New Book List

November 2003

Nonfiction

After the Liberation of France, the Resistance was glorified and collaborators punished, but these convenient categories obscured the varied and equivocal experience of the ordinary populace. To capture this experience, Gildea concentrates on one region, the Loire, going deep into its archives and interviewing survivors. He describes the blurry line between civility and collaboration -- drinking with Germans in a café was acceptable; inviting them home was not -- and citizens' confusion about where their patriotic duty lay. Typically, people defined their loyalty within their immediate community, which explains their willingness to betray Communists and Jews, but also the lasting bitterness toward the Resistance for the reprisals its attacks on Germans provoked. In terms that would doubtless seem familiar to the inhabitants of other occupied countries, this subtle and humane book shows that the French experience of occupation was one of comfort, deprivation, heroism, pettiness, terror, excitement, pride, and shame. - The New Yorker

Rainforest - Oldfield, Sara

More than half of the world's living species--from the hidden forests and exotic mammals of Madagascar to the multicolored birds and butterflies of Central America--are found almost exclusively within the rainforest canopy. Illustrated with 200 spectacular color photographs, Rainforest celebrates the diversity and beauty of the life in the world's rainforests. Each chapter covers a major rainforest region: Africa, Madagascar, India and Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines, Central America, the Caribbean, the Amazon (which has more plant and animal species than anywhere else on Earth), and Brazil, as well as the temperate rainforests in areas such as Tasmania and North America. The book details habitat, plants and animals, and threats to the precarious balance between humans and rainforests. The introduction provides an overview of the world's rainforests and a summary of current conservation issues. Reference material includes a color world map showing the major rainforests, suggested further reading, and useful addresses. - from the publisher

In the really old days, people didn't require much medicine because they didn't get sick. Lives were cut short by starvation or acts of violence by man or beast. Once humans started farming, domesticating animals, and settling into communities, infectious disease cropped up and begged for medical intervention. And that's where prolific medical historian Porter picks up the trail of Western medical history. He explains how humanity's evolutionary story parallels the evolution of pathogens, and how survival of the fittest translates into survival by those who can develop resistance to disease. In addition, for those who haven't developed such resistance, there have always been sorcerers, shamans, healers, priests, and doctors--hypocritical or Hippocratic--whose development Porter traces from the kindly person who prayed at a sick person's bedside to today's high-tech, bureaucratic professional, who seems to jeopardize the personal touch Hippocrates prescribed. Porter weaves together these stories; histories of the human body, the laboratory, therapies, surgery, and the hospital; and plenty of anecdotes and illustrations with an easy, informal writing style. - Booklist

The author revisits the Great Depression, the period from 1929 until 1933 that had such a slow recovery that the whole decade of the 1930s is often considered the Depression. Armed with increasingly sophisticated analytical techniques, the author sets out to survey the 1930s so that readers without training in economics have a better understanding of the forces at work during this period. In his view, the Great Depression prompted growing intellectual fascination with socialist economic ideas and precipitated World War II, which in turn led to the spread of communism worldwide. This era gave rise to Keynesian macroeconomics, which explained the Depression and advised how to get out of it and is now mainstream economic analysis. The author contends that "in many ways the Great Depression was the defining moment for 20th Century America." - Booklist

At last! A shark book whose basic premise is that sharks are fascinating and valuable animals to be studied, protected, and preserved. Musick, a shark researcher at Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, and McMillan, his wife and a science writer, have given us a well-written, informative tome that covers all aspects of this greatly misunderstood group of fish, including evolution, reproductive behavior, physiology, and feeding behavior. The authors also discuss the media-hyped frenzy of 2001's "Summer of the Shark" and the very real harm this type of hysteria does to efforts to protect endangered species of sharks, including some of those that get the worst press. While the book is loaded with information, there are just enough anecdotes to capture and hold the reader's interest. Scientific terms are used, but explained, so that the reader is challenged but not discouraged by too much jargon. This one is a definite keeper. Highly recommended. - Library Journal

In its accessibility and comprehensive coverage, Peter Kolchin's American Slavery is a singularly important achievement. Now updated to address a decade of new scholarship, the book includes a new preface and afterword and a revised and expanded bibliographic essay. It remains the best introduction we have to a subject of profound and lasting importance, one that lies at the center of American history. - from the publisher

Robert Wiebe sees the Progressive era of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson as a search for organizing principles around which a viable social order could be constructed in a new, largely impersonal world. This book combines the virtues of historical narrative, sociological analysis, and social criticism. - from the publisher

Barry (Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need, 1991, etc.), syndicated humorist and author of a lot of funny books (most with his name in the title—as if there's a lot of shoddy imitation), does it again. This time he does it to the Land of the Rising Sun. The current offering beats making the trip. As Barry notes, "flying from the United States to Japan takes approximately as long as law school." And the book is cheaper. This volume is full of insight into ethnic differences (it would be simpler, for example, "to get the entire population of Tokyo to wear matching outfits than to get any two randomly selected Americans to agree on pizza toppings") and technical similarities ("Japanese telephones work pretty much like ours, except that the person on the other end doesn't understand you"). The always cosmopolitan author, with spouse and ten-year-old son, goes to a mannerly baseball game, sits through a bit of Kabuki, attends a puzzling comedy club, gapes at sumo wrestlers, nearly views Mt. Fuji, worries about the eel shortage, sings karaoke with the worst of them, experiences almost terminal tranquility at a traditional inn, and takes a traditional bath with his traditional yakuta tied wrong. Don't confuse the first-class clowning with contemporary Japan-bashing. Barry sees things quite clearly. And, inspired by a visit to Hiroshima, there's a new, thoughtful touch of maturity. Throughout, though, Barry seeks to avoid the very real dangers of mutual understanding between nations. He succeeds admirably, with his accustomed slapstick ease. A droll, light companion to all those heavy texts that offer dreary, detailed analyses of Nippon and its people. Kirkus

Even if you're an absolute beginner, you can render strikingly realistic faces and self-portraits! Instructor and FBI-trained artist Carrie Stuart Parks makes it simple with foolproof step-by-step instructions that are fun and easy to follow. Proven, hands-on exercises and before-and-after examples from Parks' students ensure instant success! It's all the guidance and inspiration you need to draw realistic faces with precision, confidence and style! - from the publisher

Two top astronomers (and bestselling authors) take a cutting-edge look at how life itself develops, survives, evolves, becomes intelligent, and where it might exist in outer space. Illustrated with breathtaking photos and state-of-the-art graphics, this thrilling story reveals a newfound understanding of the conditions that fostered life on Earth; how stars and planets are formed; the specific qualities of the Sun and planets in our solar system; and the techniques required to observe phenomena outside our system. The fascinating advances in technology and information revealed here could enable us to locate extraterrestrials within the next 20 years! - from the publisher

Out-of-shape and hammered more often than not, Russell Taylor, nearing 40, begins training for the NYC marathon as something of a midlife crisis. His journey from the treadmill in London via Wales to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway illuminates the meaning of the egalitarian race, the only sport where a weekend jogger can run with world-class champions. For everyone who has contemplated running a marathon or watched from the sidelines, this comical and inspiring account will change their understanding of the legendary race.

"Who would guess that a book on training for a marathon could not only be highly entertaining but even howlingly funny?...Taylor's book is ultimately both amusing and eye-opening and will appeal to a wide range of readers-even those whose running experience is limited to sprinting for their morning bus." - from the publisher

Presented in a chronological style, this book interweaves history and description of the historic Lewis and Clark expedition with discussions of their cooking methods. Includes recipes using food stuffs common in the 19th century, wild foods found along their journey, and some Native American foods. - from the publisher

Caught up in the Reformation's efforts to provide ordinary readers with the Scriptures in the vernacular, Tyndale set out to produce a faithful translation of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Old and New Testament. As journalist Moynahan points out in this exhaustively detailed biography, Tyndale's desire to complete such a translation brought him into conflict with the king and his court, for the fruits of the Reformation had yet to make their way into England. Thus, Tyndale set out on a life of self-imposed exile in Germany and Amsterdam, where he translated and printed his Bible. As his work made its way into England-thanks in large part to Anne Boleyn's advocacy-Sir Thomas More, one of England's most active heretic hunters, attempted in every possible way to have Tyndale tried as a heretic. Moynahan recounts the oft-told story of Tyndale's subterfuge and his remarkable contribution to the history of Bible translation while recreating the political and religious intrigue of early 16th-century England. Moynahan captures well More's hatred of Tyndale, whom he called "a hellhound in the kennel of the devil," as well as Tyndale's burning desire to contribute to God's work through Bible translation, even if it meant death at the stake. As Moynahan points out, Tyndale's translation still exists in the King James Version, since his words account for 84% of its New Testament and 76% of its Old Testament. - Publisher's Weekly

From aleph (ancient forerunner of our own a), discovered carved in Egyptian stone as part of the oldest known alphabetic inscription, all the way to the repeated Zs that help give the rock group ZZ Top its name, journalist Sacks unfolds the romance and magic of the English alphabet. Although Sacks writes for nonspecialists, he distills an impressive range of scholarship into his examination of the alphabet's complex cultural history. Readers learn about the astonishing recent archaeological discoveries in central Egypt that have overturned previous theories locating the alphabet's origins in ancient Canaan. We likewise learn about the surprising linguistic flexibility that allowed a single alphabet to jump language barriers around the world, thus giving most of the globe's literate populations recognizably related scripts. This is a delightfully entertaining and engrossing tale of how the score of Roman letters that arrived in England in the seventh century eventually gave us everything from the poetry of William Shakespeare to the official grades used by meat inspectors to evaluate chicken. - Booklist

Casts a new light on Francis, placing him within the context of the ecclesiastical, political, and social forces of medieval Italy in all its violence, color, and mystery. It was, like our own era, a time of crisis with a craving for reform and for a deeper, simpler, more personal faith, even while concern for the common good, the poor, and the sick was virtually unknown. Francis insisted that this concern lay at the heart of the Gospel, and he dedicated his life to reinstating it, in the process pioneering a new social movement, one that ultimately and tragically slipped from his grasp. Spoto draws on unprecedented access to unexplored archives in Rome, Assisi, Grecchio, and Florence, as well as on Francis' own letters, to offer the most nuanced and fully drawn portrait of a man from his spiritual epiphany before a crucifix in a small rural church in Umbria to the failures and bitter disappointments of his later years. This is a landmark biography of a man who can genuinely be said to have changed the course of history. - from the publisher

This engaging, accessible book of essays from Pulitzer Prize-winning philosopher and historian Durant, author of the authoritative 11-volume Story of Civilization, should be essential reading for anyone interested in the evolution of thought. Little, the founder and director of The Will Durant Foundation, includes in his slim compendium such works as "The One Hundred 'Best' Books For an Education" and "Twelve Vital Dates in World History." Durant's "The Ten 'Greatest' Thinkers" details minds as enlightening as Confucius and as influential as Darwin, whom Durant says "reduced man to an animal fighting for his transient mastery of the globe." "The Ten 'Greatest' Poets," charts a course from Homer's brilliance to Dante's haunted heart to Whitman's "frank and lusty" originality, in prose peppered with biographical bon mots and excerpts of the world's loveliest poems. Lay folks especially will find this a delightful introduction to Durant's irrepressible style. What else would one expect from Durant, an intellect who, when asked, "Whom [in all of history] would you most like to have known?" drolly replied, "Madame de Pompadour." - Publisher's Weekly

Seabiscuit was an unlikely champion: a roughhewn, undersized horse with a sad little tail and knees that wouldn't straighten all the way. But, thanks to the efforts of three men, Seabiscuit became one of the most spectacular performers in sports history. The rags-to-riches horse emerged as an American cultural icon, drawing an immense following and becoming the single biggest newsmaker of 1938 -- receiving more coverage than FDR or Hitler. Laura Hillenbrand beautifully renders this story of one horse's journey from also-ran to national luminary. - from the publisher

The list of Glenn Hammond Curtiss’s achievements as a major figure in the early history of aviation is long and impressive. He was, journalist Shulman writes, "the first to make a public flight in the United States, the first to sell a commercial airplane, the first to fly from one American city to another, and the first to receive a U.S. pilot license, to name just a few of his accomplishments." Shulman makes his biography a suspense story by tracing Curtiss’s long and bitter legal battle with Orville Wright, who charged Curtiss (and many others) with patent infringement. "Ultimately, the case would cripple the development of the youthful aviation industry, especially in the United States." Now, however, one can see that a number of Curtiss’s "seminal contributions are still in use in airplanes today, including everything from wing flaps and retractable landing gear to the enclosed cockpit and the design of the pontoons used on seaplanes," whereas "virtually none of the Wright brothers’ aeronautical designs has stood the test of time." - Scientific American

Smil, in a presentation marked by balance and clarity, synthesizes the field of science dealing with the biosphere. It is an interdisciplinary one, combining organic chemistry, geology, solar physics, microbiology, zoology, and more. A superior, comprehensive survey. - Booklist

FICTION

The eight novel in the bestselling Mitford Years series is a mediation on the best of all presents--the gift of one's heart. Lovingly written and beautifully illustrated, it seeks to restore the true Christmas spirit and give everyone a seat at Mitford's holiday table. - from the publisher

Ted Chiang's first published story, "Tower of Babylon," won the Nebula Award in 1990. Subsequent stories have won the Asimov's SF Magazine reader poll, a second Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Sidewise Award for alternate history. He won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1992. Story for story, he is the most honored young writer in modern SF. Now, collected here for the first time are all seven of this extraordinary writer's stories so far-plus an eighth story written especially for this volume. What if men built a tower from Earth to Heaven-and broke through to Heaven's other side? What if we discovered that the fundamentals of mathematics were arbitrary and inconsistent? What if there were a science of naming things that calls life into being from inanimate matter? What if exposure to an alien language forever changed our perception of time? What if all the beliefs of fundamentalist Christianity were literally true, and the sight of sinners being swallowed into fiery pits were a routine event on city streets? These are the kinds of outrageous questions posed by the stories of Ted Chiang. Stories of your life . . . and others. - from the publisher

When Ugo DiFonte and his teenaged daughter Miranda are snatched from their farm and spirited away to Duke Federico Basillione DiVincelli's estate, Ugo thinks life can't get any worse...until he is forced to replace the recently de-tongued royal food taster. Now Ugo must stay alive-a difficult prospect considering the prince's myriad of enemies and their poisons-to protect Miranda from her suitors and desires, and somehow hold the unruly court together.
A bestseller in ten countries, in this novel of gastronomical delight and brilliant wit Peter Elbling remarkably captures the sights, sounds, and tastes of sixteenth-century Italy with the story of a peasant rising to extraordinary and death-defying acts of grace. - from the publisher

Encapsulating a career that has spanned more than six decades, this retrospective compilation confirms what everyone already knows: Ray Bradbury is the master of short fiction. Included in this "collection to end collections" are classics like "The Illustrated Man," "The Toynbee Convector," and "The Pedestrian" (the precursor to Fahrenheit 451), as well as little-known literary gems like "Almost the End of the World," a story about what happens when humanity loses television reception; "The Garbage Collector," Bradbury's reaction to an ignorant politician; and a bittersweet story ("Bug") about an aging man who lets reality get between him and the thing he loves most. - Barnes and Noble

The fourth Harry Potter book: Fourteen-year-old Harry Potter joins the Weasleys at the Quidditch World Cup, then enters his fourth year at Hogwarts Academy where he is mysteriously entered in an unusual contest that challenges his wizarding skills, friendships and character, amid signs that an old enemy is growing stronger.- from the publisher

By the author of The Horse Whisperer. New York born and bred, Julia Bishop has no warning that spending the summer counseling troubled teens in Montana will change her life forever. Happily in love with smoke jumper and musician Ed Tully, she looks forward to spending the summer weekends with him in Missoula and is stunned and disturbed by the instant connection she feels to his best friend, Connor Ford. Connor, a Montana rancher and smoke jumper, loves fighting fires almost as much as he loves photography, and before the summer is barely started, he loves Julia Bishop just as deeply. The bond between the three is strong but the work of a smoke jumper is fraught with danger and the trio soon face death by fire. Survival changes their lives forever and places them on paths that divide Julia, Ed, and Connor just as surely as their individual journeys bind them irrevocably together. The Smoke Jumper is a tale of loyalty and guilt, honor and selfless love, and the human cost of choices made. - Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Jack McCall is an American living in Rome with his young daughter, trying to find peace after the recent trauma of his wife's suicide. But his solitude is disturbed by the appearance of his sister-in-law, who begs him to return home, and of two school friends, who want his help in tracking down another classmate who went underground as a Vietnam protester and never resurfaced. These requests launch Jack on a journey that encompasses the past and the present in both Europe and the American South and that leads him to shocking and ultimately liberating truths. Told with deep feeling and the unmistakable brand of Conroy humor, this powerful novel adds another masterpiece to the legendary list of classics that his body of works has become. - from the publisher

Vietnam veteran Bob Lee Swagger leaves the comfort of the Arkansas hills to undertake one last mission for his country, but he soon learns that he is the fall guy in a dark plot to assassinate the president. - Ingram

REFERENCE

This unique resource provides readers with a systematic guide to the central themes in 150 of the most commonly taught American novels. Each of the 50 well written essays identifies and discusses an important theme, such as Alienation, Corruption of Power, and Immigrant Life that recurs in American literature. The pertinence of these themes is examined in a wide range of novels that reflect this country's cultural diversity and that span the many time periods in America's literary heritage. These novels include the canonical and the contemporary, yet they are all works that are accessible and important to students, and were selected in consultation with educators and experts' published curriculum surveys. The organization of this guide allows users to compare and contrast thematically related novels and also provides help in the selection of titles for classroom discussion and assignments. This thematic guide is organized into 50 narrative essays. Each essay, written expressively with the student in mind, provides in-depth analyses of three American novels. The entries include selected lists of further suggested readings; additional fiction works that relate to the theme explored. Two helpful appendices make this resource even more valuable for the literature collection. One appendix provides additional themes and topics to be explored in the 150 novels. For quick reference, a second appendix organizes the 150 discussed novels alphabetically, identifying both the central and secondary themes for discussion in each. An author/title index, as well as a character/title index, facilitated optimum access to these works. - from the publisher

VIDEO

Brings to life one of the most pivotal events in human history, the creation of the Greek empire stretching from the Balkans to India. Michael Wood hosts this colorful journey across 20,000 miles, 16 countries and four war zones, retracing Alexander's expedition that first joined East and West.