lisa-Q-Mathews/dp/1639108513
Synopsis: Single-mom and police chief's daughter Kate Buckley is all about family. After she receives an urgent text fromher younger sister Colleen, she puts her life on hold and rushes to her Irish-themed hometown of Shamrock,Massachusetts, where her family owns and operates a bed and breakfast. With her two daughters in tow, she's ready tofight if it means she can help her charming but hapless sibling.
When they arrive, Colleen claims it was all a misunderstanding. But everything changes in an Irish minute when Colleen'sbest friend, Deirdre, a dance show star, is found dead in the parish hall. With the discovery of a possible witness, a chillingmotive, and a wee bit of incriminating evidence, Colleen quickly becomes a person of interest in Deirdre's murder.Convinced her sister isn't a killer, Kate is determined to clear Colleen's name.
Critique: "The Jig Is Up" by author Lisa Q. Mathews has everything a cozy mystery needs to be a fun read from start tofinish -- an amateur female sleuth caught up in a 'whodunnit' murder mystery with memorable characters and moreunexpected plot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. "The Jig Is Up" is the initial title in Mathews new cozymystery series 'An Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery" and fully demonstrates her narrative driven storytelling style. Whilehighly recommended for community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personalreading lists of all dedicated cozy mystery fans that "The Jig Is Up" is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $17.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Lisa Q. Mathews (www.lisaqmathews.com) began her publishing career as a Nancy Drew book editor. Shewrote for other popular kids' series, including Mary-Kate and Ashley, Sweet Dreams, and the Lizzie McGuire Mysteries.She now writes cozy mysteries for adults, including the Irish Bed & Breakfast series and the Ladies Smythe & Westinseries. Her short story "Fly Me to the Morgue" was an Agatha Award finalist.
The Mystery of Haverford House
Rachel Burton
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399169042, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 340pp
Synopsis: 1933. Annie Bishop is sixteen years old when she first climbs the steps of Haverford House ready to take serviceas a maid. She knows her place until, during a summer of high society, she crosses paths with wealthy America heir,Thomas Everard. In his arms, Annie dares to dream of a different life.
Until she vanishes without a trace.
2003. Viola Hendricks knows what it's like to dream big. So when she reads about Annie's disappearance shortly beforeshe sees an advert for a job at Haverford House, it seems fate is at work. Five years later, when the house faces closure,Viola is determined to do everything she can to keep it open. What's not in her plans is enigmatic American ChaseMatthews, with an agenda of his own...
If they want to save Haverford House, they must look for answers together - but are they prepared for the truth about whatreally happened to Annie Bishop?
Critique: A classic English historical romance/mystery novel, this large print paperback edition of author Rachel Burton's"The Mystery of Haverford House" from Isis Large Print is a fun read from start to finish. With its themes of love, the truemeaning of home, and the haunting secrets that can bind generations, "The Mystery of Haverford House" is original,compelling and memorable -- making it an ideal and recommended pick for the personal reading lists of dedicated romancefans and community library Historical Romance collections.
Editorial Note: Rachel Burton (www.rachelburtonwrites.com) was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of booksand records. She has read obsessively since she first realized those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents'bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, shemissed it because she had her nose in a book. After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature sheaccidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginaryworlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks. She is obsessed with oldhouses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprisingrevelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.
Peach Tea Smash
Laura Childs
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593201015, $29.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Peach-Tea-Smash-Shop-Mystery/dp/0593201019
Synopsis: During the Mad Hatter Masquerade, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Opera on the grounds of the oldPendleton Grist Mill, Harlan Sadler, husband of Cricket Sadler, the chairwoman, is killed.
He's been hit in the head with a croquet mallet, and his body hung on the chains and paddles of the grist mill. Nobody canfigure out why since Harlan was much beloved by everyone. It's only after Cricket and Delaine beg Theodosia toinvestigate that she realizes the killer might have mistaken Harlan for his crazy son, Duke. After all, Duke is a slumlandlord and recently injured a woman in a boating accident.
Includes delicious recipes and tea time tips!
Critique: A fun and deftly crafted cozy mystery treat from start to finish for the legions of Laura Childs' fans and thenewest addition to her 'Tea Shop Mystery' series, "Peach Tea Smash" has the added bonus feature of tea making recipesand tea time tips. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format, "Peach Tea Smash" is aguaranteed popular pick for all community/public library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Laura Childs is the author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry ClubMysteries. She was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays.(https://www.facebook.com/laurachildsauthor)
A Corpse In Christmas Close
Michelle Salter
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835612859, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 400pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-corpse-in-christmas-close-michelle-salter/1145495242
Synopsis: When Iris Woodmore visits Winchester for their annual pantomime, murder is the last thing she expects to find.And there seems to be no valid reason as to why anyone would want to hurt lead actress, Rachel Lacey -- kind andphilanthropic, she organized the Christmas performance to raise funds for the Winchester Cathedral Great War Fund.
Determined to uncover the sinister forces at play, Iris and her dear friend Percy embark on a perilous journey through thesnow-lined streets of Winchester, where secrets lurk around every corner and danger looms in the shadows. But as theyclose in on the truth, they find themselves drawn into a web of deceit and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems and theline between friend and foe blurs dangerously.
Critique: A part of the author's 'Iris Woodmore Mystery' series, this large print paperback edition from Boldwood Books ofMichelle Salter's "A Corpse in Christmas Close" is a cozy mystery fan's delight from start to finish. An amateur femalesleuth caught up in a 'whodunnit' murder mystery, "A Corpse in Christmas Close" has everything a cozy mystery requiresand is especially recommended for both personal reading lists and community/public library Mystery/Suspensecollections.
Editorial Note: Michelle Salter (www.michellesalter.com) creates memorable characters and devise intriguing plots with afocus on mystery rather than violence. And, after a journey full of twists and turns, the final chapters reveal all -- so thateach individual book can be read as a standalone novel -- even the Iris Woodmore Mysteries, although the charactersdevelop as the series progresses. She currently resides in England.
Death on the Tiber: A Flavia Albia Novel
Lindsey Davis
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781250906717, $29.00, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Tiber-Flavia-Albia-Novel/dp/1250906717
Synopsis: First century Rome is plagued by all the evils the have beset major cities since time immemorial: crime,corruption, squalor, and worst of all, tourists. When a barge full of those entitled creatures arrives in Rome, they hit all thetouristy hot-spots (the Amphitheater, the Capitol, the dodgy bars with dubious entertainments) before departing for thenext destination - leaving behind one of their party, dead and floating in the Tiber.
While the authorities first try to pass her death off as a suicide, it's quickly proved that the victim strangled to death and herbody dumped. When Flavia Albia, a private informer, learns that the victim was in Rome searching for the man whoabandoned her, Florius, Albia's vicious nemesis, Albia is determined to find out the truth behind the murder and finallyhave her revenge.
Florius is the husband of the leader of the Balbinus, one of Rome's most vicious criminal gangs, giving him even morereason to have murdered his former mistress. Currently engaged in a brutal turf war, with bodies dropping everywhere,Florius is fighting for his very survival and has little interest in one dead body. Now Albia must risk everything, includingthe life she has carefully built, if she is finally to bring Florius to justice. If justice is even possible.
Critique: Author and novelist Lindsey Davis is an extraordinarily talented storyteller whose latest mystery set in ancientRome continues to raise her mystery novels to a very impressive level of literary excellence. A fun and fascinating readfrom start to finish, her newest novel, "Death on the Tiber", will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular pick forcommunity/public library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the growinglegions of Lindsey Davis fans that "Death on the Tiber" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99)and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874838997, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Lindsey Davis (https://lindseydavis.co.uk) was born and raised in Birmingham, England. After taking anEnglish degree at Oxford and working for the civil service for thirteen years, she "ran away to be a writer." Herinternationally bestselling novels featuring ancient Roman detective Marcus Didius Falco include Venus in Copper, TheIron Hand of Mars, Nemesis and Alexandria. She is also the author of Rebels and Traitors, set during the English CivilWar. Davis is the recipient of the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, the highest accolade forcrime writers, as well as the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award and the Authors' Club Best First Novel award.
To Err is Cumin
Leslie Budewitz
Seventh Street Books
https://www.seventhstreetbooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781645060857, $18.95, PB, 236pp
https://www.amazon.com/Err-Cumin-Spice-Shop-Mystery/dp/1645060853
Synopsis: Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market, wants nothing more than to live a quietlife for a change, running her shop and working with customers eager to spice up their cooking. But when she finds anenvelope stuffed with cash in a ratty old wingback left on the curb, she sets out to track down the owner.
Pepper soon concludes that the chair and its stash may belong to young Talia Cook, new in town and nowhere to be seen.Boz Bosworth, an unemployed chef Pepper's tangled with in the past, shows up looking for the young woman, but Pepperrefuses to help him search. When Boz is found floating in the Ship Canal, only a few blocks from Talia's apartment, freefurniture no longer seems like such a bargain.
On the hunt for Talia, Pepper discovers a web of connections threatening to ensnare her best customer. The more sheprobes, the harder it gets to tell who's part of an unsavory scheme of corruption -- and who might be the next victim.
Between her quest for an elusive herb, helping her parents remodel their new house, and setting up the Spice Shop's firstcooking class, Pepper's got a full plate. Dogged by a sense of obligation to find the rightful owner of the hidden treasure,she keeps on showing up where she's not wanted, asking probing questions.
One mistake, and she could find herself cashing out!
Critique: A fun and original read from cover to cover for all cozy mystery fans, "To Err is Cumin" is author LeslieBudewitz newest 'whodunnit' novel and apart of her 'A Spice Shop Mystery' series from Seventh Street Books. Superblywritten, "To Err is Cumin" is a deftly crafted cozy culinary mystery featuring an avid amateur female sleuth confrontedwith a deadly murder mystery with cliff hanger plot twists that fully engage the reader down to the final page. Whileespecially and unreservedly recommended as a popular pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it shouldbe noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "To Err is Cumin" is also readily available in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874847333, $45.95,CD).
Editorial Note: Leslie Budewitz (www.lesliebudewitz.com) blends her passion for food, great mysteries, and the Northwestin two cozy mystery series, the Spice Shop Mysteries, set in Seattle's Pike Place Market, and the Food Lovers' VillageMysteries, set in NW Montana. She also writes moody suspense under the pen name Alicia Beckman. Leslie is the winnerof three Agatha Awards -- 2013 Best First Novel for "Death Al Dente" DENTE, the first Food Lovers' Village mystery;2011 Best Nonfiction, and 2018 Best Short Story, for "All God's Sparrows," her first historical fiction. A past president ofSisters in Crime and a former board member of Mystery Writers of America, she lives and cooks in NW Montana.
The Grim Sleeper
Gretchen Rue
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108657, $30.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-grim-steeper-gretchen-rue/1144540807
Synopsis: Amateur witch Phoebe Winchester is excited to host her first big author event at the Earl's Study, her book andtea store. The author, Sebastian Marlow, is a famous birder excited to put Raven Creek on the map for his rediscovery of apresumed-extinct bird. When Sebastian is found dead before his planned bird hike, where he expected to prove theexistence of the bird to fellow birding enthusiasts, it's obvious someone wanted him to be extinct, too.
Sebastian had a few unfriendly encounters with his staff -- including his recently fired manager, who was seen arguingwith him at the author event. Phoebe is determined to figure out who killed Sebastian, worried that it will negatively affecther store's image that her biggest guest author got killed. With the clock ticking, she enlists the help of Rich Lofting, thehandsome local private investigator, to help her look into the murder.
It's not long before another victim is pecked off and someone close to Phoebe is the suspect. She'll have to work quickly touncover the killer and figure out who's up to fowl play in the third charming book in this warm and witchy series.
Critique: Adding a little Wiccan witchcraft to the mix, "The Grim Sleeper" by novelist Gretchen Rue is an original anddeftly crafted cozy mystery that includes an amateur female sleuth, a first class 'whodunnit' murder mystery, and more plottwists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. A fun and memorable read from cover to cover, "The Grim Sleeper" is a solidpick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For personal reading lists of cozy mystery (and Wiccan) fans itshould be noted that "The Grim Sleeper" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete andunabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9798228000988, $45.99) flawless narrated by Kristin Price.
Editorial Note: Gretchen Rue (www.sierradean.com/gretchenrue) is a secondary pen-name from author Sierra Dean. She isa talented cozy mystery author, whose works include The Witches' Brew and Lucky Pie series from Crooked LaneBooks.
A Killer Clue
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639106431, $30.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Clue-Hunter-Clewe-Mystery/dp/163910643X
Synopsis: When Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, arrives at the grand Aircroft estate to ask retiredlibrarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe for help, Jane and Cam expect a bookish inquiry. But thebookseller has a different sort of assistance in mind -- clearing her mother's name of a murder Eloise is convinced shedidn't commit.
Eloise's mother has just died after spending many years in prison for allegedly killing Eloise's father. Armed with newinformation found in her mother's effects, the bookseller is determined to uncover the true killer so her mother can rest inpeace, even though the case is now colder than ice. When Jane tracks down the original detective from the investigationand discovers him stabbed to death in Eloise's bookshop, Jane and Cam are sure this murder is connected to the cold case.They think it's the same killer, but the police unfortunately have their own prime suspect, and this time around it'sEloise.
Cam and Jane's cold-case sleuthing turns urgent -- find who committed the murders or watch another innocent woman rotin jail as a cold-blooded killer walks free.
Critique: Victoria Gilbert is one of the best mystery writers working today. Her mastery of the cozy mystery genrecontinues evident with the publication of "A Killer Clue" which has all the elements a cozy mystery fan would need -- aplucky albeit amateur female sleuth and a 'whodunnit' murder mystery for her to solve. An original and fun read from startto finish, "A Killer Clue" is an ideal pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for thepersonal reading lists of the growing legions of Victoria Gilbert fans that "A Killer Clue" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $18.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798228001213,$45.95, CD) narrated by Carrington MacDuffie.
Editorial Note: Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert(https://victoriagilbertmysteries.com) turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian.Now retired after over 30 years in the library field, she's worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and universitylibrary director. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library mystery series, the Booklover's B&B mystery series, and the Hunterand Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime,and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina.
A Slay Ride Together With You
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639108794, $29.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Slay-Together-Year-Round-Christmas-Mystery/dp/1639108793
Synopsis: Rudolph, New York, shop owner Merry Wilkinson's best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef MarkGrosse and is moving into the historic Cole House -- a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that isin desperate need of renovation.
The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the lateowner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House --and Mark is the one standing over the corpse.
As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry's help to clear her fiance'sname in time for the wedding. As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and townresidents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead.
With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fiance to clear of a murderaccusation, Vicky's wedding may end up on the chopping block. It's up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies andstuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding - and her life.
Critique: "A Slay Ride Together With You" by talented novelist Vicki Delany has everything the dedicated cozy mysterylover requires -- an original 'whodunnit' murder mystery to be solved by an amateur female detective and friends. A funread from start to finish, this hardcover edition of "A Slay Ride Together With You" from Crooked Lane Books is anespecially commended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and is readily available for personalreading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio,9798874849665. $45.95, MP3-CD; 9798874849658,$45.99, Audio CD) narrated by Dina Pearlman.
Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (http://vickidelany.com) is the Canadian author of more than thirty novels/novellas in severalof mystery's subgenres. Born in Manitoba and raised in Ontario, she is the former president of the Crime Writers ofCanada, a member of Capital Crime Writers, and a member of Sisters in Crime.
Cabaret Macabre
Tom Mead
The Mysterious Press
www.mysteriouspress.com
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613165300, $26.95, HC, 291pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cabaret-Macabre-Tom-Mead/dp/1613165307
Synopsis: Victor Silvius has spent nine years as an inmate at The Grange, a private sanatorium, for the crime of attackingjudge Sir Giles Drury. Now, the judge's wife, Lady Elspeth Drury, believes that Silvius is the one responsible for a series ofthreatening letters her husband has recently received. Eager to avoid the scandal that involving the local police wouldentail, Lady Elspeth seeks out retired stage magician Joseph Spector, whose discreet involvement in a case Sir Gilesrecently presided over greatly impressed her.
Meanwhile, Miss Caroline Silvius is disturbed after a recent visit to her brother Victor, convinced that he isn't safe at TheGrange. Someone is trying to kill him and she suspects the judge, who has already made Silvius' life a living hell, may bebehind it. Caroline hires Inspector George Flint of Scotland Yard to investigate.
The two cases collide at Marchbanks, the Drury family seat of over four hundred years, where a series of unnerving eventsinterrupt the peace and quiet of the snowy countryside. A body is discovered in the middle of a frozen pond without anymeans of getting there and a rifle is fired through a closed window, killing a man but not breaking the glass. Only Spectorand his mastery of the art of misdirection can uncover the logical explanations for these impossible crimes.
Critique: Richly atmospheric and traditional, "Cabaret Macabre" by Tom Mead is a combination 'whodunnit' & 'how'd theydo it' mystery that will be considered on the same literary level as any of Arthur Conan Doyle's novels. "Cabaret Macabre"is the third book in Tom Mead's Joseph Spector series (whose books can be enjoyed in any order) and will have immenseappeal to readers with an interest in stories murder mystery stories featuring amateur sleuths and traditional detective work.It should be noted for the personal reading lists of historical mystery fans that "Cabaret Macabre" is also readily availablein a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (HighBridge Audio,9798874830281, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Tom Mead (https://tommeadauthor.com) is a Derbyshire mystery writer and aficionado of Golden Agecrime fiction. His debut novel, Death and the Conjuror, was an international bestseller, nominated for several awards, andnamed one of the best mysteries of the year by The Guardian and Publishers Weekly. Its sequel, The Murder Wheel, wasdescribed as "pure nostalgic pleasure" by the Wall Street Journal and "a delight" by the Daily Mail. It was also named oneof the Best Traditional Mysteries of 2023 by CrimeReads.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
W. R. Gorman
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639109142, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/We-Kept-Her-Cellar-Novel/dp/1639109145
Synopsis: Eunice lives her life by three simple rules: One, always refer to Cinderella as family. Two, never let Cinderellagain access to rats or mice. Three, never look upon Cinderella between the hours of twelve and three a.m.
Cinderella has dark and terrifying powers. As her stepsister, Eunice is expected to care for her and keep the family's secret.For years, Eunice has faithfully done so. Her childhood flew by in a blur of nightmares, tears, and near-misses with themonster living in the cellar. But when she befriends the handsome Prince Credence and secures an invitation to the ball,Eunice is determined to break free.
When her younger sister, Hortense, steps up to care for Cinderella, Eunice grabs her chance to dance the night away -- untilCinderella escapes. With her eldritch powers, Cinderella attends the ball and sweeps Prince Credence off his feet, leavingbehind a trail of carnage and destruction as well as a single green glass slipper.
With Cinderella unleashed, Eunice must determine how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice in order to stopCinderella. Unsettling and macabre at every turn, this page-turning horror will bewitch horror fans and leave its readersanxiously checking the locks on their cellar doors.
Critique: A complete rewriting of the classic Cinderella story where one of her stepsisters is the hero and Cinderella is themagically bad villain, "We Kept Her In The Cellar" by novelist W. R. Gorman is an impressively original, compulsivelyfascinating, page turner of a read from beginning to end. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $17.99) and as a complete, unabridged audio book (9798874881139, $45.95, CD) narrated by the author,"We Kept Her In The Cellar" will prove a popular pick for community library dark fantasy suspense/thriller fictioncollections.
Editorial Note: W.R. Gorman (https://wrgormanwrites.com) attended Macalester College and Hamline University, whereshe studied linguistics and Hispanic studies, and teaching Spanish, respectively. Her hobbies include cooking, snugglingcats, and reading absolutely everything she can get her hands on. She now resides in Saint Paul with her partner, child, andthree extremely mischievous cats.
Hell Divers XII: Heroes
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9798212386739, $26.99, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Divers-XII-Heroes/dp/B0CST7T982
Synopsis: The Forerunner has decimated the Vanguard Islands in a surprise attack from the Trident warship. King KadeLong (seeing no alternative) accepts a peace deal, committing to a perilous mission with X, the "Immortal", to activateweather-modification reactors at the poles. But as Kade and X set off, the fragile peace is threatened by Gran Jefe'sone-man guerrilla war against the psychopathic knight, General Jack. Meanwhile, halfway across the world, Michael andhis family begin to settle into their new life in the Canary Islands, only to discover that it's not the sanctuary they believedit was.
Diving into the most inhospitable territory yet, the Hell Divers face horrific monsters bred for a single purpose: to keepthem out at any cost. Their only hope of defeating the monsters and restoring the planet is for enemies to unite behind theImmortal and finally work together. But with blood being shed back home, these heroes may have nothing left to save.
In "Hell Divers XII: Heroes", beloved characters will confront their fates in a desperate bid to resurrect the world, thoughnot all will live to see the dawn of a new era.
Critique: An absolute 'must read' for the legions of Nicholas Sansbury Smith fans, "Hell Divers XII: Heroes" will also havea distinctive appeal for readers with an interest in deftly crafted action/adventure techno thrillers, dystopian novels, andpost-apocalyptic science fiction. While especially recommended for community/public library collections, it should benoted for personal reading lists that "Hell Divers XII: Heroes" is also available in a paperback edition (9798212386715,$16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Nicholas Sansbury Smith (https://nicholassansburysmith.com) is the author of the Hell Divers series, theOrbs series, the Trackers series, the Extinction Cycle series, the Sons of War series, and the new E-Day series. He workedfor Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster mitigation before switching careers to focus onstorytelling.
When Among Crows
Veronica Roth
Tor Books
c/o Tor/Forge Books
www.tor-forge.com
9781250855480, $19.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/When-Among-Crows-Veronica-Roth/dp/1250855489
Synopsis: Pain is Dymitr's calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters.Now he's tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the veryones he's sworn to kill.
Pain is Ala's inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. WhenDymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.
Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr's secrets (and his true motives)may be the thing that actually destroys them!
Critique: Impressively original, exceptionally well written, compelling, and a fun read from cover to cover, "When AmongCrows" by author Veronica Roth will prove a welcome and enduringly popular pick for community/public library FantasyFiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated action/adventure fantasy fans that"When Among Crows" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Veronica Roth (https://veronicarothbooks.com) is the author of the Divergent series (Divergent, Insurgent,Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection), the Carve the Mark duology (Carve the Mark, The Fates Divide), The Endand Other Beginnings collection of short fiction, Chosen Ones, and many short stories and essays.
The Vampire of Kings Street: A Mystery
Asha Greyling
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Tantor Media
https://tantor.com
9781639108671, $29.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Kings-Street-Mystery/dp/163910867X
Synopsis: Having a resident vampire is just the thing for upper-class New Yorkers - besides being a status symbol, theymake excellent butlers or housekeepers. The only thing they require in return is a drop or two of blood and a casket to shutout the dawn's early light.
Tolerated by society only if they follow a strict set of rules, vampires are seen as "less than" - and as the daughter ofimmigrants, Radhika knows firsthand how this feels. Accused of murder, her undead client Mr. Evelyn More, knows thatthe cards are stacked against him.
With the help of a journalist friend and a diminutive detective inspector, Miss Dhingra sets out to prove her client'sinnocence and win his freedom. Failure will mean Mr. More's death, the end of her dreams of becoming a successfulattorney, and the loss of the vampire Miss Dhingra has begun to call her friend.
Critique: Offering a deftly crafted, original, and alternative paranormal mystery that includes a series delightful characters,and insightful social commentary, "The Vampire of Kings Street" is all the more impressive when considering that it isauthor Asha Greyling's debut as a novelist. A fun read from start to finish, it should be noted that "The Vampire of KingsStreet" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community/public library Fantasy Fiction collectionsand is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) and audio book edition (Tantor Audio, 9798874884017,$39.99, CD) ably narrated by Soneela Nankari.
Editorial Note: Asha Greyling (https://ashagreyling.com) lives in Maryland with her furry four-footed muses, Gwin theterrier and a guinea pig who thinks she's a cat. She likes nothing more than swinging in the playground (unless the localchildren scare her off), collecting acorns, or sitting down with a good book.
Rainier's Legacy
Chad Corrie
Dark Horse Books
https://www.darkhorse.com
9781506741048, $19.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rainiers-Legacy-Chad-Corrie/dp/1506741045
Synopsis: The connected short stories comprising Chad Corrie's anthology, "Rainier's Legacy" features Corwyn Danther,"Famed Bard of the Midlands," as he faces off with halfling highwaymen, long-forgotten horrors, mystical encounters,conniving con men, and an old flame with some questionable machinations, along with a few other surprises.
Welcome to Tralodren, a world rich in history, faith, and tales of adventure -- of which these stories are but a handful ofmany. With a mixture of humor, adventure, insight, and wonder get ready to explore Tralodren in a whole new light. Noepic struggles. No grand, glorious schemes. Just a pragmatically pacifistic bard and some of his varied adventures.
The seven stories comprising "Rainier's Legacy" from Dark Horse Books include:
"Rainier's Legacy" -- Corwyn takes part in an expedition to the Northlands looking for the answer of eternal life but soonfinds himself in a wild adventure where his own life hangs in the balance.
"Maiden Rock" -- While visiting a shrine infrequently sought after by the faithful, Corwyn draws closer to the divine,birthing an encounter that will stay with him the rest of his life.
"Where Dreams Go to Die" -- During a strong downpour, Corwyn finds a cemetery next to an inn in which he takesshelter. He soon discovers, however, that this is no ordinary inn, and both it and the cemetery are more connected than hecould ever imagine.
"Charity for Halflings" -- A fruitless search leads Corwyn and an old dwarven friend traveling alone on a road at night,wherein they meet up with some halfling highwaymen who receive more than they were expecting from the duo.
"Sellswords and Snake Oil" -- When two demon hunters arrive in a small village, Corwyn and his dwarven friend getwrapped up in a strange series of events that become more confusing and life-threatening the further they progress.
"The Forgotten" -- While running for his life in the Grasslands of Gondad, Corwyn comes upon a neglected memorial froma once mighty empire. Curious and eager to escape his pursuers, he begins an investigation, leading to a supernaturalencounter.
"The More Things Change" -- While on vacation for the summer, a request for aid from an old flame soon sends Corwyninto a mess of halfling thieves, ancient tombs, treasure, and some other rather messy issues he finds hard-pressed to get outof so easily.
Critique: Starring one bard in seven action/adventure episodes, "Rainier's Legacy" a a fun, original, and memorable readfrom first page to last. A compendium of Heroic Fantasy tales, "Rainier's Legacy" will prove to be an immediate andenduringly popular pick for personal reading lists and community/public library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should benoted that this paperback edition of "Rainier's Legacy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) aswell.
Editorial Note: Chad Corrie (https://chadcorrie.com) has enjoyed creating things for as far back as he can remember, but itwasn't until he was twelve that he began to write. Since then he's written comics, graphic novels, prose fiction of varyinglengths, and an assortment of other odds and ends. His work has been published in other languages and produced in print,digital, and audio formats. He also makes podcasts.
What We Sacrifice for Magic
Andrea Jo DeWerd
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781639108756, $18.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/What-We-Sacrifice-Magic-Novel/dp/1639108750
Synopsis: It's 1968, and the Watry-Ridder family is feared and respected in equal measure. The local farmers seek out theirwater charms, and the teenagers, their love spells. The family's charms and spells, passed down through generations ofwitches descending from the Black Forest, have long served the small town of Friedrich, Minnesota.
Eldest daughter Elisabeth has just graduated high school -- she is expected to hone her supernatural abilities to take overfor her grandmother, the indomitable Magda. She's also expected to marry her high school sweetheart and live the rest ofher life in Friedrich. But all she can ask is, why her? Why is her path set in stone, and what else might be out there forher?
She soon discovers that magic isn't the only thing inherited in her family. That magic also comes with a great price -- and abig family secret. The more she digs, the more questions she has, and the less she trusts the grandmother she thought sheknew. Who is Elisabeth without her family? She must ultimately decide what she's willing to sacrifice for her family, fortheir secrets and their magic, or risk it all to pave her own way.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "What We Sacrifice for Magic" is author Andrea Jo DeWerd'sdebut as a novelist. Navigating the bittersweet tension between self-discovery and living up to familial expectations, "WhatWe Sacrifice for Magic" is a compelling and fantasy infused story of coming into one's own. Of special appeal to readerswith an interest in historical fantasy intermixed with romance and the occult, "What We Sacrifice for Magic" is a welcomeand recommended pick for community/public library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "WhatWe Sacrifice for Magic" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete andunabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874881405, $45.95, CD) deftly narrated by the storytelling talents of SaraVan Beckum.
Editorial Note: Andrea Jo DeWerd (www.ajdewerd.com) is a writer, a speaker, and the founder of the future of agencyLLC, a book marketing and publishing consulting agency. Andrea received her MS in publishing from New YorkUniversity and BA in English from George Washington University. What We Sacrifice for Magic is her first novel.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
https://www.amazon.com/Rhymer-Hoode-2-Gregory-Frost/dp/1982193492
Gregory Frost's Rhymer: Hoode (9781982193492, $28.00) adds to the Rhymer trilogy with a tale that takes place a centuryafter Thomas Rimor battled Yvag knights. During that time his family has aged and died... without him, as he seems to beimmortal. And so he becomes a hermit in a forest, mired in grief and the past, until a dying outlaw on his doorstep forceshim back into the world. As he vies against two sheriffs and a team of raiders, he sides with fellow rebels and outlaws, allof whom offer unexpected connection and friendship that provokes him to assume the alias of Robyn Hoode. This fantasyextrapolation of a legend is satisfyingly different and will attract new audiences to Frost's trilogy, adding a dimension ofaction and inspection that are standouts.
https://www.amazon.com/Icarus-Changeling-Saga/dp/1982193484
Timothy Zahn's The Icarus Changeling (9781982193485, $28.00) adds to the Icarus Saga with a new assignment forformer bounty hunter and agent Gregory Roarke: locate a teleportation portal on a remote colony world. Others aresearching for the rumored device, and so Gregory faces obstacles that rise to include murder in the course of his quest. Hisdiscoveries will change the nature of his search and its possible impact on more than his future alone as a strange teen boyemerges to provide frightening possibilities and connections between his opponents, the murders, and the future.
Both of these new titles from Baen Books are outstanding recommendations for sci-fi libraries seeking seriesadditions.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
https://www.amazon.com/Thermopylae-Protocol-Gordian-Division/dp/1982193433
David Weber and Jacob Holo's The Thermopylae Protocol (9781982193430, $28.00) adds to the Gordian Division serieswith a high-tech story of a space ship's explosion en route to Mercury, which involves Gordian Division top agent Raibertin an impossible journey through accelerated time possibilities. Raibert is certain that a hitherto-undiscovered weaponthreatens the multiverse, but murder throws his support systems into chaos and leads him into the center oftransdimensional crime-solving as the threats grow. A fine hard sci-fi story emerges which proves hard to put down, wellsteeped in technological, military, and crime-busting flavors which create a multifaceted, thoroughly unpredictableread.
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-United-States-Space-Force/dp/198219345X
C. Stuart Hardwick edits Tales of the United States Space Force (9781982193454, $18.00), a collection of over twentystories by Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke, Harry Turtledove, and other seasoned sci-fi pro writers. Wars of the future arefought and considered in a series of high-contrast, vividly disparate scenarios, characters, and considerations, with essaysadding to the mix to provide military sci-fi readers with intriguing theories and action-packed encounters.
Fun reads from start to finish, "The Thermopylae Protocol" and "Tales of the United States Space Force" are unreservedlyrecommended for personal reading lists and community/public library Science Fiction collections.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Washington Irving, author
Brian James Gage, illustrator
K13 Classics
https://www.k13press.com
9798333121417, $27.77, HC, 87pp
https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Sleepy-Hollow-Cinema-Graphic/dp/B0D9GTXVYJ
Synopsis: Step into the eerie world of Sleepy Hollow, with artist/illustrator Brian James Gage's graphic novel adaptation ofWashington Irving's classic 1820 tale of the supernatural brings new life to the haunting legend of Ichabod Crane, theformidable Brom Bones, and the infamous Headless Horseman.
An engaging blend of Irving's original text with stunning, contemporary illustrations, K13 honors the spirit of the classicstory while expanding the narrative into a fresh graphic novel format sure to provide an immersive experience for both newreaders and long-time fans.
Readers will fully enjoy following Ichabod Crane, the superstitious schoolteacher, as he becomes ensnared in a rivalry withBrom Bones, the brawny local hero, over the affections of the charming and wealthy Katrina Van Tassel. As tensionsescalate, the ghostly figure of the Headless Horseman casts a terrifying shadow over Sleepy Hollow, setting in motion athrilling and mysterious climax.
Critique: A meticulously and deftly crafted graphic novel that breathes new life into one of America's literary ghost stories,this edition of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" weaves together suspense, romance, and the supernatural in a way that onlyK13 Classics can deliver. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library GraphicNovel collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is alsoavailable for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9798333120229, $22.22) and in a digital book format (Kindle,$7.77) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Brian James Gage (https://www.briangage.com) is currently enrolled at The French Conservatory ofMusic in West Los Angeles where he studies classical piano performance.
Editorial Note #2: Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 - November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist,biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He wrote the short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "TheLegend of Sleepy Hollow" (1820), both of which appear in his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Hishistorical works include biographies of Oliver Goldsmith, Muhammad, and George Washington, as well as severalhistories of 15th-century Spain that deal with subjects such as the Alhambra, Christopher Columbus, and the Moors.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving)
The Library CD Shelf
The Po' Ramblin' Boys
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
https://folkways.si.edu
Audio CD, $16.98; MP3 $9.49; Vinyl $19.99
https://www.amazon.com/Wanderers-Like-Me-Ramblin-Boys/dp/B0D49YD8H3
Synopsis: At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity andstraightforward honesty are paramount. There's something about the music of The Po' Ramblin' Boys that cuts rightthrough the noise of the world and speaks plainly to the soul.
Formed ten years ago in the Smoky Mountains in 2014, The Po' Ramblin' Boys are at once exactly what you would expectand not at all what you would expect from a tattooed East Tennessee Bluegrass outfit. But they take pride in beingambassadors of their genre, and the group has brought their music from rural bluegrass festival stages to the rock clubs ofEurope, with stunning results.
Critique: "Wanderers Like Me" is the latest Po' Ramblin Boys album and is comprised of Lonely Pine; Clouds in MyMind; Streets of Chicago; Trying to Live the Dream; The Old Santa Fe; In Remembrance of Me; The Condition of SamuelWilder's Will; I'm Still a Fool for You; Smoky Mountain Home; and the title piece, Wanderers Like Me. Flawlessproduced and recorded, "Wanderers Like Me" is an especially recommended pick for personal, community, andcollege/university library Contemporary Country Music collections.
Editorial Note: Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of theSmithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington,D.C. The label was founded in 1987 after the family of Moses Asch, founder of Folkways Records, donated the entireFolkways Records label to the Smithsonian.
The Global Suites
Ize Trio
izetrio.com
Privately Published
$20.00 CD / $20.00 digital
https://chasemorrin.bandcamp.com/album/ize-trio-the-global-suites
The Ize Trio consists of three talented musicians - Chase Morrin on piano, George Lernis on percussion, and NaseemAlatrash on cello - who have a talent for combining jazz with Middle Eastern musical traditions. Together with legendarybass virtuoso John Patitucci, as well as vocalists Farayi Malek and Heiraza for the two-part "Resurrecting the Amber Sky"suite, the Ize Trio has crafted their stunning debut album The Global Suites. A beautiful, multicultural melding that alsoaddresses modern-day social issues, The Global Suites is a choice pick for connoisseurs of international music and highlyrecommended for personal and public library collections. The tracks are The Machine, Echoes on the Wall, Let us Out,Resurrecting the Amber Sky I. Present, Resurrecting the Amber Sky II. Past and Future, All Loved I. Home, All Loved II.The Journey, Elemeno I. Be a Kid!, Elemeno II. Code Switching, and Elemeno III. Discovery.
Spinning on a Cosmic Dime
Jeff Johnson and Phil Keaggy
Ark Records, Inc.
ArkMusic.com
$20.00 CD
https://www.amazon.com/Spinning-Cosmic-Dime-Johnson-Keaggy/dp/B0D9WT93NN
Pianist and synth player Jeff Johnson and acoustic/electric guitar player Phil Keaggy present Spinning on a Cosmic Dime,an instrumental new age album of original music that stokes the imagination. Spinning on a Cosmic Dime is a soulfulreflection upon the ephemeral and precious quality of life itself, and highly recommended especially for connoisseurs ofcontemporary new age music and public library collections. The tracks are Spinning on a Cosmic Dime, A World in aKeyhole, Floating in this Confluence, A Poor Soul's Kingdom, Through a Silver Veil, The Table of the Grail, A Co-inherence, and Asking For Wonder.
Poetry Project
D.D. Jackson
ddjackson.com
Privately Published
$25.00 CD / $15.00 digital
https://ddjackson.bandcamp.com/album/digital-album-96-khz-24-bit-download-with-32-page-full-color-digital-booklet
Multiple Emmy-winning jazz pianist/composer/producer D.D. Jackson presents Poetry Project, an original album ofcontemporary vocal jazz transforming Canadian poetry into an unforgettable performance. The lyrics are drawn fromcurated works of talented poets, while all music is written, arranged, and produced by D.D. Jackson. Five Juno-winningperformers including D.D. Jackson as well as vocalists Laila Biali and Sammy Jackson bring this melliflous, visionary, andtranscendent album to life. Poetry Project is an extraordinary treasure for poetry and jazz connoisseurs alike, and alsomakes an excellent gift. The tracks are Mavety Street; A Pavane for Georgie; So, Say I; Daylight Shooting in Little Italy;Because You Squeezed Back; The Father's Dream; 2641 Fuller Terrace; Self-Composed; On Silence; Alternating Current;I Call; Coda: The Blues; and Daedalus' Lament.
Everything You Could Be
Christopher Parnis
christopherparnis.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $5.00 CAD digital
https://christopherparnis.bandcamp.com/album/everything-you-could-be
Everything You Could Be is an instrumental jazz album performed by Christopher Parnis on double bass and hisbandmates - Christian Antonacci on trumpet and flugelhorn, Matt Greenwood on electric guitar, Brian Dickinson on piano,and Aaron Blewett on drum set. Most tracks are written and arranged by Christopher Parnis, except for a couple by othercomposers. Everything You Could Be explores the depth and beauty of jazz improvisation among a quintet of highlyskilled music artists, and is a treasure for connoisseurs of modern-day original jazz. The tracks are Unsettling Blue(Unblinking), Opportunity, D.D.Q., Guitar Intro (Matt Greenwood), Measured Response (Mark Parnis), Everything YouCould Be, A False Start, and The Cradle.
Silent Boomer X
Zack Foley
zackfoley.com
Jazzheads
jazzheads.com
$TBA CD / $TBA digital
https://open.spotify.com/album/2rnIc97mDwAJdBsVBJTIVY
https://music.apple.com/us/album/silent-boomer-x/1762672639
Tenor vocalist Zack Foley, bassist Frank Wagner, and drummer C.J. Everett present Silent Boomer X, an album of belovedclassic jazz songs performed with nontraditional flair. The album's title reflects how the three musicians each belong todifferent generations - Everett is of the Silent Generation, Wagner is a Baby Boomer, and Foley is part of Generation X.Together they present fresh new takes on the songs they perform, even updating some lyrics to reflect the modern-day era.Silent Boomer X is a choice pick for vocal jazz enthusiasts, highly recommended. The tracks are Let's Have Another Cupof Coffee, Don't Blame Me, I Used to be Colorblind, Old Folks, Pick Yourself Up, Two for the Road, I'll See You in MyDream, Turn Out the Stars, and Everything I Love.
Letting Go of a Dream
Jake Noble
jakenoble.bandcamp.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $7.00 digital
https://jakenoble.bandcamp.com/album/letting-go-of-a-dream
Letting Go of a Dream is the debut album of bassist Jake Noble, who personally composed its seven contemporary jazzsongs about self-discovery and personal transformation. The free-flowing instrumental music is performed by Jake Nobleon bass, Autumn Dominguez on alto saxophone, Mike Clement on guitar for two tracks, Seth Collins on piano, and TannerGuss on drums. Letting Go of a Dream is highly recommended, especially for jazz connoisseurs in search of rich newsoundscapes to experience while working, relaxing, or engaging in creative pursuits. The tracks are What Could HaveBeen, The Push Factor, Acceptance of the Journey, Farewell to the Kid From Spring, One the Up and Up, Alice's Point ofView, and Theme for a New Age.
A Change of Pace
Greg Amirault
gregamirault.org
Privately Published
$TBA
A Change of Pace is the latest contemporary jazz album performed by the Greg Amirault trio (Greg Amirault on guitar,Adrian Vedady on bass, and Andre White on drums). Six of the tracks are original compositions by Greg Amirault; threetracks are beloved classics. A Change of Pace lives up to its title with a varied offering of jazz styles, including two piecesinspired by Nova Scotia folk music traditions. The result is an adventurous, imaginative soundscape ideal for stirringcreativity and imagination. Highly recommended, especially for jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are That's a Fact, I Wish IKnew (by Harry Warren), On a Swing, Ballade pour La Butte, If I Had You (James Campbell), A Change of Pace,Ancestral Routes, Besame Mucho (Consuelo Velasquez), and Open String Blues.
Breaking Stretch
Patricia Brennan Septet
patriciabrennanvibes.com
Pyroclastic Records
$18.00 CD / $12.00 digital
https://patriciabrennanpyroclastic.bandcamp.com/album/breaking-stretch
Vibraphonist, marimbist, and composer Patricia Brennan combines her talent with Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranosaxophones, Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, Adam O'Farrill on trumpet and electronics, Kim Cass on bass, MarcusGilmore on drums, and Mauricio Herrera on percussion to create Breaking Stretch, an extraordinary jazz album performedby a superbly coordinated septet. Breaking Stretch draws upon a wide variety of inspirations, from New Mexico folklore toAfro-Caribbean rhythms to funk, salsa, and brass band. Breaking Stretch is a multifaceted experience, highlyrecommended especially for jazz connoisseurs seeking something new and adventurous! The tracks are Los Otros Yo (TheOther Selves), Breaking Stretch, 555, Palo de Oros (Suit of Coins), Suenos de Coral Azul (Blue Coral Dreams), Five Suns,Mudanza (States of Change), Manufacturers Trust Company Building, and Earendel.
Tides
Philip Weberndoerfer
weberndoerfer.com
Shifting Paradigm Records
$13.98 CD / $8.91 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Tides-Philip-Weberndoerfer/dp/B0D7T7XHZP
Tides is an album of original music performed by Philip Weberndoerfer on guitar, Richard Mikel on bass, PeterTraunmueller on drums, and Dayna Stephens on saxophones. All songs are composed by Weberndoerfer except for LittleB's Poem (by Bobby Hutcherson) and My Ideal (by Richard A. Whiting, Newell Chase, and Leo Robin). Tides is intricate,thoughtful, smoothly performed, and an immersive delight for connoisseurs of virtuoso-quality guitar. Highlyrecommended. The tracks are Little B's Poem, Low Gravity, Peace of Constance, My Ideal, Salted Sweets, Suspense andCertainty, Simple Task, The Gypsy, and One Of These Days.
Emi's Song
Neil Adler
Neiladlerharmonica.com
EJA Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8K98CG3
Emi's Song is a collaborative album featuring Neil Adler on piano and chromatic harmonica, Jeff Buenz on six-string bass,Akira Tana on drums, and Carlitos Medrano on congas. There are three original compositions (Emi's Song, Blue's forMcCoy, and Nelson's Son), three jazz standards that deserve higher recognition, two piano features, two rhythmic piecesideal for dancing, and more. Overflowing with the excitement and energy of an unrehearsed live trio session, Emi's Song isa delight for jazz connoisseurs and highly recommended. The tracks are Emi's Song, Besame Mucho, Yearnin', Tell Me aBedtime Story, Blues for McCoy, Bill Evans Medley, The Peaco*cks, Nelson's Son, Tenderly/That's All, Los Tres Golpes,Century Rag, and Donna Lee.
Moonshine
Marc Ciprut
www.marcciprut.com
White Label
$TBA CD / $7.12 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Moonshine-Marc-Ciprut/dp/B0D275HSF1
Guitarist, songwriter, and producer Marc Ciprut presents Moonshine, an album of original jazz-blues-rock fusion. Allsongs are written by Marc Ciprut, whose mastery of the guitar is supported by a medley of talented musicians on bass,drums, percussion, wurlitzer, organ, and clarinet. Bold and brimming with vivacious energy, Moonshine is a captivatingexperience and highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are Moonshine, No Compromise,Cutie, Who Got Next?, No Mas Blues, No More Room, Slippery Slope, and Funk You.
The Railroading Shelf
Edward H. Miller
Ohio University Press
www.ohioswallow.com
9780821425312, $24.95, PB, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hocking-Valley-Railway-Edward-Miller/dp/0821425315
Synopsis: The Hocking Valley Railway was once Ohio's longest intrastate rail line, filled with a seemingly endless stringof coal trains. Although coal was the main business, the railroad also carried iron and salt. Despite the fact that theHocking Valley was such a large railroad, with a huge economic and social impact, very little is known about it.
With the publication of "The Hocking Valley Railway", Edward H. Miller deftly traces the journey of a company thatbegan in 1867 as the Columbus & Hocking Valley, built to haul coal from Athens to Columbus. Extensions of the line andconsolidation of several branches ultimately created the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo. This was a 345-milerailway, extending from the Lake Erie port of Toledo through Columbus and on to the Ohio River port of Pomeroy.
The history of the Hocking Valley, like that of other railroads, is one of boom times and depression. By the 1920s, theHocking coalfields were largely depleted, and the mass of track south of Columbus became a backwater, while the ToledoDivision boomed. The corporate name has been gone for more than three-quarters of a century, but the Hocking Valleylives on as an integral part of railroad successor CSX.
"The Hocking Valley Railway", enhanced with the inclusion of 150 photographs and illustrations, also documents ahistoric transformation in midwestern transportation from slow canal boats to fast passenger trains. Historians and railroadenthusiasts will find much to savor in the story of this ever-changing company and the managers who ran it.
Critique: A detailed and comprehensive history that is now available from the Ohio University Press in a paperback editionand in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.70), Edward H. Miller's "The Hocking Valley Railway" is especially andunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Railroad &Railroading History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Edward H. Miller is retired from Hocking Valley Railway successor CSX. "The Hocking Valley Railway"is his first book, which has been more than thirty years in the making and original published in hardcover by OhioUniversity Press (2006).
The Business Shelf
Andrew C. M. Cooper
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394274833, $28.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Imperative-Leading-Conscience-Business/dp/1394274831
Synopsis: In an era marked by increasing profiteering and inequality, with the publication of "The Ethical Imperative:Leading with Conscience to Shape the Future of Business", Andrew C. M. Cooper offers a compelling alternative visionfor the business community -- one where companies champion the collective prosperity of employees, shareholders, andcommunities.
Cooper, a distinguished executive, leverages over twenty academic studies and fifty years of research to challenge thestatus quo. He exposes the critical threat of public disengagement from businesses and institutions, urging a departure fromoutdated, profit-only models that harm corporations, consumers, and communities alike.
"The Ethical Imperative" offers: Five actionable strategies you can employ immediately to transform your organization intoa beacon of trust and social responsibility; Techniques for navigating the age of social media and creating an authentic,honest, and sustainable brand; Actionable tools to help your organization move beyond exclusively short-termprofit-driven models of growth.
Packed from cover to cover with engaging stories, practical tools, and insights from a seasoned leader determined torevolutionize corporate culture, this book is an essential resource for business managers, executives, entrepreneurs, andanyone aspiring to infuse their commercial endeavors with ethical principles.
Readers are invited to join Andrew Cooper in shaping a future where business is synonymous with compassion, equity,and enduring prosperity. "The Ethical Imperative: is more than just another 'how to succeed in business' book -- it's theblueprint for a movement towards the next phase of corporate evolution.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The EthicalImperative: Leading with Conscience to Shape the Future of Business" is a ground-breaking and seminal study that isunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library BusinessEthics and Leadership/Motivation/Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should benoted for MBA students, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers withan interest in the subject that "The Ethical Imperative" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.00) aswell.
Editorial Note: Andrew C. M. Cooper (www.andrew-cooper.com) is a Fortune 500 executive, attorney, inventor, lecturer,writer, and board director. He is the Associate General Counsel for strategic transactions and mergers and acquisitions atMeta Platforms, Inc. He also serves on the boards of seven professional and charitable organizations.
Data Culture: Develop An Effective Data-Driven Organization
Dr. Shorful Islam
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398614222, $131.00, HC, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Data-Culture-Effective-Data-Driven-Organization/dp/139861422X
Synopsis: With the publication of "Data Culture: Develop An Effective Data-Driven Organization", data expert ShorfulIslam explores how data leaders can develop and nurture a data-driven culture tailored to their organization's needs. Itoutlines the types of data leadership and teams needed and the key building blocks for success, such as team recruitment,building and training, leadership, process, behavioural change management, developing, sustaining and measuring a dataculture, company values and everyday decision making.
"Data Culture" also explores the nuances of how different types of data cultures work with different types of companies,what to avoid and the differences between building a data culture from scratch and changing an existing data culture fromwithin.
"Data Culture" is a hands-on guide with which senior data leader Shorful Islam takes his readers through how tosuccessfully establish or change a data culture, sharing his expertise in behavioural change psychology and two decades ofexperience in fostering data culture in organizations. Supported throughout by real-world examples and cases, this will bean essential read for all data leaders and anyone involved in developing a data-driven organizational culture.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Data Culture: Develop An Effective Data-DrivenOrganization" is an ideal selection as a textbook in the subject of data collection and an unreservedly recommendedaddition to personal, professional, corporate, community, and college/university library Business Management, DataMining, Information Management, and Strategic Business Planning collections and supplemental MBA studies lists. Itshould be noted for MBA students, academicians, and corporate executives that "Data Culture: Develop An EffectiveData-Driven Organization" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398614208, $37.99) and in a digital book format(Kindle, $36.09).
Editorial Note: Shorful Islam (https://bedatasolutions.com/team/shorful) is the CEO of Be Data Solutions and the Founderof Subatomic Analytics and also serves as the Chief Data Scientist at Tribal Worldwide and as a Data and BehaviouralScience Advisor to OutThink. With a career spanning over 20 years of industry experience in data analytics, Islam hashelped some of the world's largest companies with their data strategies. He has headed up data analytics teams at a range ofinstitutions and organizations spanning the NHS, local government, ITV, Adam&eveDDB and Wunderman. With hisstrength in starting, growing and nurturing teams, Islam is experienced in building data cultures within organizations,allowing data analysts and data scientists to thrive. He has a PhD in Psychology.
Category Management in Purchasing
Jonathan O'Brien
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613812, $229.00, HC, 576pp
https://www.amazon.com/Category-Management-Purchasing-Strategic-Profitability/dp/1398613819
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded fifth edition from Kogan Page, "Category Management in Purchasing: AStrategic Approach to Maximize Business Profitability" by Jonathan OI'Brien equips those working in procurement withthe tools they need to ensure effective procurement in an ever changing landscape. Combining practical advice and theory,this essential resource is crucial for developing successful purchasing strategies. Covering new technology-drivenapproaches to category management, this new edition outlines digital transformations and technological advancements,from digital sourcing platforms to new tools and systems.
This new fifth edition also provides readers with the knowledge to approach complex sourcing situations not onlyeffectively, but also sustainably. Including new guidance on how organizations and businesses can implementsustainability into their procurement strategies, Jonathan O'Brien recontextualizes category management in a time whenresponsible sourcing is more important than ever. This highly regarded and essential text provides what everyone inprocurement needs when striving to make category management a reality.
Critique: A highly respected and comprehensive textbook and instructional guide on the subject of effective purchasingpractices by business managers and entrepreneurs to insure financial profitability with respect to revenues and resources,this fifth edition of Jonathan O'Brien's "Category Management in Purchasing: A Strategic Approach to Maximize BusinessProfitability" is an essential, core addition to personal, professional, corporate, and college/university library BusinessManagement/Finances collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students,academia, corporate executives and entrepreneurs that this fifth edition of "Category Management in Purchasing: AStrategic Approach to Maximize Business Profitability" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781398613799,$58.45) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $55.51).
Editorial Note: Jonathan O'Brien (http://jonathanobrien.co.uk) is the CEO of Positive Purchasing Ltd, based in Plymouth,UK. With over 30 years of experience, he has helped equip global organizations to increase their purchasing capabilitythrough digital platforms, training, education and working directly with practitioners and executive teams. He is also theauthor of Supplier Relationship Management, Negotiation for Procurement and Supply Chain Professionals, The Buyer'sToolkit, and Sustainable Procurement -- all published by Kogan Page.
Business Continuity Management
James Crask
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398614895, $204.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Business-Continuity-Management-Organization-Resilience/dp/1398614890
Synopsis: It is critical that every business has a strong continuity plan in the face of heightened global risk and large-scaledisruption. This newly updated and expanded second edition of "Business Continuity Management: A Practical Guide toOrganization Resilience and ISO 22301" by James Crask offers a straightforward and practical guide to building effectivecontingency plans and maintaining a resilient organization. Included tips, tools and templates, enable "Business ContinuityManagement" to be a crucial guide to approaching business-wide disruption. It also includes practical solutions built fromthe author's personal experience managing hundreds of projects in a variety of business settings.
This fully updated second edition of "Business Continuity Management" contains new case studies and guidance on thelatest organizational challenges, including geopolitical risks, climate change, supply chain disruptions and how businessescan make effective decisions in a world of endless data. With key performance indicators, templates and checklistscovering planning, response, reporting and assurance, "Business Continuity Management" is an essential resource forbusiness continuity and resilience professionals.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style, organization and presentation, this new second edition of James Crask's"Business Continuity Management: A Practical Guide to Organization Resilience and ISO 22301" from Kogan Page is awelcome and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library RiskManagement & Strategic Business Planning collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be notedfor MBA students, academia, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that"Business Continuity Management: A Practical Guide to Organization Resilience and ISO 22301, 2nd Edition" is alsoavailable in a paperback edition (9781398614871, $54.54) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $54.66).
Editorial Note: James Crask is Managing Director of Strategic Risk Consulting for Marsh. He has extensive experience ofdelivering Business Continuity Management, Crisis Management, Supply Chain and Operational Resilience projects acrossa wide range of industries. He previously worked for PwC where he was responsible for building the firm's enterpriseresilience advisory services. He has also held Head Risk Management roles for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority inthe UK and for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
James in an Honorary Member of the Business Continuity Institute (BCI). He is based in London.
Embedding Sustainability
Pia Heidenmark Cook & Lisen Wiren
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398616271, $176.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Embedding-Sustainability-Drive-Organizational-Transformation/dp/1398616273
Synopsis: For organizations to truly embody sustainability, it must infuse all operations at all levels. Sustainability changeagents need to be the conductors of the orchestra, making sure everyone has the same objective, is working with the samegoals and is moving at the same pace.
Co-authored by Pia Heidenmark Cook and Lisen Wiren, "Embedding Sustainability: How to Drive OrganizationalTransformation" from Kogan Page charts the journey from purpose, scope and assessment to strategy, implementation andintegration. It also outlines the steps required to engage and commit employees to deliver to the same goals, creating aworkplace where success is achieved through collective effort.
Drawing on impressive experience, the co-authors share valuable tools and tips, lessons and coaching, factoring indifferent organizational maturity levels, international contexts and cultural differences and stakeholder mapping.
"Embedding Sustainability" explores leadership principles, values, culture, strategies and engagement methods, while alsoproviding mid-senior sustainability professionals with guidance and encouragement to continue with their work and avoidcommon mistakes, plus prioritizing their own wellbeing. It will help sustainability change agents navigate the uniquechallenges of this role, find solutions to problems and maintain a positive outlook.
Critique: Comprehensive, 'real world practical', applicable to any corporate/business operations at any level, "EmbeddingSustainability: How to Drive Organizational Transformation" is an ideal textbook on the subject of creating/adapting abusiness to genuine and ethnical sustainabilities as part of the 'Green Revolution' in response to climate change and otherenvironmental detriments from a corporate/business origin. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community,corporate, and college/university library Business Ethics and 'Green Business' collections and supplemental MBAcurriculum studies lists, "Embedding Sustainability: How to Drive Organizational Transformation" is also available forstudents, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with aninterest in the subject in a paperback edition (9781398615809, $50.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $52.00).
Editorial Note #1: Pia Heidenmark Cook is a senior ESG and sustainability leader, executive and advisor with over 25years of global industry experience spanning multiple sectors, including professional services, healthcare, sports retail,sustainable materials and hospitality. She was IKEA's Chief Sustainability Officer between 2017-2020, which under hertenure become one of the top three sustainability brands ranked by Globescan and managed to decouple growth from C02emissions. She is based near H"gan s, Sweden.
Editorial Note #2: Lisen Wiren is a sustainable business leader with over 15 years of industry experience. Her extensivebackground includes tackling labour migration and human rights issues in South East Asia and advancing sustainability inproduct design and working with social entrepreneurship. Her leadership led IKEA to win the most sustainable retaileraward and a nomination for Wiren for the prestigious Sustainability Manager of the Year award in the Netherlands. Key toher approach is the seamless integration of sustainability into every function and team to reach the set organizational goals.She is based in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Shareworthy
Robin Landa & Greg Braun
Columbia Business School Publishing
c/o Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu
9780231208260, $35.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shareworthy-Advertising-Powerful-Connections-Storytelling/dp/023120826X
Synopsis: In today's highly competitive marketplace, a brand must tell meaningful stories that resonate with their targetaudiences across media channels. People want more than a utilitarian benefit -- they want stories that are ultimately whatwill drive them to engage with brands. And we want to align ourselves with brands that are ethical and purpose-driven andthat take responsibility for their actions and messaging.
Co-authored by Robin Landa and Greg Braun, and featuring an informative Foreword by David Lubars, "Shareworthy:Advertising That Creates Powerful Connections Through Storytelling" is indispensable book that reveals what makesbrand stories "shareworthy" and guides readers through creating relevant and resonant advertising.
Combining practitioner and academic perspectives, Landa and Braun offer a roadmap for conceiving and developingcreative advertising campaigns that are responsible and inclusive - and that audiences enthusiastically share. Theydemonstrate that shareworthy storytelling embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, purpose, and brand activism and eschewstropes, stereotypes, and negative messaging.
"Shareworthy" features candid interviews with expert practitioners spanning diverse global communities who share thehard-earned wisdom of their award-winning campaigns, as well as insightful case studies from major companies such asAmazon, Nike, the New York Times, and Dove. Timely and actionable, "Shareworthy" also shows current and aspiringmarketing professionals how to craft a story, connect with the audience, and embrace social responsibility throughout.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with twenty-two pages of Notes and an eleven page Index,"Shareworthy: Advertising That Creates Powerful Connections Through Storytelling" is a complete course of instructionunder one cover and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/universitylibrary Business Advertising/Marketing collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted forthe personal reading lists of MBA students, corporate advertising executives, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist generalreaders with an interest in the subject that "Shareworthy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.24).
Editorial Note #1: Robin Landa is a distinguished professor in the Michael Graves College, Kean University. She is aglobally recognized ideation and creativity expert, creative director, and design educator. Landa is the author of twenty-sixbooks and writes articles for periodicals such as Fast Company, Inc., and the Harvard Business Review. The CarnegieFoundation counts her among the "Great Teachers of Our Time."
Editorial Note #2: Greg Braun is the retired dep. global chief creative officer of Commonwealth/McCann and a lecturer atthe University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He was previously the executive vice president/national executive creativedirector of Innocean-USA and president of WPP's PULSE. Braun led campaigns for brands such as Chevrolet, Toyota,United Airlines, Starbucks, and Hyundai and has created work for the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and the FIFA WorldCup.
Influencer Marketing Strategy, 2nd Edition
Gordon Glenister
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398615250, $134.00, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Influencer-Marketing-Strategy-Influencers-Business/dp/1398615250
Synopsis: This new and updated second edition of "Influencer Marketing Strategy: How Influencers Can Help Grow YourBusiness" by Gordon Glenister covers a range of such essential topics as broad scale celebrity endorsem*nt tomicro-influencers with niche, highly targeted followings.
This second edition of "Influencer Marketing Strategy" from Kogan Page also features new content on platforms such asBe Real, Whatsapp and Wechat and how understanding cultural differences is key to finding the right influencer for yourbrand. It also includes new case studies from industries such as travel and tech, demonstrating the huge opportunities itpresents for organizations and industries of all sizes.
"Influencer Marketing Strategy" is the ultimate DIY guide for marketers, walking readers through the key considerations ofincorporating influencer marketing into a wider marketing strategy. This includes the legal and ethical impacts of workingwith influencers and how to measure the effectiveness of campaigns. "Influencer Marketing Strategy" provides everythingorganizations need to understand and implement a successful influencer marketing strategy.
Critique: With the rise of social media as a form of individual and mass communication, "Influencer Marketing Strategy:How Influencers Can Help Grow Your Business: 2nd Edition" continues to be essential reading for entrepreneurs andcorporate executives charged with development and implementation of marketing strategies, including advertising andpublicity campaigns that include 'influencers' in this new media. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization andpresentation, "Influencer Marketing Strategy: How Influencers Can Help Grow Your Business, 2nd Edition" is an essentialand core addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university Web Marketing/Publicity/Promotioncollections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that it is also available for personal readinglists in a paperback edition (9781398615236, $41.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $37.90).
Editorial Note: Gordon Glenister (https://gordonglenister.com) is based in Cambridge, UK, and Global Head of InfluencerMarketing for the Branded Content Marketing Association. He has over 25 years' experience in promotional marketing. Heis the host of 2 podcasts Influence, the global podcast that shines a spotlight on influencer marketing and Growing yourInfluence online. He runs his own consultancy and regularly speaks around the world on influencer marketing andmembership Gordon runs his own influencer course - helping individuals become influencers. Gordon Glenister waspreviously Director General of the British Promotional Merchandise Association for 11 years.
The Resilient Culture
Liane Spencer, et al.
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398618329, $92.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Resilient-Culture-Collective-Resilience-Business/dp/1398618322
Synopsis: Co-authored by the team of Liane Stephan, Silke Rupprecht, Chris Tamdjidi, and Michael MackayRichards,"The Resilient Culture: How Collective Resilience Leads to Business Success" is a truly groundbreaking guide tolasting success through practical and original frameworks for building resilience at work. It draws upon the authors'experiences of working with leading organizations such as HSBC, Ikea and a leading F1 team to demonstrate the impact ofresilient cultures.
Featuring insights on resilient habits, team dynamics and workplace wellbeing, "The Resilient Culture" draws upondecades of corporate and academic expertise to offer the insights you need to reach new heights of businessperformance.
Critique: It's no secret that to survive and thrive in today's highly volatile business world companies must be resilient withrespect to both anticipated and unforseen market forces.
The Resilient Culture: How Collective Resilience Leads to Business Success" from Kogan Page is the ideal DIY course ofinstructions on how to do just that. An important and highly relevant addition to personal, professional, community,corporate, and college/university Business Management collections and supplement MBA curriculum studies lists, itshould be noted for the essential reading lists for corporate executives, business managers, and entrepreneurs, and MBAstudents that "The Resilient Culture" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781398618305, $24.95) and in adigital book format (Kindle, $24.69).
Editorial Note #1: Chris Tamdjidi is co-Managing Director of Awaris, a leading mindfulness and resilience consultancy.He has led resilience projects for over 50 companies. He is based in Cologne, Germany.
Editorial Note #2: Liane Stephan is co-Managing Director of Awaris and a systemic coach, sports psychologist andcertified psychotherapist. She is based in Cologne, Germany.
Editorial Note #3: Dr. Silke Rupprecht is Director of Research at Awaris and teaches mindfulness at the University ofOxford Mindfulness Centre. She is based in Hamburg, Germany.
Editorial Note #4: Michael Mackay Richards is a global economic and political research analyst and certified meditationinstructor with the British School of Meditation. He works freelance for the research arm of The Economist Group, as wellas for Fitch. He is based in London, UK.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Rebecca Grabill & Stephen Grabill, authors
Clare Theresa Gray, illustrator
Paraclete Press
www.paracletepress.com
9781640609556, $24.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Advent-Family-Celebrations-Christmas/dp/1640609555
Synopsis: From Advent through Epiphany, and co-authored by Rebecca and Stephen Grabeill, "The Joy of Advent: FamilyCelebrations for Advent & the Twelve Days of Christmas" is a compendium of activities for all ages -- including dailyBible readings, reflections, songs, and prayers, provide a guided celebration that will infuse depth and delight throughoutthe Advent and Christmastide season.
Enhanced with lovely illustrations by Claire Theresa Gray, this edition of "The Joy of Advent" from Paraclete Press givesChristian families the opportunity to come together and focus their hearts on the scarlet thread of Christmas (Christ's loveand sacrifice) woven through the tapestry of Scripture, and utilizing the Jesse Tree, to create poignant memories andbeloved traditions.
Critique: An ideal selection for the gift giving season of Christmas and a welcome pick for personal, family, church, andcommunity library family activity collections, it should be noted that "The Joy of Advent: Family Celebrations for Advent& the Twelve Days of Christmas" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Rebecca Grabill is mother of six and author of children's books Halloween Good Night (AtheneumBooks for Young Readers), Violet and the Woof (Katherine Tegan Books/HarperCollins), and A Year With Mama Earth(Eerdman's Books for Young Readers), as well as the poetry collection, Sweetened Condensed (Flying Ketchup Press), andessays on global platforms such as ScaryMommy.com. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults fromHamline University and a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Calvin University. She is also an awardee of theSustainable Arts Foundation.
Editorial Note #2: Stephen J. Grabill, Ph.D., theological consultant on this project (and conveniently Rebecca's husband),is general editor of the NIV Stewardship Study Bible (Zondervan, 2009) and co-author and executive producer of the filmseries For the Life of the World, which has sold more than 250,000 copies and reached 1.5 million viewers. He also hasnumerous academic titles to his name, teaches social ethics at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and has 20 yearsexperience as a senior research theologian, author, and speaker. Currently he is Director of Moja University and co-founderof the IT startup, Moja Market LLC, which will bring e-commerce and education to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Editorial Note #3: Clare Therese Gray is the author, illustrator and pattern designer behind the popular Instagram account@claretheresegray. She creates artworks for textiles, paper craft and fabric collections, packaging and homewares. Inspiredby the natural environment of her rural Hampshire surroundings, she lives and works on a farm with her husband andyoung family. After studying Painting at Art School in Norwich she went on to the Drawing Year at the Royal DrawingSchool where she focused on imaginative and observational drawing & printmaking before launching a freelance designcareer. She is also the author of two books, 'Woodland Watercolor: A Colouring Workbook' and 'Painting Nature withClare: Create Beautiful Gouache Motifs of the Garden, Countryside, Sea, River and Forest' published with Page StreetPublishing. She has illustrated the children's picture books, 'The Agnes Series' published with DK. Her patterns can befound around the world on children's and women's apparel, luxury toiletries, stationery, ceramics and decorativeobjects.
The Book of Saints
Jo Rose
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228105053, $29.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Saints-History-Christ-Present/dp/0228105056
Synopsis: Who are saints? The Catholic Church recognizes more than 10,000 people who were "saintly", but that does notmean "weak". These men and women had lives of sacrifice, hard work, struggle and suffering.
Saints often accomplished great things. They took on corrupt governments, battled enriched orthodoxies (occasionallywithin the Church itself), and fought superstitious ignorance. They healed the sick, baptized the enslaved, and oftentraveled thousands of miles under the worst conditions imaginable. And they often endured persecution and even death fortheir positions and beliefs.
With the publication of "The Book of Saints: A History of Saints From the Time of Christ to the Present Day", Jo Roseprofiles more than 150 saints, each chosen for how worthwhile their lives were and how interesting their stories andachievements continue to be. Each one is accompanied by a timeline of birth and death, when they were canonized, whattheir feast day is, who they patronize and other names they may be known as.
Also accompanying each profile is a full-color classic artwork -- paintings, mosaics and murals by masters. Often churchesand convents associated with the saint are depicted, and for each several paragraphs of text frame the saint'simportance.
The 150+ saints are categorized as:
Saints of Martyrdom (Thomas Becket)
Saints of the Word of the Book (Saint Jerome)
Saints of the Bible (John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene)
Saints of Vision and Ecstasy (Joan of Arc)
Saints of the Cloth (Brendan the Voyager)
Saints of Mission and Conversion (Patrick)
Saints of Noble Blood (King David of Scotland).
Full of insightful stories and useful information, "The Book of Saints" offers a rich history for anyone wanting to knowabout the heroes of the Catholic Church.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 1 x 10.75 inches, 2.5 pounds) hardcover coffee-table style edition of "The Book ofSaints: A History of Saints From the Time of Christ to the Present Day" is beautifully, elegantly, and profusely illustratedthroughout. Informative, inspiring, and a joy to simply brose through one page at a time, "The Book of Saints: A History ofSaints From the Time of Christ to the Present Day" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family,church, seminary, community, and college/university library Catholic/Christian history collections.
Editorial Note: Jo Rose (www.researchgate.net/profile/Jo-Rose) holds degrees from Harvard and the University ofCambridge and teaches courses on mythology and European magic traditions at the University of Oklahoma.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Nechama Goldman Barash
Urim Publications
c/o KTAV Publishing House
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655243758, $29.95, HC, 392pp
https://www.amazon.com/Uncovered-Womens-Mitzvot-Sexuality-Jewish/dp/9655243753
Synopsis: With the publication of "Uncovered: Women's Roles, Mitzvot, and Sexuality in Jewish Law " from UrimPublication, Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash offers a clear and nuanced perspective on the issues that have shapedJewish women's roles, religious identity, and ritual obligations across millennia.
Rabbi Barash guides the reader through the rich tapestry of Jewish legal sources and historical contexts, making themaccessible to the novice and even more compelling to fluent text readers. "Uncovered" will empower readers to engage ininformed discussions about the Jewish woman's place in the multifaceted mosaic of faith and practice.
Critique: An impressive and seminal work of exceptional scholarship, "Uncovered: Women's Roles, Mitzvot, andSexuality in Jewish Law" is deftly scripted, impressively well organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation --making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, synagogue, andcollege/university library Women in Judaism History &Theology collections and supplemental Gender/Sexuality inReligion curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Nechama Goldman Barash made aliyah from Philadelphia over 20 years ago after graduating from SternCollege. She studied for three years in Matan's Advanced Talmud Institute and finished a master's degree in Talmud atBar-Ilan University. She is a graduate of Nishmat's Yoetzet Halacha program and has been certified to teach brides beforetheir weddings, as well as qualifying as a sex educator through Yahel and the Eden Center. She also studied for three yearsin Matan's advanced halakha program, Hilkhata.
Editorial Note: Nechama is the Director of the Pardes Learning Seminar. She teaches contemporary halakha and Talmud atMatan and Pardes, as well as Talmud and women and halakha in Torah V'Avodah (TVA), a Bnei Akiva gap year programbased in Matan. She is an active member of Beit Hillel and participates in interfaith dialogue through Roots, based in GushEtzion, Israel. (www.pardes.org.il/faculty/nechama-goldman-barash)
The Geography Shelf
Robert C. Shepard, et al.
University of Iowa Press
www.uiowapress.org
9781609389598, $39.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Iowa-Midwest-Experience/dp/160938959X
Synopsis: From Iowa Territory's nail-bitingly close referenda for statehood to the rise and subsequent erasure of Germanlanguage media, The "Atlas of Iowa" from the University of Iowa Press examines the state's geography, demographics,agriculture, and political/cultural patterns.
Drawing upon archival materials and synthesizing little-known secondary sources, the four collaborative authors of thisthematic atlas have pulled together a comprehensive map series that depicts Iowa's complex, unique story of challenginghuman-environmental interaction.
The narrative themes are conveyed both verbally and visually, allowing many of the state's cultural debates to comealive.
From Iowa's rise to becoming a national leader in aspects of higher education and green energy development to itsoft-critiqued social fabric, Atlas of Iowa reveals the rich, complicated, and diverse heritage of the Hawkeye State.
Critique: This large format (11 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches, 1.5 pounds) paperback edition of "Atlas of Iowa" from the University ofIowa Press by the team of co-authors Robert C. Shepard, Patrick Bitterman, J. Clark Archer, and Fred M. Shelley is anhigh value and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, governmental, andcollege/university library American Maps/Atlas collections.
Editorial Note #1: Robert C. Shepard is GIS librarian at University of Chicago, where he also teaches coursework ingeovisualization and geospatial literacy.
Editorial Note #2: Patrick Bitterman is assistant professor of geography within the School of Global Integrative Studies atthe University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has worked alongside policymakers, scientists, and other stakeholders to addresspressing socio-environmental issues in multiple regions.
Editorial Note #4: J. Clark Archer is emeritus professor of geography in the School of Global Integrative Studies at theUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln. Among others, he coauthored Atlas of the Great Plains.
Editorial Note #4: Fred M. Shelley was emeritus professor of geography at the University of Oklahoma, where hepreviously served as department head. Among others, he coauthored Atlas of Nebraska.
The Architecture Shelf
Alan Ford, Kate Mraw and Betsy del Monte, editors
ORO Editions
www.oroeditions.com
9781957183749, $50.00, HC, 376pp
https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Regenerative-School-Alan-Ford/dp/1957183748
Synopsis: Each project showcased in "Creating the Regenerative School" is profiled with eight pages of content includingmultiple photographs, plans, diagrams and approximately 1,000 words of narrative capturing the unique solutions. Casestudies were evaluated on five metrics: Net-Zero Energy/Carbon Strategies; Healthy, Regenerative Building Attributes;Utilization of Evidence Based Informed Design; Occupant Satisfaction; and Post Occupancy Data.
These case studies are supplemented will essays from leading subject matter experts addressing topics ranging from:Evidence Based Design; Occupant Health; Net Zero Energy; Net Zero Carbon; Designing for Resilience in the face ofClimate Change; Best Practices in Designing for Safety and Security; Biophilic Design; and Pathways to Advocacy.
Extensive research, communications, interviews data analysis were utilized in compiling "Creating the RegenerativeSchool" with the mission to share knowledge and insights that are vital to creating healthy, regenerative ECE-12 learningenvironments in all manner of contexts. Outcomes for each project is profiled in the form of post occupancy data,certifications received, and client perspectives.
Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of architect Alan Ford, educator Kate Mraw, andarchitect/activist Betsy del Monte, this large format (10.2 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches, 4.35 pounds) hardcover edition of "Creatingthe Regenerative School" from ORO editions is profusely illustrated with cogently informative commentaries for eachindividual project. Fascinating, informative, and inspiringly thoughtful -- making it an ideal and unique addition topersonal, professional, college/university library Sustainability/Green Design Architecture collections and supplementalContemporary Architecture curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Alan Ford, FAIA, of Ford Architects is the author of the internationally released and bestselling 2007book Designing the Sustainable School. He is a licensed architect with over 40 years of experience in the design of highperformance ECE-12 schools.
Editorial Note #2: Kate Mraw, LPA's K-12 Practice Director, brings 20 years of educational design experience to her work,leading projects with learner-centered planning. Her research informed approach creates a connection at the intersection oflearning and innovative, sustainable environments to improve user experience.
Editorial Note #3: Betsy del Monte, FAIA, is an architect with 30 years of experience in high-performance design. She isan activist, teacher, and consultant, trying to reach and inspire as many as possible.
First Additions: Strategies for Adding On
Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker
ORO Editions
www.oroeditions.com
9781961856165, $60.00, HC, 276pp
https://www.amazon.com/First-Additions-Strategies-Stuart-Cohen/dp/1961856166
Synopsis: Like many small residential practices Cohen & Hacker Architects have made a career of doing house additions.In a practice spanning almost forty years architects Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker have evolved strategies for makingadditions that represent both a theoretical and philosophical position about altering older buildings. They believe thatrecycling existing houses, retrofitting them to meet new energy standards, preserving their embodied energy as well astheir cultural significance is the most sustainable way to practice architecture.
The projects comprising "First Additions: Strategies for Adding On" seamlessly and often invisibly extend the fabric of anexisting house. Cohen & Hacker's remodeled architectural interiors while respectful of the character and scale of theexisting house, transform these spaces with ideas taken from modern design, creating spatially open floor plans withtraditional details based on the existing architecture.
To help illustrate what Cohen & Hacker describe as transformation, "First Additions: Strategies for Adding On" containsbefore and after floor plans and often exterior elevation drawings for every project. Almost every residential additionproject and remodeling includes photos of new kitchens and bathrooms, a staple typical of small residential practices.From the largest to the smallest project the same care and attention to detail characterizes their work.
Critique: This large format (9 x 1.25 x 12.75 inches 4,4 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "First Additions:Strategies for Adding On" from Oro Editions also includes an informative introduction by Steven W. Semes and isprofusely, beautifully illustrated throughout with full color, full page illustrations and floor plan designs. An erudite andinherently interesting commentary is fully and elegantly supported by captioned photography. "First Additions: Strategiesfor Adding On" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/universitylibrary Contemporary Architecture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Stuart Cohen (http://www.cohen-hacker.com) is professor of architecture emeritus at the University ofIllinois, Chicago and his writing on history and theory received an Arthur Ross Award from the Institute for ClassicalArchitecture and Art (ICAA) in 2018. He is the author of four books on the history of Chicago's residential architectureand in 2019 he and Julie edited an issue of the Classicist on Chicago architecture for the ICAA. In 2021 he received alifetime achievement award from the Chicago Chapter of the AIA.
Editorial Note 32: Julie Hacker (http://www.cohen-hacker.com) currently serves on the board of directors of the Chicagochapter of the AIA and on the national steering committee for AIA CRAN (Custom Residential Architects Network). Shehas been responsible for programming for AIA CRAN National and organized their 2022 national symposium held inChicago. Julie served for six years on the Evanston, Illinois Preservation Commission and was instrumental in therewriting of their preservation and solar guidelines.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Mark Matson
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394262045, $29.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-American-Dream-Invest-Extraordinary/dp/1394262043
Synopsis: "Experiencing The American Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy, and Money to Create an ExtraordinaryLife" by Mark Matson is a compelling instructional with clear and potentially life-altering truths about economics andinvesting. As you read it, you will be engaging in a profound exploration of your family's financial future.
You will discover what investing is, how it works, and how it can help fulfill your purpose for life. You will also have theopportunity to alter your relationship to money and investing in a way that leaves you, and those you care about,powerfully pursuing your dreams.
If you're committed to creating a life of freedom for you and those you love, you can benefit from what "Experiencing theAmerican Dream" has to teach you. It's a breakthrough in financial education, backed by Nobel Prize winning research,designed to provide you with the tools to cultivate your financial future.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Experiencing TheAmerican Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy, and Money to Create an Extraordinary Life" is especially relevantand invaluable reading for anyone with an interest in creating and maintaining financial stability and the development of afiscally health financial future for themselves and their loved ones. 'Real World' practical and impressively comprehensiveas a DIY instructional guide, "Experiencing The American Dream" by financial investment expert Mark Matson is a solidand highly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Money Management &Financial Investment collections.
Editorial Note: Mark Matson (www.MatsonMoney.com) is an American entrepreneur, author, and innovator in the fieldsof investing science and financial education. He is the creator of training and development workshops, investing platforms,and tools that make Nobel Prize winning investing research accessible to investors and helps transform their relationship tomoney.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Noreen Crone-Findlay
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811774222, $12.95, PB, 32pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Stars-Customizable-Projects-Inspiration/dp/0811774228
Synopsis: With the publication of "Crochet Stars: 25+ Customizable Projects Full of Love, Laughter, and Inspiration" byNoreen Crone-Findlay you are invited to adorn your life with crochet stars!
These easy and fun to crochet stars can be used for so many things! Start by making the seven star designs in various sizes.Then use your stars to create projects such as a picture frame for your favorite "star," a holiday ornament, or a magic wand.Decorate a journal cover or make earrings. Make multiple stars into a garland or mobile. The stars can be sewn or pinnedonto clothing as mending patches or a fashion accessory.
Once you've mastered the basic stars, customize with beads, ribbons, lace, and other embellishments to make each oneyour unique creation!
These little stars are perfect for using up small bits of yarn and for keeping in your bag for crocheting on the go. The 28ideas presented in "Crochet Stars" are a great place to start, but once you start crocheting stars, the sky is the limit!
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Crochet Stars: 25+ Customizable Projects Full ofLove, Laughter, and Inspiration" will prove an enduringly welcome addition to personal, professional, and communitylibrary needlecraft instructional reference collections for the benefit of crochet practitioners at all skill levels . It should benoted that "Crochet Stars: 25+ Customizable Projects Full of Love, Laughter, and Inspiration" is also readily availablefrom Stackpole Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.00).
Editorial Note: Noreen Crone-Findlay is a fiber artist, author, designer, weaver, YouTube video-tutorial diva with 13,000subscribers, loom designer, workshop facilitator, crocheter, and doll maker, and knitter. Over the last 45+ years, herdesigns have appeared in many magazines She is the author of Potholder Loom Weaving and Peg Looms and WeavingSticks, as well other books and numerous magazine articles. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and maintains anactive website and blog (www.tottietalkscrafts.com) and is active on Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, Instagram, andPinterest.
Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet
Lee Sarton
https://www.cococrochetlee.com
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760392553, $22.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Taylor-Swift-Crochet-Projects/dp/0760392552
Synopsis: "Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet: 20+ Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon" is unique and captivatingcollection of needlecraft projects deftly combines the world of crochet with the charm of the pop sensation TaylorSwift.
"Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet" offers an amazing range of projects spanning fashion, home decor, amigurumi, andaccessories. Each piece captures Taylor's signature aesthetic, ensuring a harmonious blend of elegance and fun. Withprojects suited to various skill levels (from beginners to more experienced crocheters) "Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet"invites you to create stunning pieces for yourself or your favorite Swifties.
Curated by designer extraordinaire Lee Sartori (@coco.crochet.lee), "Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet" features more than20 projects from top crochet designers, ensuring a vibrant and varied crafting experience including:
Projects inspired by some of Swift's most popular songs, including "Me!" Taylor Doll, "All Too Well" Scarf, "Style"Newsboy Cap, "Cardigan" Sweater, "Blank Space" Journal Cover, "Bejeweled" Headband, and more.
A variety of crochet techniques, including amigurumi, filet crochet, granny squares, and more
"Taylor Made" tips for customizing the designs
"Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet" also offers a charming exploration of crochet blended with the essence of Taylor Swift'sstyle. With projects for every skill level and every "era," you can unleash your crafting prowess.
Critique: The perfect blending of pop culture with the art of crocheting, Lee Sartori's "Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet:20+ Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon" from Quarry Books is a 'must' for needlecrafters who are also TaylorSwift fans. Suitable for all skill levels, "Unofficial Taylor Swift Crochet" is an welcome and fun pick for personal,professional, and community library Crocheting instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Lee Sartori is the crochet designer behind CoCo Crochet Lee. Lee's passion is designing modern, wearablegarments, and adorable amigurumi. The author of five crochet books, she was formerly a guest host on the popularPBS/CreateTV Show Knit & Crochet Now, as well as a cast member of Annie's Creative Studio. Lee is the in-housedesigner for Lion Brand and works with Jimmy Beans Wool, WeCrochet, and other companies. She lives in Halifax,Canada. Instagram: @coco.crochet.lee & Facebook: Coco Crochet Lee
Knitted Menagerie
Sarah Keen
GMC Books
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946166, $26.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Knitted-Menagerie-Sarah-Keen/dp/1784946168
Synopsis: With the publication of "Knitted Menagerie", needlecrafter Sarah Keen sowcases 30 adorable animals to knit,ranging from sealife to birds, insects to mammals. In these bright and colorful pages is to be found everyone's favourites --including a lion, an elephant, blue whale, meerkats and a llama.
The patterns vary in complexity, ensuring there's something for everyone. Complete beginners or more experiencedknitters can be reassured by the comprehensive illustrated techniques section provided. Packed with fun and motivatingphotography that shows each of the projects from different angles, "Knitted Menagerie" is sure to delight the knitter andthe lucky receiver of these gorgeous, knitted creatures.
Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this large format ( 8.25 x 0.6 x 9.25 inches, 2.31pounds) paperback edition of Sarah Keen's "Knitted Menagerie" from GMC Publications provides 30 fun andeasy-to-follow knitting patterns for an eclectic array of animals. Of special attractions to needlecrafters with an interest inlearning how to create stuff animals, "Knitted Menagerie" will prove a welcome and popular pick for personal andcommunity library Needlecraft/Knitting instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Sarah Keen works as a freelance pattern designer and finds calculating rows and stitches challenging, butfascinating. She is experienced in designing knitted toys for children and also enjoys writing patterns for charity. This isSarah's tenth book for GMC Publications. Sarah lives in Ceredigion, Wales, UK.(www.ravelry.com/designers/sarah-keen)
Pom Pom Pom Animals
Henry Le
GMC Books
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946647, $26.99, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pom-Animals-Adorable-Using-Pompoms/dp/1784946648
Synopsis: "Pom Pom Pom Animals" by Henry Le is comprised of ingenious animal projects, that are perfect forneedlecrafters wanting to take their pompom-sculpting skills to the next level.
Ideal for the pompom enthusiast looking for a new challenge, or wanting to learn something new, or to just make thatperfect pompom gift to really impress friends and family, "Pom Pom Pom Animals" an ideal DIY instructional step-by-step 'how-to' guide.
The projects comprising "Pom Pom Pom Animals" go way beyond the miniature size of most pompom crafts. Theseamazing creations are sculptural works of art, using traditional pompom-making and needle-felting techniques tomanipulate yarn in astonishing ways.
Beginners can start with the bunny, hedgehog and raccoon to learn the basic principles and then challenge themselves a bitmore by progressing to the other animals. The animal heads can be made by themselves and used as cute accessories to useon keychains or brooches.
Critique: This large format (2.4 x 0.2 x 2.9 inches, 1.5 pounds) paperback edition of "Pom Pom Pom Animals" from GMCPublications features 12 cute and realistic animal pompom projects, has bright, colorful design in the popular Japanesekawaii style, along with quirky gallery of photographs. It is especially suitable for beginners as well as more experiencedpompom makers, includes simple-to-follow diagrams and step-by-step instructions, and make perfect gifts for animallovers and Pom Pom Pom fans to display and admire. Henry Le's "Pom Pom Pom Animals" is an ideal and unreservedlyrecommended pick for personal and community library Needlecraft & Stuffed Animal Creation instructional referencecollections.
Editorial Note: Henry Le (www.henryledesign.com) specializes in making small, cute pompoms that can be turned intoaccessories, such as keyrings, earrings and necklaces. He takes choosing the correct colours for his creations very seriously,using many different colour tones. He also focuses on turning the pompoms into appealing and unusual shapes, combiningwith needle felting techniques. He lives in Vietnam.
The Gardening Shelf
Kendall H. Brown, author
David M. Cobb, photographer
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805318652, $24.99, PB, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Beauty-Japanese-Gardens-America/dp/4805318651
Synopsis: Japanese-style gardens have been a part of North American culture for over 150 years, delighting visitors withserene landscapes that instill tranquility. "Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America" provides an intimatelook at the 25 most notable Japanese-style public gardens in the United States and Canada. Illustrated with more than 180stunning color photographs, "Quiet Beauty" will be a welcome addition to the library of every garden enthusiast. Thisrevised edition includes an amended list of 75 important gardens. It also describes major new additions at the featuredgardens.
The showcased Japanese gardens comprising "Quiet Beauty" include:
The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver
The Japanese Garden in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The Garden of the Pine Winds in the Denver Botanic Gardena
The Japanese Garden in the Montreal Botanical Garden
Tenshin'en (The Garden of the Heart of Heaven) in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida
The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix in Margaret T. Hance Park
The Garden of the Pine Wind, Garvan Woodland Garden in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Critique: Originally published in hardcover (2013), this new large format paperback edition of "Quiet Beauty: TheJapanese Gardens of North America" features an elegant and informative blend of descriptive commentary with captionedfull color photography that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Japanese Gardens. While also nowavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.42), "Quiet Beauty is an elegant and unreservedly recommended addition topersonal, professional, community, and college/university library Gardens & Gardening collections.
Editorial Note #1: David M. Cobb (https://dmcobbphoto.com) is a member of NANPA (North American NaturePhotography Association) and PPA (Professional Photographers of America). He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Editorial Note #2: Kendall H. Brown is Professor of Asian Art History in the Art Department at California State UniversityLong Beach. He received BA and MA degrees in history and art history from the University of California, Berkeley and aPh.D. in art history from Yale University. Dr. Brown publishes actively in several areas of Japanese art. He is a leadingfigure in the study of Japanese gardens in North America, and authored the book, Japanese-Style Gardens of the PacificWest Coast. (https://www.csulb.edu/school-of-art/page/kendall-brown)
The Wine/Liquor Shelf
Pascaline Lepeltier
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729233, $55.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Vines-Understand-Wine/dp/178472923X
Synopsis: Winner of an OIV Award 2024, with the publication of "One Thousand Vines: A New Way to UnderstandWine", internationally celebrated sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier answers all the important questions about wine.
With three main parts (Reading Vines, Reading Landscapes and Reading Wines), "One Thousand Vines" challengespreconceived ideas about the vine and its wine. It explains where we are now, how we got here, and shows us a wayforward - in how grapes will be grown, made into wine, sold and enjoyed.
While "One Thousand Vines" isn't an encyclopedia or an atlas, it does answers all the important questions about wine andoffers the reader keys to understand the links between the bottle and the producers, terroirs and vineyards which give birthto it. With a refreshingly unique approach, star sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier offers those curious about wine not only theanswers but also the tools to understand it by oneself.
Critique: This large format (9.25 x 1.13 x 10.75 inches, 3.61 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "OneThousand Vines: A New Way to Understand Wine" from Mitchell Beazley is profusely illustrated throughout with maps,schematics and drawings in support of an informative and thoroughly 'reader friendly' text. While especially andunreservedly recommended as an essential and core addition to personal, professional, community, college and universitylibrary Wine Growing/Wine Pairing instructional reference collections, it should be noted that this edition of "OneThousand Vines" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Pascaline Lepeltier (www.pascalinelepeltier.com) is probably the most decorated female sommelier on theplanet. She is one of only 25 or so women to have been certified a Master Sommelier, and was the first woman to benamed Meilleur Sommelier de France and also Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). Pascaline has written for variousprominent wine guides and books in France, and is a contributor to The Oxford Companion to Wine.
The World Atlas of Whisky 3rd edition
Dave Broom
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784726737, $55.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/World-Atlas-Whisky-3rd-distilleries/dp/1784726737
Synopsis: Award-winning author and whisky expert Dave Broom profiles more than 400 distilleries and explores morethan 800 whiskies with this newly expanded and updated third edition of "The World Atlas of Whiskey". There has beenmajor growth in the world of whisky in the last decade, with many more distilleries opening, and this newly updated thirdedition brings includes them all.
"The World Atlas of Whisky: 3rd Edition" is the only guide the dedicated whiskey connoisseur and the newcomer to finewhiskeys will ever need in order to understand everything there is to know about the world of whisky. This is a beautifullyillustrated, in-depth and comprehensive journey through the history, process, distilleries and expressions of worldwhiskies, featuring detailed full-colour maps. Heritage, romance, flavour and craftsmanship are all celebrated in thiscomplete study of this most versatile of drinks.
As of 2022, the global American Whiskey market was estimated at USD 11825.64 million, and it's anticipated to reachUSD 20546.52 million in 2028. Whisky has become the best-selling spirit category for on-premises consumption in recentyears in the US. There are now approx. 2,000 distilleries in the US -- increasing by more than double in the lastdecade.
Critique: This large format (9.8 x 1.13 x 11.3 inches, 4.08 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "The WorldAtlas of Whisky 3rd edition", fully 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, informatively profiles more than 500distilleries and 480 expressions tasted. Arguably that makes this fully updated edition a highly prized and unreservedlyrecommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Alcoholic Spirts & Whiskeycollections.
Editorial Note: Dave Broom (www.thewhiskymanual.uk) has written 13 books. He has won many awards, including twoGlenfiddich prizes and, in 2013, he won the prestigious IWSC Communicator of the Year Award. In 2015, he won TheSpirited Award for Best co*cktail & Spirits writer, and, in 2018, The Way of Whisky won an Andre Simon prize. In 2020he was awarded Best Drinks Writer at the Fortnum & Mason awards. He has been a contributing editor to WhiskyMagazine, scotchwhisky.com and Malt Advocate.
Scotch: The Balmoral Guide to Scottish Whisky
Cameron Ewen & Moa Reynolds
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729516, $26.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Balmoral-guide-Scottish-whisky/dp/1784729515
Synopsis: From the experts behind the world-famous SCOTCH whisky bar, located at the iconic Edinburgh hotel TheBalmoral, "Scotch: The Balmoral Guide to Scottish Whisky" is an essential guide that will tell you everything you need toknow about Scottish whisky.
"SCOTCH" an ideal introduction to tasting whisky, as well as providing answers to key questions, such as if color depictsquality, whether you should decant your bottle and if it is ever acceptable to mix your dram.
Readers will discover the hand-picked 100 best whiskies behind the SCOTCH bar, complete with distillery profiles, tastingnotes and a personal comment from Head Whisky Ambassador, Cameron Ewen.
Complemented by atmospheric photography of SCOTCH, this is an essential reference for every dedicated whiskydrinker.
"SCOTCH" showcases more than 50 distilleries including: Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich, The Macallan, The Glenlivet,Ardbeg, Bruichladdich and many more!
Critique: Profusely illustrated in full color throughout (and especially presenting images of all the various and distinctivewhiskey bottles from the various distilleries), "Scotch: The Balmoral Guide to Scottish Whisky" by co-authors andwhiskey experts Cameron Ewen and Moa Reynolds is a seminal, informative, and fascinating read from first page to last.While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), "Scotch: The Balmoral Guide to Scottish Whisky" isunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Wine/Beer/Liquorreference and identification collections.
Editorial Note #1: In 2013, The Balmoral, Scotland's most prestigious luxury hotel, brought to life its vision of openingSCOTCH, one of the best stocked whisky spots in Scotland, now home to around 500 Scottish whiskies from distilleriesold and new. Whisky Ambassador and Bar Manager Cameron Ewen brings both knowledge and passion to SCOTCH.Having joined the team in 2015, Ewen has spent time with a variety of whisky producers, further increasing his knowledgeof Scotland's greatest exports. His warm personality coupled with the relaxed ambience makes SCOTCH one ofEdinburgh's must-visit bars.
Editorial Note #2: Moa Reynolds is a whisky writer and spirits judge. Her writing covers primarily Instagram, YouTubeand blogging where also collaborates with whisky brands from all over the world. She has contributed to publications suchas the Whiskey Wash, Whisky Magazine, Allt Om Whisky and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Unfiltered. She won theIcons of Whisky Scotland (IWSC) Communicator of the Year 2021 and was shortlisted for the IWSC SpiritsCommunicator Award 2022.
In Fine Spirits
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729387, $24.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Spirits-Complete-Distilled-Drinks/dp/1784729388
Synopsis: The culture of enjoying quality spirits and liquors is now in a new golden age. With the publication of "In FineSpirits: A Complete Guide to Distilled Drinks" by co-authors and experts Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley is an accessibleand authoritative guide to the world of distilled drinks.
Across gin, whisky, tequila, rum and vodka, as well as no and low-alcohol alternatives, "In Fine Spirits" examines not justhow each spirit is made, but also the culture, history, co*cktails and characters key to the success of each.
"In Fine Spirits" is specifically designed and intended for anyone who wants to understand more about the bottles in theircabinet, as well as the colorful history and narratives of the countries, drinks, bars and people that have helped create theglobal renaissance of luxury liquor and fine spirits.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation (which includes a wealth of full colorphotos/illustrations), this hard cover edition of "In Fine Spirits: A Complete Guide to Distilled Drinks" from MitchellBeazley offers an comprehensive, informed and informative DIY reference on the subject of distilled alcoholic beveragesand drinks. While a seminal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library Wine/Beer/Liquor collections, it should be noted for the non-specialist general reader with aninterest in the subject that "In Fine Spirits: A Complete Guide to Distilled Drinks" is also readily available in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $11.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley are at the forefront of providing expertise and innovation in the drinks world.From whisky to gin, cognac to co*cktails, the duo has a wealth of knowledge to share with audiences across the globe. Theyhave written seven books on whisky and distilled drinks, winning the 2015 Fortnum and Mason Drink Book of the YearAward for Distilled. They are both Keepers of the Quaich, one of the highest accolades in the Scotch whisky industry, weremade Mousquetaires d'Armagnac in recognition of their services to the global promotion of the brandy, Rectifiers of theGin Guild for their work within the growing gin market and are both Liverymen for the Worshipful
The Sports Shelf
Magnus Wheatley, author
Seahorse Publishers
https://seahorsepub.com
9781399987004, $44.48, HC, 206pp
https://www.amazon.com/There-Second-definitive-account-Americas/dp/1399987003
Synopsis: "There is no Second: The definitive account of the first race in 1851 for what would become 'America's Cup'" byMagnus Wheatley is the story of the America's Cup yachting race and how it came to be. The America's Cup has had a richsource of interpretation over its 173-year history. It's most famous phrase - "There is no second" - sums up a uniquesporting event with idiosyncratic rules defined by an ancient document, the Original Deed of Gift of 1857, but has neverbeen attributed and was thought to be 'apocryphal.'
After extensive research going back to source documents, articles and Royal, Naval and National archives, the name of the'signal master' who may well have uttered the famous line to Her Majesty Queen Victoria onboard the Royal YachtVictoria & Albert in 1851 is revealed alongside a deep analysis of the circ*mstances and political climate that resulted in asimple trial of speed around the Isle of Wight between the Old and New World becoming the most famous, and covetedyacht race in the world.
Author and journalist Magnus Wheatley has spent decades reporting on the America's Cup for a variety of globalnewspapers, international magazines and websites, and currently works inside the ropes for the Louis Vuitton 37thAmerica's Cup in Barcelona. Covering the period from the trophy's acquisition in 1848 by the Marquess of Angleseythrough the famous race of August 22nd 1851 itself and on to the trophy's gifting to the New York Yacht Club and its firstdefence in 1870, "There is no Second: is a detailed and documented account of how 'America's Cup' came into being andessential reading for all 'students of the Cup' seeking to understand its genesis as the pinnacle of international yachtracing.
Critique: A seminal, comprehensive, and deftly crafted history of an iconic yachting event, "There is no Second: Thedefinitive account of the first race in 1851 for what would become 'America's Cup' from Seahorse Publishing is aninherently fascinating and informative read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended forcommunity and college/university library Sailing/Yachting history collections, it should be noted for the personal readinglists of all dedicated Americas Cup fans that "There is no Second" is also readily available in a paperback edition(9781068658907, $22.86) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.50).
Editorial Note: Magnus Wheatley (www.yachtracingpodcast.com/magnus-wheatley) is a British sailing writer andAmerica's Cup aficionado Magnus Wheatley has been obsessed with yacht racing's oldest and most prestigious competitionsince he was in his mid-teens.
The Travel Shelf
Chiara Terzuolo, author
Justine Wong, illustrator
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922754752, $27.50, Flexibound, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Japan-Guidebook-Tokyo-Beyond/dp/1922754757
Synopsis: With the publication of "Hidden Japan: A Guidebook to Tokyo & Beyond" from Smith Stree Books, author andguide Chiara Terzuolo takes us on a journey through Tokyo and its surrounding cities, uncovering the hidden treasures thatlie beneath the well-trodden hustle and bustle of one of the world's most-traveled destinations.
From tucked-away bars to quirky vending machines, themed walks to secret tea houses, "Hidden Japan" is your guide tothe art of wandering off the beaten path. With chapters on the Nature, Food, History, Art and Late-Night destinations thatyou'll find only in Tokyo, Hidden Japan has detailed recommendations for every kind of traveler.
Critique: Enhanced throughout with stunning illustrations by Justine Wong, "Hidden Japan: A Guidebook to Tokyo &Beyond " is an essential and invaluable itinerary planning resource for anyone looking to explore Japan's many hiddencultural treasures. Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "Hidden Japan" is anespecially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library JapanTravel Guide collections.
Editorial Note #1: Chiara Terzuolo's connection with Japan began around 2007, and she has been a Tokyo resident since2011. A creative jack-of-all-trades, she is a writer/editor, tourism consultant, opera singer, narrator and anchor for aJapanese language program on NHK, Japan's national broadcaster. Previously, she has published The Vegan Guide toTokyo with Smith Street Books. (https://www.chiaraterzuolo.com)
Editorial Note #2: Justine Wong (www.patternsandportraits.com) is a food, book, and lifestyle illustrator based in Toronto.She is the creator behind the project '21 Days in Japan: An Illustrative Study on Japanese Cuisine,' consisting of paintingsof 100 meals discovered while she traveled Japan. Justine has since lived in Tokyo for a year and enjoys illustrating foreditorial publications, storybooks, and advertising campaigns.
World Heritage Sites, 9th Edition
UNESCO
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228104933, $35.99, PB, 1032pp
https://www.amazon.com/World-Heritage-Sites-Definitive-UNESCO/dp/0228104939
Synopsis: The World Heritage List of historically significant sites is a valuable tool in the battle to preserve cultural andnatural heritage. Its strict criteria mean only the most extraordinary and important sites qualify, such as the Great Pyramids,the Statue of Liberty, Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef, the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon. Natural andhuman-made creations both qualify for this kind of celebration and protection.
Firefly last published World Heritage Sites (8th edition) in 2017. It has been unavailable for years until its now publishedand updated/expanded 9th Edition. When the world experienced the COVID pandemic, the UNESCO Site Committeecould not meet internationally. But between 2017 and 2023, UNESCO has added 120 more sites and this current 9thedition now includes such newly designated places as:
Anticosti (Canada)
Astronomical Observatories of Kazan (Russia)
Ancient City of Qalhat (Oman)
Babylon (Iraq)
Bale Mountains National Park (Ethiopia)
Frontiers of the Roman Empire -- Danube (Austria)
Historic Center of Odesa (Ukraine)
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (USA)
Jewish Medieval Heritage of Erfurt (Germany)
Old town of Kuldiga (Latvia)
Padua's 14th century frescoes (Italy)
Porticoes of Bologna (Italy)
Sudanese Style Mosques in Cote D'Ivoire
Viking-Age ring fortresses (Denmark)
...and almost 100 more.
Critique: Each site is accompanied by a full-color locator map, and about 700 are shown in a color photograph. "WorldHeritage Sites: The Definitive Guide to All 1,199 UNESCO World Heritage Sites" is a definitive reference, an idealvolume for the armchair traveler to simply browse one page at a time as they learn the history of each site, as well as avalued resource with which to plan travel itineraries to 1199 sites around the world. This newly expanded and updated 9thedition of the "World Heritage Sites: The Definitive Guide to All 1,199 UNESCO World Heritage Sites" is a unique andunreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Travel Guide andWorld Atlas collections.
Editorial Note: Founded in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has theambitious goal to build peace in the minds of men and women through education, social and natural science, culture andcommunication. It is based in Paris, France.
The Parenting Shelf
Carrie Cherney Hahn
Chicago Review Press
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9780914090687, $18.99, PB, 268pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Inclusion-Raise-Anti-Ableist-Kids/dp/0914090682
Synopsis: If the question is "How do you raise anti-ableist kids?" the answer is "Become anti-ableist and then model itthrough intention and action for your children."
Parents want to be inclusive of their disabled and neurodivergent neighbors and want to pass these values along to theirchildren. What holds them back is not having the education or experience on how to appropriately do this. With thepublication of "Beyond Inclusion: How to Raise Anti-Ableist Kids", Carrie Cherney Hahn breaks down fifteen commonforms of ableism, with explanations, examples, and first-person accounts. Doing better starts with knowledge.
Hahn offers activities and perspectives that help parents understand the ableism that exists within them and supports theirability to process and dismantle it so that they can model anti-ableist practices for their kids. Each chapter comprising"Beyond Inclusion" offers children's resources that parents can use to nurture informed and anti-ableist ideals in theirkids.
Inclusion is actually the bare minimum. Our work is to show our children how to become more understanding, moreaccepting, and more appreciative of disabled and neurodivergent people.
Critique: A timely and invaluable contribution to our on-going national conversation regarding parenting in modern times,"Beyond Inclusion: How to Raise Anti-Ableist Kids" is a ground-breaking and seminal book the is informative enhancedfor the reader with the inclusion of a ten page Bibliography, a two page listing of Books For Your Child's Library, a onepage Chapter Reflection Guide, and a twelve page Index. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,community, and college/university library Parenting Hyperactive/Disabled Children collections, it should be noted forparenting reading lists that this edition of "Beyond Inclusion" from the Chicago Review Press is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $8.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Carrie Cherney Hahn, MA, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother. She hasserved all ages of children in a variety of settings. Hahn facilitated an autism support group for parents, created a parenteducation newsletter for families at KidsCare Home Health, and has presented on topics of using visual supports toenhance communication, supporting caregivers of disabled children, and ableism in service provision at professionalconferences, universities, and for family advocacy groups. She now has her own practice serving clients through directtherapy and support and uses her business page to share information about disability and neurodivergence. Her writing hasappeared on iNFORM and Dystinct magazine. (https://on.dystinct.org/author/carrie-cherney-hahn)
Jessica Kingsley
www.jkp.com
https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Capable-Kids-Regardless-Challenge/dp/180501109X
Deborah Winking, PhD's Raising Capable Kids: The 12 Habits Every Parent Needs Regardless of their Child's Label orChallenge (9781805011095, $19.95) lives up to its heady promise of relevance by providing an assessment of how"different" kids can move beyond limiting definitions by parents, educators, and all types of professionals to achieve theirmaximum abilities. This doesn't happen automatically, as Deborah Winking points out. Adjustments in attitudes, habits,and definitions of capability need to come into play to reset expectations and methods of challenging a special child to helpthem grow their strengths and abilities. Stories that illustrate such new habits provide strong foundations for newapproaches to encouraging every child to be all that they can be, making Raising Capable Kids: The 12 Habits EveryParent Needs Regardless of their Child's Label or Challenge a 'must' acquisition for any library appealing to parents whowould adjust their childrearing concepts to make the most of their child's gifts.
https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-PDA-America-Framework-Demand-Avoidant/dp/1839972742
Ruth Ridler and Diane Gould's Navigating PDA in America: A Framework to Support Anxious, Demand-AvoidantAutistic Children, Teens, and Young Adults (9781839972744, $19.95) considers an autistic profile which has been longaccepted in the UK, but is still relatively new to Americans. Its concept, applications, and foundations can help parentsincorporate PDA's insights into parenting techniques to promote autistic kids' well-being, fostering better adultinterventions and interactions via a neurodiversity-affirming framework. Teachers and other adults who interact withautistic kids will also benefit from the tips and insights covered in Navigating PDA in America, which offers different andbetter approaches to understanding and interacting with autistic children.
The Computer Shelf
Adora Nwodo
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398616240, $71.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Confident-Cloud-Uncover-Essentials-Computing/dp/1398616249
Synopsis: Cloud computing is part of our everyday lives, from cloud backups of personal data to cloud platforms poweringbusinesses around the world. But do you really understand how cloud computing works? "Confident Cloud: Uncover theEssentials of Cloud Computing" by Adora Nwodo is an introductory and comprehensive guide that demystifies keyconcepts and gives you the confidence you need to succeed in this sector.
This edition of "Confident Cloud" from Kogan Page includes key concepts from FinOps and DevOps to Kubernets andautomation. This is supported by practical guidance on working in the industry, alongside a variety of fascinating casestudies, clarifying how cloud infrastructure is effectively deployed and maintained.
Critique: Providing a thoroughly 'reader friendly' and comprehensive course of information and explanation of cloudcomputing, "Confident Cloud: Uncover the Essentials of Cloud Computing" is a very confidently recommended additionto personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Computer Science collections andsupplemental curriculum studies lists. This edition of "Confident Cloud: Uncover the Essentials of Cloud Computing" isalso readily available for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject in a paperback edition(9781398615670, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $$19.99).
Editorial Note: Adora Nwodo (https://adoranwodo.com) is a software engineer who develops mixed-reality products atMicrosoft. She frequently shares her insights on cloud technology and careers on her blog and popular YouTube channel.She is the founder of NexaScale, a social enterprise aimed at offering and sharing new opportunities for projects and workexperiences within the tech sector. A sought-after public speaker, thought leader and author, she is based in Cambridge,UK.
The Interior Design Shelf
Atlanta Bartlett & David Coote
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729547, $39.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Minimalist-Simple-Homes-Soul/dp/178472954X
Synopsis: "The Romantic Minimalist: Simple Homes with Soul" is beautifully presented volume of interior designs byAtlanta Bartlett and Dave Coote that explore a new type of minimalism.
This isn't the 1990s version where lonely sofas sat in monastic empty rooms but an altogether softer approach to interiordesign. The emphasis is in appreciating the imperfect, encouraging self-expression and never compromising on comfort -all while keeping the core principles of simplicity, utility and elegance firmly in sight.
This new minimalism has romance and nostalgia at its heart. It celebrates the plain and simple things in life; loves old,time-worn treasures; shuns materialism in favor of sustainability and creates a home to soothe the soul. "The RomanticMinimalist: Simple Homes with Soul" includes stunningly photographed case studies of homes, alongside chapters ontopics ranging from color usage and storage, to sustainability and sourcing found objects from nature. It is the perfectmanual for curating elegant and soothing living spaces.
Critique: Elegant, inspiring, fascinating, and a pleasure to simply browse through one page at a time, this large format (9.5x 0.81 x 11.25 inches, 2.82 pounds) coffee-table style hardcover edition of "The Romantic Minimalist: Simple Homes withSoul" from Mitchell Beazley includes an introductory commentary (The Creative Journey) and is divided into three majorsections (The New Romantics; The Elements; The Homes), along with a two page Index. While also available for personalreading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99), "The Romantic Minimalist: Simple Homes with Soul" is anespecially recommended pick for professional, community, and college/university library Interior Design & HomeDecoration collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Atlanta Bartlett and Dave Coote are a British design duo known for their distinctive and eclectic approachto interior design and lifestyle aesthetics. Having each worked successfully in the magazine, photography and designindustries, this prolific couple have been producing books, interiors, furniture, products, sets, magazines features andcabins, both together and individually, that have been highly sought after for the last 35 years. Between them they haveauthored five books, The Relaxed Home, At Home with White, Easy Elegance, Pale & Interesting and Keep it Simple (allpublished by Ryland Peters & Small). These books explore their design philosophy of teaming old with new, contrastingrough with smooth, pairing femininity with utility, celebrating the handcrafted and rooting everything they do in a strongeco-conscious ethic.
The Genealogy Shelf
Roberta Estes
Genealogical Publishing Company
www.genealogical.com
9780806321288, $37.50, PB, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-FamilyTreeDNA-Mitochondrial-Autosomal/dp/0806321288
The Complete Guide to Family Tree DNA comes from the first company to offer three kinds of DNA testing forgenealogy. This book explores each test and how to use its results in a genealogical study, reviewing the science behindDNA testing, what matches and markers mean, and how to use FamilyTreeDNA to create a DNA Pedigree Chart, amongother efforts. Serious genealogical researchers will find The Complete Guide to Family Tree DNA essential to not justunderstanding, but employing the basics of genetic genealogy to their research efforts.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Evelyn Hollow
Ivy Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711287969, $30.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Paranormal-Places-Journey-Supernatural/dp/0711287961
Synopsis: With the publication of "Atlas of Paranormal Places: A Journey to the World's Most Supernatural Places",Evelyn Hollow showcases fascinating paranormal activity on a chilling, nerve-wracking global tour of 100 hauntedlocations. The reader will set out on a uniquely dark armchair journey, and learn about the shocking supernatural events,ghosts and unexplained phenomena that have captivated humankind for as long as we have told stories to each other,looked to the skies, and wondered whether we really are alone.
The paranormal places showcased in Evelyn Hollow's "Atlas of Paranormal Places" from Ivy Press include: The Island ofthe Dolls in Mexico (where a haunted recluse has hung hundreds of creepy dolls from trees); The St. Augustine Lighthousein Florida, (the eerie former home of three girls trapped beneath a wheelbarrow); Gunnuhver Mud Pool in Iceland (infectedby the spirit of a maddened criminal); Turkmenistan's Door to Hell (an infernal crater still blazing after half a century) --and so much more!
Then there are the legends about spirits that rise from the dead, places where the crops don't grow, or sites where strangelights are seen at night -- glaciers that bleed, ghost towns, crumbling castles, disused (and active) cemeteries, eerie forests,and freak nature patterns.
"That Atlas of Paranormal Places" informatively covers these sites in all their mysterious glory, and recounts whathappened, what continues to happen, and what may explain these phenomena. Hauntings, aliens, moving rocks, and allmanner of paranormal activity are covered, in manmade as well as natural surroundings abound in its pages.
Critique: This large format (7.53 x 0.81 x 10.45 inches, 1.65 pounds) hardcover edition of the "Atlas of Paranormal Places:A Journey to the World's Most Supernatural Places" is enhanced for the reader's benefit with a profusion of full colorphotographs and numerous maps. Informed and informative, and also readily available from Ivy Press in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $28.50), "Atlas of Paranormal Places: A Journey to the World's Most Supernatural Places" is anextraordinary, fascinating, and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library Metaphysical/Supernatural Travel Guide collections.
Editorial Note: Evelyn Hollow (https://evelynhollow.com) is a double academy award winning Scottish writer andparanormal psychologist. She was a resident author at Esoterica Zine for more than four years, was the recipient of the2015 Lonely Planet Travel Writing Scholarship, the occult columnist for Corvid Culture, and has taught writing classes ateverywhere from universities to arts festivals. She has also been featured in exhibitions at ESAF and is the creator of TheBaer Archive. She is a former psychology lecturer and holds a Master of Research degree in Paranormal Psychology. Shenow consults as a paranormal psychologist and expert for various TV shows and podcasts -- most recently the smash-hitBBC shows The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny. She is also 1/4 of the team on the new TV show Spooked Scotlandairing on the Discovery Channel in May 2022. Evelyn gives guest talks on paranormal history and the quantum physics ofanomalous phenomena.
Owl Magick
Rieka Moonsong
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9781631069963, $19.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Owl-Magick-Fascinating-Connections-Traditions/dp/1631069969
Synopsis: First introduced to the general public in the Harry Potter movies, owls have had a long association with themetaphysical and the magical.
With the pubication of "Owl Magick: Explore Our Fascinating Connections with These Birds Through Folklore andMagickal Traditions" by Rieka Moonsong, you can now unlock the secrets of Owl Magick as you embark on a journey tofind your mystical companion and explore the profound connections between owls and the realms of ancient wisdom.
You will begin your quest to understand the symbolic significance of owls by delving into the captivating history, folklore,and myths that have woven these majestic birds into the fabric of various cultures. You will explore the diverse tales ofowls and their revered status in Native American, African, Japanese, and other mythologies.
"Owl Magick" will guide you through the many mesmerizing lessons on owls, such as: Unveiling the historical andmythological threads that bind owls to magical narratives; Diving into the captivating characteristics of different owlspecies, from their distinctive physical attributes to their nocturnal prowess; Discovering the art of identifying, attracting,and forming a profound connection with your owl familiar; Exploring the deeper meanings behind owl messengers andguides, and how to harmonize with their spiritual energies; Integrating the wisdom of owls into your spell work and rituals,enhancing the mystical potency of your practice.
With "Owl Magick" you will be able to immerse yourself in the captivating allure of owls as you nurture your mysticalabilities, strengthen your bond with these ethereal creatures, and awaken the enchanting powers that will guide you on thepath to becoming the witch of your dreams. Embrace the magical essence of owls and let the ancient wisdom of folkloreand mythology illuminate your spiritual journey.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking combination of history and DIY studies, "Owl Magick: Explore Our FascinatingConnections with These Birds Through Folklore and Magickal Traditions" will prove to be a unique and prized addition topersonal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical & Wiccan Studies collections. It should benoted for private reading lists that "Owl Magick" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) aswell.
Editorial Note: Rieka Moonsong is a Wiccan high priestess and mesa-carrying, Andean-trained shaman. She has made ither life's work to assist others in healing, transforming, and better understanding their true purpose. She offers one-on-oneconsultations that bring balance and clarity in times of indecision or confusion. Her services include divination, healing,soul work, and more. She can be followed on Instagram @justamountainwitch
Becoming Baba Yaga
Kris Spisak
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
c/o Red Wheel Weiser (distribution)
https://redwheelweiser.com
9781642970517, $16.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Baba-Yaga-Trickster-Feminist/dp/1642970514
Synopsis: When darkness, fear, and instability inundate our daily lives, folktale figures like Baba Yaga speak to thedichotomy of our existence -- the hope and the horror, the magic and the mundane. At once an old hag and an enchantress,a demon and wish granter, a feminist and nothing more than a fairytale, Baba Yaga is an endlessly complex folktalecharacter.
With the publication of "Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods", author Kris Spisak providesan in-depth look at the Baba Yaga mythos and history through Slavic folklore. Filled with historical and cultural context,analyses, and the stories themselves that add depth to the conversation. A comprehensive resource for anyone hoping tolearn more about this ambiguous character and how her multifaceted presence still ripples through the present day,Becoming Baba Yaga is as thoughtful as it is illuminating.
Spisak explores Baba Yaga's connection to nature as an Earth goddess and as an herbalist. She also delves into the ShadowSelf and Baba Yaga's aspect as a trickster and places her in a modern context as not merely a witch of the woods but alsoas an archetype and force for finding your own path. Becoming Baba Yaga shares how she is both a force for good as muchas evil and a feminist before her time.
Critique: A seminal and inherently fascinating study from start to finish, "Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, andWitch of the Woods" is enhanced for the reader's benefit with occasion B/W illustrations. A fun and informative read,"Becoming Baba Yaga" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library Metaphysical & Mythology Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Itshould be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Becoming Baba Yaga"is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Auido,9798874882334, $39.99, CD)
The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self
Sandra C. Smith
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
c/o Red Wheel Weiser (distribution)
https://redwheelweiser.com
9781642970609, $18.95, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Enneagram-Map-Your-Deeper-Self/dp/1642970603
Synopsis: Enneagram is a nine-sided star polygon with various configurations. An enneagram of personality is a model ofhuman personality illustrated by an enneagram figure. (Wikipedia)
With clarity and consistency, "The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self: Living Beyond Your Type" by CertifiedNarrative Enneagram teacher Sandra C. Smith shows how to understand your Enneagram type without reinforcing thepatterns of your type. Sandra has taught the Enneagram internationally as a tool for personal, professional, and spiritualdevelopment for over twenty-two years. She shows readers how to deepen their use of the Enneagram in support of theirspiritual lives as well as psychological health.
The gift of the Enneagram is its accuracy to show us the motivations beneath behaviors and egoic patterns that limit us andkeep us from growing. "The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self" discusses the makeup of these patterns and gives us agreater capacity to unhook from them. Free from these habits, we are able to live more mindfully and grow into our fulldimensionality, becoming more of ourselves.
Sandra provides a detailed teaching of the components of the Enneagram type structures along with type-specific practicesto counter automatic patterns. Also included are contributions from a diverse range of Enneagram practitioners. With theirhelp, she dives into the components of the Enneagram types to tease out the patterns and pitfalls preventing us from livingour radiance.
Prayers, poems, and practices beckon us out of our confining comfort zones and into witnessing and honoring ourlives.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in commentary style, organization, and presentation, "The Enneagram Map to YourDeeper Self: Living Beyond Your Type" by Sandra C. Smith, MDiv is a complete DIY course of instruction that will beespecially appreciated pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studiescollections. It should be noted for both students and practitioners that "The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self" is alsoreadily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Sandra Smith, MDiv, teaches the Enneagram internationally as a tool for personal, professional, andspiritual growth. She is a certified Narrative Enneagram teacher and an IEA (International Enneagram Association)accredited professional. Through her business, AlchemyWorks, she offers organizational Enneagram trainings, publicworkshops, and retreats. Drawing from her business background and theological education, she weaves the practical andthe compassionate in her teaching and consulting. Sandra cocreated and cohosts the podcast Heart of the Enneagram,which explores dimensions of the nine unique Enneagram perspectives through interviewing guests of all nine types. Sinceits release, the podcast has been distributed to listeners in eighty countries. She lives in North Carolina.
The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot: Deck and Guidebook
Emil McGill, author
Al Hirschfeld Foundation, contributor
RP Studio
https://www.rp-studio.com
9780762486984, $30.00, Card Deck & Guidebook, 12pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hirschfeld-Broadway-Tarot-Deck-Guidebook/dp/0762486988
Synopsis: There is something innately spiritual and magical about the theater, from its stories and artists to the magic thathappens on stage.
With the publication of "The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot: Deck and Guidebook", spiritual practitioner, tarot card reader,and former Broadway publicist Emily McGill, captures this inexplicable energy and has now cast Broadway characters,icons, and performers in traditional tarot roles, knowing that these characters and their stories will reveal somethingdeeper, beyond traditional interpretations of the tarot.
These figures have just been waiting to be cast in this deck, like Maria & Tony from West Side Story as "The Lovers" andJean Valjean from Les Miserables as the "Justice" card. In the guidebook, McGill offers an interpretation and reading ofeach card, filled with references to the characters and plays themselves.
The art in this deck is from none other than famous artist and Broadway legend Al Hirschfeld. His instantly recognizableblack and white work is a staple not only in the Broadway scene but all over the world. The images, provided by the AlHirschfeld Foundation, help cement this deck as the ultimate tarot deck for Broadway and theater lovers.
"The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot: Deck and Guidebook" includes: Deluxe tarot package. Includes 78 cards (3 X 5 inches),a guidebook (4 3/4 X 6 inches, 120 pages), an inner card box, and a magnetic closure keepsake outer box.
A fully illustrated guidebook that includes images of each card, alongside card descriptions and suggested interpretations,as well as sample card spreads to guide your practice.
Official Al Hirschfeld art and foundation support with the guidebook, cards, and box all containing art by Al Hirschfeldwhich was officially provided by the Al Hirschfeld foundation for purposes of this deck.
Critique: Unique, special, and a 'must' for tarot practitioners who like the ideal of utilizing the world of Broadway Theatreand the iconic artwork/illustrations of Al Hirschfeld, "The Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot: Deck and Guidebook" is especiallyand unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Tarot Deckcollections.
Editorial Note #1: Emily McGill is a spiritual seeker, soul translator, and storytelling strategist. She is currently pursuing aMaster of Arts in Psychology with a focus on spirituality. Emily has been invited to read tarot for many events and hasbeen featured in publications including Bustle, New York Post, and Playbill. A former Broadway and entertainmentpublicist and consultant, Emily has worked on over 20 Broadway shows, including credits on A Raisin in the Sun,Memphis, Billy Elliot, and more. (www.emilymcgillentertainment.com/broadwaytarot)
Editorial Note #2: AI Hirschfeld (1903-2003) was a caricaturist best known for his calligraphy-style, Black and Whitecaricatures of theatre, film, music, and dance stars. He has been featured in almost all major publications and his workcaptured the essence and magic of performances and productions. He won countless awards in his lifetime, had a theatrenamed after him, and continues to inspire artists through the work of the AI Hirschfeld foundation, which promotes hiswork, the arts, and art education. (www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/bio)
Editorial Note #3: In order to help honor our planet and reduce waste, we have only shrink wrapped the interior cards,rather than the keepsake box. Please feel confident that your product is not defective or used, but rather represents a stepwe are taking to protect our collective home. When you open your deck, you will find that the actual cards inside the boxare shrink wrapped for protection and to ensure first use by the buyer.
Shamanic Star Wisdom Oracle
Lisa Bipitz, author
Petra Kuhne, illustrator
EarthDancer
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9798888501214, $19.99, Card Deck, 44 Cards/112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shamanic-Star-Wisdom-Oracle-Guidebook/dp/B0CSBTD4PW
Synopsis: Has your intuition told you that your soul originated in the stars? Have you had an encounter with star beings oraliens, or have a deep inner knowing that they are real? You are not alone, nor are you a strange or isolated case. You arepart of the cosmic family of starseeds. Welcome home!
With "Shamanic Star Wisdom Oracle: 44-Card Deck and Guidebook" the team of author Lisa Bipitz and illustrator PetraKuhne invite you to explore the wisdom of star beings from across the galaxy, including the innate spiritual gifts you haveinherited through your starseed ancestors.
Fourteen star families are represented on the cards, including Pleiadians, Hathors, Draconians, and Sirians, and each cardshares a talent or quality from the star being shown, such as courage, empathy, beauty, wisdom, or healing power.
The accompanying guidebook explores the meaning of each card and the star being shown as well as providing anaffirmation and an exercise to implement the theme of the card. It explains how shamanic and indigenous cultures havelong known that human life on Earth has extraterrestrial origins. For example, the ancient cultures of North and SouthAmerica recognize 12 planets with human-like life in other solar systems, indigenous Hawaiians believe their ancestorscame from the Pleiades, and lore in Peru and Bolivia contains accounts of a golden boat that came from the heavens.
"Shamanic Star Wisdom Oracle" also describes how to use the cards to discover your original spirit family in the stars, getin touch with them telepathically, unleash the dormant power in your DNA, and protect yourself from negative aliens.
Designed to bring you closer to your own star essence as well as support the personal and cosmic healing needed to assistin Earth's ascension process, "Shamanic Star Wisdom Oracle" enables you to learn about your intergalactic connectionsand remember your soul purpose as a starseed.
Critique: "Shamanic Star Wisdom Oracle: 44-Card Deck and Guidebook" is an essential and unreservedly recommendedpick for anyone with an interest in shamanism, divination, and the metaphysical implications of extraterrestrial life. Thisedition of "Shamanic Star Wisdom Oracle" is a high value addition to personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library Metaphysical Studies & Card Deck collections.
Editorial Note #1: Lisa Biritz has traveled around the world learning shamanic traditions, including the Hawaiian traditionof Huna, Sandra Ingerman's core shamanism, and the healing practices of Medicine Chief Sun Bear. She lives with herfamily in Austria and Hawaii. Petra Kuhne, illustrator and workshop leader, has been working with visionary teacherChuck Spezzano for almost 20 years. Her motifs mostly originate in imaginative, almost fairytale scenes, as well as inspiritual worlds. The illustrator for Oracle of the Birds, she lives in Germany. (https://www.instagram.com/lisabiritz)
Editorial Note #2: Petra Kuhne (www.petralefaye.de) is an illustrator and workshop leader who has been working withvisionary teacher Chuck Spezzano for almost 20 years. Her motifs mostly originate in imaginative, almost fairytale scenes,as well as in spiritual worlds. She lives in Germany.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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