| Newest Books - check 'em out! |
| 028.9 | Traill, William Edward |
| Fur Trade Letters of Willie Traill 1864-1893 |
| "Willie Traill left Upper Canada to join the Hudson Bay Company as a clerk.
His details and portrait of family life in the fur trade of the Northwest are extraordinary. This is a
fascinating tale of the frontier of the Canadian West and should not be missed by those interested in
this historical era." |
| 070.4 | Boomhower, Ray E. |
| The Soldier's Friend: A Life of Ernie Pyle |
| "An illustrated biography of a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter who covered
World War II. Ernie Pyle died in combat in the Pacific. Included are many photographs of Pyle with the
troops and reprints of several of his most famous warfront columns." |
| 082.22 | Shapiro, Fred R. |
| The Yale Book of Quotations |
| "An inclusive reference source for quotations of all types. Indexed by keyword
and author." |
| 230.3-297.03 | Geaves, Ron |
| "Key Words" Series (Christianity; Religious Studies; Buddhism; Hinduism;
Islam; Judaism) |
| "This series of six titles is outstanding in providing an accessible but
in-depth glossary of specialized terms for each of the major world religions included." |
| 305.409 | Zanganeh, Lila Azam (Editor) |
| My Sister, Guard Your Veil; My Brother, Guard Your Eyes: Uncensored Iranian
Voices |
| "If you asked fifty people on the street in America to describe Iran, many
would come up with a similar version of an Arab country led by a shah; they would be wrong. This small
book offers a large view of Iran through the eyes of fifteen different Iranians who range from poets
to writers to philosophers to film directors. The essays are intensely personal and readable--a good
starting point for those who want to learn more about Iran beyond the Western perception." |
| 305.8 | Stowe, Gene and Carl A. Sergio |
| Inherit the Land: Jim Crow Meets Miss Maggie's Will |
| "In 1920, two white sisters left their large estate in Mississippi to a
black man and his daughter. This title is an account of the court battle that followed. Ultimately, an
all white jury upheld the will of sisters Sallie and Maggie and awarded the estate to Bob Ross and his
daughter Mittie, who had grown up in the sisters' household. Extensive quotes from the local
newspapers show that the case forced local citizens to prevail against the status quo of the time.
Many "players" in the case went on to state or federal positions within the American judicial system.
Recommended for larger public libraries." |
| 307.341 | Freeman, Lance |
| There Goes the 'Hood: Views of Gentrification from the Ground Up |
| "Residents of Harlem and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn have experienced firsthand
the effects of gentrification in their neighborhoods. Author Lance Freeman reveals those effects
through interviews with the residents of these neighborhoods in this personal and thoroughly
researched work." |
| 320.509 | Young-Bruehl, Elisabeth |
| Why Arendt Matters |
| "Hannah Arendt biographer, Elisabeth Young-Bruehl, has put together a
splendid volume on the current political atmosphere in the United States and how the late Arendt might
have reacted to the current state of American politics. Bruehl studied under Dr. Arendt who acted as
Bruehl's mentor. Her access to previous private letters, published works and manuscripts written by
Arendt throughout her life makes this volume come alive. She does an excellent job of placing Hannah
Arendt's life in context with what was going on politically from the 1920's to the time of her death
in the 1970's. This background makes Arendt's life meaningful to modern political science and once
again puts Hannah Arendt back into the spotlight 30 years after her death. Bruehl seamlessly pieces
together Arendt's writing with current political philosophy and precisely explains why journalists and
politicos today have Arendt's message all wrong. This brief book is well worth the read." |
| 323 | Jenkins, Brian Michael |
| Unconquerable Nation: Knowing Our Enemy, Strengthening Ourselves |
| "I was not prepared to like this book but instead found it to be a
comprehensive, well-written, interesting book detailing what the United States is facing in its war on
terror. The book begins with a clear analysis of the situation we are in and the dangers we are
facing. He then outlines a practical and principled approach to dealing with the situation, while
managing to maintain a rational balance of political criticism for both parties and their handling of
the struggle. It is a hard-hitting, thought-provoking read that even high school students should
read." |
| 323.322 | Pybus, Cassandra |
| Epic Journeys of Freedom: Runaway Slaves of the American Revolution and
Their Global Quest for Liberty |
| "Through her meticulous research and an engaging narrative, Pybus provides a
superb collective biography of those slaves during the American Revolution who dared to pursue their dreams of freedom. This book would be an appropriate addition to either African-American History or Revolutionary War collections."
"This book shines because of Ms. Cassandra Pybus's stellar research. Her description of the upheaval
surrounding the American Revolution is sound. Following leads on four different continents, Ms. Pybus
pieces together the lives of several slaves who escaped from their colonial masters, including George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson, to British forces in hopes of freedom. The story continues after the
end of the American Revolution when the retreating British withdrew from the American Continent and
took the slaves back to Britain. From there, many were sent to various parts of the world such as
Australia and the African country of Liberia. Cassandra Pybus's book adds much needed historical
documentation to a group of people who have largely been forgotten by history. Every school and public
library should own a copy of this book. |
| 327.73 | Hunt, Swanee |
| Half-Life of a Zealot |
| "This beautifully written book takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through
every conceivable emotion. Ms. Hunt tells her exceptional story of privilege and depravation, love and
Raised in a wealthy southern family, Swanee Hunt grew beyond her conservative upbringing to travel the
world, first as a student, then as the United States Ambassador to Austria and finally as an
international humanitarian. Ms. Hunt's book is one of the best autobiographies I have read in nearly a
decade." |
| 338.4 | Howard, Vicki |
| Brides, Inc.: American Weddings and the Business of Tradition |
| "Using journals, fiction, advertising, and etiquette books, Howard documents
the growth of weddings in American history. Sociological, literary, and economic references are meshed
to document the rise of wedding traditions ranging from the use of engagement rings to modern gift
registries. First person accounts and illustrations enhance the descriptions of modern wedding
practices especially during the first half of the last century." |
| 363.325 | Atwan, Abdel Bari |
| The Secret History of al Qaeda |
| "Abdel Bari Atwan is an Arab Muslim who lives in London; he is also a
reporter. As a Muslim and a reporter, he is one of the few in the West who has actually interviewed
Osama bin Laden personally. In this volume, Atwan not only tells his story of his encounter with bin
Laden but also thoroughly analyzes the man, the organization, the adherents, the martyrs, the present,
the future. Written in an interesting and compelling style, the book is a disturbing read about a
situation for which there are no easy solutions. As a London newspaper editor who has interviewed Bin
Laden in person, Abdel Bari Atwan describes the Al Qaeda movement in detail and gives his perspective
on the goals and aims of the organization." |
| 394.14 | Burns, Eric |
| The Smoke of the Gods: A Social History of Tobacco |
| "Burns documents the role of tobacco in American history from the European
explorers to the 1960's. The growth of smoking and its effect on America life and politics is related
in stories and media sources. The inclusion on anti-smoking efforts makes this a balanced and engaging
account. This is a well-written commentary on the social side of tobacco. From the earliest Natives
to today's huddled masses outside their non-smoking office buildings Eric Burns takes us on a journey
through time that shows the many stages of tobacco's acceptance and rejection." |
| 592 | Attenborough, David |
| Life in the Undergrowth |
| "Companion to the television program of the same name which airs on Animal
Planet. Sir Attenborough has an engaging way of discussing science and natural history, which makes it
readable. He focuses his attention on invertebrates in this volume and the role they have played in
evolutionary history. He also urges the reader to understand the complicated and important connection
between these creatures and all others on earth. Recommended for all public libraries." |
| 595.722 | Turpin, Tom |
| Flies in the Face of Fashion, Mites Make Right, and Other BUGdacious Tales |
| "Insects and humans, insect biology, insect ecology, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera,
Dipera and other orders are presented with humor and wit in this easy to read small book with short
chapters. Fact boxes with astounding facts at the end of chapters and a few funny black and white
drawings enhance the text. The colorful, red, orange, green and red cover, small size, and whimsical
narrative make this an informative and fun read." |
| 595.781 | Miller, Jeffrey C., Daniel H. Janzen, and Winifred Hallwachs |
| 100 Caterpillars: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica |
| "Before learning about the behavior, ecology, and detailed description of
the 100 caterpillars, the first one-third of this book shows glossy, full page colored photographs of
the caterpillars. The coffee-table hardback title is cumbersome as a guide, but it is an excellent
identification book for moths of the Costa Rica tropics with its concise text and gallery of
caterpillars." |
| 597.928 | Ruckdeschel, Carol and C. Robert Shoop |
| Sea Turtles of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States |
| "This guide to Atlantic and Gulf Coasts sea turtles begins with clear,
descriptive text on the general behaviors of turtles and is followed by detailed information on the
specifics of the habitat, status, size, color, shell, head, limbs, traits, diet, predators, nesting
and hatchlings of leatherbacks, loggerheads, green turtles, hawksbill, olive ridley and Kemp's ridley
turtles. Besides the comprehensive information on turtles and conservations efforts, there are superb,
photographs abounding on nearly every page and habitation maps for each turtle, making this a resource for
middle schoolers to adults." |
| 598 | Swash, Andy and Rob Still |
| Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galápagos Islands: An Identification
Guide, 2nd Edition |
| "This handy sized guide to animals of the Galápagos Islands is divided into
seven sections, beginning with a concise overview of the climate, geography and habitats of the
islands. This small book would be beneficial for visitors to the islands. The majority of the book
covers the birds' identifying features, species, subspecies, and habitats and includes a glossy
photograph of each bird. Similar treatment is given to the reptiles and mammals of the Galápagos
Islands pages. The book finishes with a useful chart of regularly occurring species." |
| 598.7 | Forshaw, Joseph M. |
| Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide |
| "As an introduction the reader learns about habitats, habits, calls,
conservation, predators, disease, and international pet trade along with lengthy information on the
order, family, subfamily and tribe of all known parrots. Parrots are divided into old world and new
world parrots. About 120 glossy, colored photographs of parrots, along with range distribution maps
and detailed descriptions of each parrot fill most of this large, informative book." |
| 599 | Shirihai, Hadoram and Brett Jarrett |
| Whales, Dolphins, and Other Marine Mammals of the World (Princeton Field
Guides) |
| "This lavishly illustrated field guide to marine mammals with glossy,
colored photographs, range maps and fact boxes giving characteristics on surfacing and typical
behavior at the surface of whales and marine mammals. The variation by age and sex color diagrams,
notes on physical characteristics and similar species, spout shapes, ecology make it ideal for study
and for whale watching. It presents an enormous amount of information in an easy to use and readable
format for young and old, novice or expert." |
| 612.79 | Jablonski, Nina G. |
| Skin: A Natural History |
| "Covering us up and holding our insides in, our skin is often taken for
granted. Not only does it rank as our largest organ, it comes in many colors, is a barometer of what
s going on inside of us, and can be decorated in a wide variety of ways. A thought-provoking look at
a subject that seems one-dimensional, but really delves beneath the surface." |
| 641.597 | Sauceman, Fred W. |
| The Place Setting: Timeless Tastes of the Mountain South, from Bright Hope
to Frog Level-First Course |
| "A little bit of history, economics lessons, and story with your recipes?
Written by a newspaper food columnist, this book shares the stories behind food businesses and
restaurants which operate in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina.
|
| 740.943 | Baskett, John |
| The Horse in Art |
| "Beginning with depictions of horses in ancient civilizations (including
Asia), The Horse in Art is a comprehensive collection of horses in a variety of media formats,
(sculpture, tapestry, bronze). Artists' biographies are including with explanations of the historical
context of the illustrated work and the use the horse at the time. Given the popularity of horse
drawings by kids, this book should be an instant hit as well as useful for historical or artistic
research!" |
| 759.12 | Kirkpatrick, Sidney |
| The Revenge of Thomas Eakins |
| "Documentary filmmaker, Sidney Kirkpatrick, brings a new perspective to
Eakin's lifelong struggle to have his work perceived as fine art and not illustration in this
fascinating new biography of one of America's great artists. Eakin's life story has been viewed as
complex and each new biography of the man reveals a deeper understanding of how he viewed his work,
his students and his family. This volume includes 42 color plates of his paintings and 50 black and
white photographs. This book is recommended for all public libraries." |
| 759.132 | Ormond, Richard and Warren Adelson |
| Sargent's Venice |
| "This book is divided into five chapters which discuss aspects of Sargent's
love affair and resulting paintings of a city that he explored with his paint brush. Richard Ormond,
reat nephew of American painter John Singer Sargent, presents a chapter on Sargent's work in Venice
from 1900-1913. Other chapters are written by leading Sargent scholars who trace the artist's cultural
within an expatriate colony of others from America and Britain. Wonderful color illustrations are
included in each chapter of this large format book. Recommended for all public libraries with
extensive art collections." |
| 760 | Macmillan, Neil |
| An A-Z of Type Designers |
| "This book is not only visually stimulating, but also meticulously compiled.
Each designer is represented by a list of type they designed as well as any writings by or about them
and a very brief biography. Neil Macmillan also includes brief essays on topics like font as
self-expression, nationality and type and typeface revivals. The book is not meant to be scholarly,
but rather a quick reference guide to types and designers. Macmillan's choice of graphics is
outstanding encompassing centuries of type. He does a spectacular job keeping the reader stimulated
and eager to learn more." |
| 770 | Price, Sally and Richard Price |
| Romare Bearden: The Caribbean Dimension |
| "An illustrated biography of Romare Bearden, an Afro-American artist from
Charlotte, NC, whose most celebrated paintings came from the time period he spent living in the
Caribbean islands. Includes beautifully reproduced color plates of over 100 paintings along with
drawings Bearden made in correspondence with friends and other projects." |
| 781.64 | Hollis, Tim and Greg Ehrbar |
| Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records |
| "This title chronicles the creation, growth, and continued success of what
as originally known as Walt Disney Records. Anyone who ever sang "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" will be
entranced by this title, as will the generation who grew up with the New Mickey Mouse Club. Not only is
he story of the record company itself told, the story of many of the performers is also outlined. A great
piece of history that has, up to now, not been well-documented." |
| 782.14 | Banfield, Stephen |
| Jerome Kern |
| "A founding father of the modern American musical theater, Jerome Kern
(1885-1945) was the composer of a multitude of popular songs. Banfield provides a critical overview of
Kern's musical accomplishments throughout his career and thoroughly covers the era from Broadway, to
Hollywood, drawing on unpublished manuscripts and scores to illustrate the composer's breadth of
experience. Kern's life, personality, and working methods are detailed thoroughly, as is the
development of his work from the early musical comedies through the collaborations with Hammerstein
and P. G. Wodehouse up to the later film scores. Banfield focuses with exceptional style on the
musical and lyrical structures of Kern's compositions." |
| 782.42 | Gioia, Ted |
| Work Songs |
| "Author Ted Gioia presents the work songs of a wide variety of occupations.
Laborers in the field, lumberjacks, sailors, miners, and more; all have a specific set of songs that
were born through their experiences of work. Gioia offers two thoughts for the reader to ponder--are
work songs simply music for the sake of being music, or are they expected to improve our lives in some
way? Many actual lyrics are included, from those that are well known like "John Henry" to those that
have rarely been heard outside their original environment." |
| 796.357 | Thomson, Cindy and Scott Brown |
| Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story |
| "The last time the Cubs won the pennant, Brown was a critical member of the
pitching staff. The fact that he overcame a serious handicap to become one of the premier pitchers of
his day makes this a very appealing story. This volume is accessibly written and will be appreciated
by baseball buffs everywhere." |
| 796.6 | Thompson, Christopher S. |
| The Tour de France: A Cultural History |
| "Thanks to Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France has become one of the most
popular sports events for the American public. Christopher S. Thompson tells the story of the race,
from its creation in 1903 to the present. Adding to the interest of the book is his analysis of what
was happening culturally during key points of the event-world wars, music, politics, novels, to name a
few. Whether read cover-to-cover, "dipped" into to read about certain times or events, or used for
research, this is a fun book." |
| 822.3 | Shakespeare, William (annotated, with an introduction by Burton Raffel)
|
| "The Annotated Shakespeare" Series: Henry the Fourth, Part I;
Julius Caesar; The Merchant of Venice; The Tempest |
| "The volumes in this series will enrich any library that stocks annotated
editions of individual Shakespearean plays. Professor Raffel contributes two introductory essays and
on-page annotations that aid the reader in vocabulary, usage of Elizabethan English, pronunciation,
lternative readings of phrases and lines, and prosody, i.e. metric structure or accents. Harold Bloom
contributes an essay that is specific to the play in each volume. Especially helpful are definitions
of common words that have changed meanings over the past four hundred years. It's fun to learn from
notes that statements that are obscure today were, on the stage of the Globe, really quite bawdy. This
series thus far includes: Hamlet (2003), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2004), Macbeth (2005), Othello
(2005), Romeo and Juliet (2004), and The Taming of the Shrew (2005)." |
| 833.914 | Zweig, Stefanie (Translated by Marlies Comjean) |
| Somewhere in Germany: An Autobiographic Novel |
| "The story of Regina and her family continues in the sequel to Nowhere in
Africa as the family returns to postwar Germany and her father once again works as a lawyer. Germany,
though, seems as strange and unwelcoming in 1946 as Kenya did in 1938. The story follows Regina's
teenage years and development into a young career woman. While not as strong as Nowhere in Africa, the
book is a compelling read that puts closure on Regina's story." |
| 937.05 | Goldsworthy, Adrian |
| Caesar: Life of a Colossus |
| "More than just a great biography, this title also provides a fresh new look
This book gives an excellent perspective on Caesar's accomplishments with a high degree of scholarship
that is also very accessible to modern readers." |
| 938.003 | Shipley, Graham, et al. |
| The Cambridge Dictionary of Classical Civilization |
| "A fine reference work for any library-serving patrons who seek information
on not only Greek and Roman civilizations, but Phoenician, Celtic, Jewish, Persian, Chinese, and
Indian life as well. Frequently includes black and white photographs and diagrams as illustrations.
Features good cross references to direct students to the proper entry." |
| 940.53 | Ben-Atar, Roma Nutkiewicz |
| What Time and Sadness Spared: Mother and Son Confront the Holocaust |
| "Roma Ben-Atar did not want to tell her story of Holocaust and concentration
camp survival, despite the urging of her son and daughter. Not until her granddaughter forces her
grandmother to tell the "real" story does the whole truth come out about the terrible ordeal of the
upper middle class Jewish girl who lived in Warsaw during horrors of Hitler's Final Solution. From the
comfortable apartment where she lived with her educated Zionist parents, to the torments of Majdanek
and Auschwitz to the death marches of 1945 to her arrival in Israel, Ben-Atar tells an honest tale of
a girl whose life is turned upside down." |
| 940.53 | Good, Michael |
| The Search for Major Plagge: The Nazi Who Saved Jews, Expanded Edition |
| "By forming an automobile repair unit in Vilna, Wehrmacht Major Karl Plagge
attempted to save one thousand Jews (some with no auto repair skills) and succeeded in saving two
hundred and fifty. Pearl Esterowicz Good believes she lived because of Major Plagge. In 1999, her son,
Dr. Michael Good, began searching for the major who dropped into obscurity after the war, so that he
could learn more of "a man whose story exemplifies the choice that humans have to select good over
evil." His book begins with a brief history of the Holocaust in Vilna so well done that it can stand
alone as an introduction to the Holocaust. Pearl's horror stories of daily life in the ghetto evoke
images of the major film that should be made. About one third of the book involves the search for
Major Plagge. Who was he? Why did he endanger himself? A worldwide volunteer Internet search team
formed. They succeeded, and Plagge is now named as one of the "Righteous Among Nations" by the State
f Israel. Includes testimony of a soldier who worked for Plagge who came forward after the release of
the first edition. Recommended for all collections." |
| 940.53 | Litoff, Judy Barrett (Editor) |
| An American Heroine in the French Resistance: The Diary and Memoir of
Virginia D'Albert-Lake |
| "The love story of American Virginia Roush and Frenchman Philippe
D'Albert-Lake, married in 1936. During the Second World War, Virginia chose to remain with her beloved
husband. During 1943, she and her husband joined the French Resistance. She was interrogated and
tortured by the Gestapo, and survived numerous concentration camps in Europe. Her courage will never
be forgotten by the American and British pilots whose lives she saved." |
| 940.53 | Ogilvie, Sarah A. and Scott Miller |
| Refuge Denied: The Saint Louis Passengers and the Holocaust |
| "In America, photos of refugees at a ship's railing usually symbolize pride
in our immigrant past and hope for the future. In May of 1939, however, such photos were not of
welcome newcomers but rather of rejected German Jews, 937 of them, who were refused permission to land
in Cuba, and then in Miami. They were sent back to Europe. Since then it has been commonly assumed that
most of the passengers of the St. Louis perished in the Holocaust. Sarah Ogilvie and Scott Miller, of the
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, spent ten years searching out the fate of every one of the 937.
Painstakingly pieced together, this work is engrossing, illuminating, revealing, and sad. Two hundred
fifty four of them died in the Holocaust; around half eventually migrated to the United States; only about
twenty lived out their lives in continental Europe. The book is "intended as a testament to the capacity
of individuals to endure in the face of injustice." It deserves a place in any collection where there is
interest in the historical method and respect for the human side of history." |
| 940.53 | Takemoto, Paul Howard |
| Nisei Memories: My Parents Talk about the War Years |
| "Paul Takemoto parents were caught in the anti-Japanese hysteria that
followed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His father left the University of Hawaii to join the
U.S. Army--even though he was classified an 'enemy alien.' Like 120,000 other Japanese Americans who
were forcibly relocated, his then fifteen-year-old mother was sent with her family to a relocation
camp. Mr. Takemoto's work gains strength from his journalism experience and from many hours of
recorded interviews with his parents. The story is all the more vivid because his grandfather was a
pack rat who saved a lot of 'stuff.' Because of him, we can read a 1943 purchase order from the INS
for 'alien enemy, James Zenich Imamoto. ' The readers will be amused and moved by the ultimate
silliness of an internal staff memo that defined who was, and was not, a Jap as opposed to a Japanese.
Beautifully written this deserves a place in history and/or memoir collections." |
| 940.54 | Romeiser, John B. |
| Combat Reporter: Don Whitehead's World War II Diary and Memoirs |
| "World War II reporter Don Whitehead was at the front lines and often worked
while dodging bullets. From early 1943 through V-E Day his dispatches came from the front--the North
African desert, El Alamein, Cherbourg, Rome, aboard an invasion ship on D-Day, and from Buchenwald. It
takes strong effort for those of us who now know so much about World War II to go back to a time when
eyewitness, written accounts, and an occasional snippet of news film (all censored at the front), were
the only sources of information back home. This is the second of two volumes. The first volume,
Beachhead Don (c. 2004) includes Whitehead's published stories. His memoir and diary includes ethnocentric and chauvinistic comments that reflect those times and his rural background. All of these pieces predate his two Pulitzer Prizes by several years. The volumes are a worthwhile addition to the history of journalism."
"Brilliantly written, Combat Reporter is a World War II memoir of Don Whitehead, winner of two Pulitzer
prizes. He recounts his first combat assignment in North Africa and then in Sicily. He bears witness
to the hardships, friends lost, censorship and the horror of battle up close and personal." |