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NLS: Talking Book Topics

March and April 2007

In Brief

Changed CDAG information

Please note that the following information from the Collection Development Advisory Group roster, published in the January-February issues of Braille Book Review and Talking Book Topics, has changed. The new e-mail address of Southern Region representative Chet Avery is cs.avery@comcast.net.

Odyssey magazine replaces Teen People

The magazine Teen People ceased publication in September 2006. NLS replaced Teen People with Teen Newsweek for one month, but found its format inappropriate for the intended audience. NLS has now replaced Teen Newsweek with Odyssey, a science and space exploration magazine for readers ages ten to sixteen.

Flash, November 2006, volume 2, issue 12

The following information is reprinted from NLS Flash, November 2006, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals.

Patrons download digital talking books for first time

Users confirm that DTB design is on target

The pilot for downloadable digital talking books (DTBs) officially launched October 13. In fact, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, recently received its first set of patron surveys from the pilot, and initial feedback was positive.

"Until now, our usability tests have primarily focused on the digital player. The current pilot is different in that its emphasis is on testing actual digital books. For the first time, patrons are experiencing the books for themselves and we are excited to see the critical comments they’ve provided, most of which have been positive," said Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director.

This is good news as NLS seeks to gauge the functionality of the books and make necessary refinements prior to formal launch of the digital program in 2008. The download pilot is the first opportunity patrons have had to assess DTBs at home. Their comments on usability will impact the presentation of digital materials in the future. The pilot will run until the full-scale download program begins in 2007.

The pilot’s primary goal is to assess such aspects of the usability of digital talking books as the number and placement of navigational markers, audio quality, and the overall reading experience. NLS staff have used their best judgment in making decisions regarding the number and placement of navigational markers, and used scientific analysis in deciding the type of compressed audio used. NLS is now looking to patrons to validate the results. The largest pilot test to date, it includes one hundred patrons from across the country. They were selected based on their interest in the project and their technical expertise.

Patrons are currently reviewing a collection of 1,800 books and 12 magazine titles. Download offerings reflect the full NLS collection, comprising approximately 55 percent fiction and 45 percent nonfiction titles. Only titles that were originally recorded in digital audio are included in order to maximize the usefulness of test data. Books initially distributed on cassettes in analog format and converted to digital will eventually be part of the full collection, but they were excluded from the pilot because they do not take full advantage of the DTB navigational potentialities.

The collection has been expanded to include additional titles, such as foreign-language and children’s books. Participants may also make suggestions as to which titles are added. If the book already exists in digital format, it will be considered for immediate inclusion. If the title is not currently digital, it will be forwarded to the Collection Development Section for consideration.

How it works

In designing the download system, NLS wanted to ensure that the technology would not interfere with the reading experience itself, so the download process is fairly straightforward and user-friendly. Using their own high-speed Internet connections, participants download their desired titles from a special web site to their computers. From there, the titles are transferred onto commercial flash cards provided by NLS, which are then inserted into the digital talking-book players and read. As NLS’s digital talking-book machine will not be ready until 2008, participants are using a commercially available player, on loan for the purpose of the pilot, that has been modified to read NLS digital books.

The web site’s main page contains a list of links to the books, magazines, and surveys. Patrons may search books by author, title, subject, or date with recently added books noted at the top. Magazines may be searched according to title and issue date.

According to research and development officer Neil Bernstein—who is overseeing the download pilot with automation officer Michael Martys, digital contracts coordinator Alice Baker, and chief engineer Michael Katzmann—the web site has been getting great reviews from patrons. Participants appreciate the accessibility and efficiency it brings their reading.

Results are in

The pilot’s success hinges on patron comments. In order to capture as many comments as possible, it is necessary that patrons submit surveys for each book and magazine they read. Surveys contain about ten questions each and exist in different versions for books and magazines. Survey questions focus on title selection; ease, rate, and usefulness of navigation; and ease of downloading and transferring the title to flash cards.

Participating patrons are required to read at least one title per month. They must complete one survey before downloading another title.

The first batch of patron surveys reveals positive impressions. Most readers reported selecting books based on subjects of interest. Seventy percent reported no problems downloading the book or transferring it to the player. As for the DTB’s navigation features, 72 percent of participants favored the number of navigation points, and 77 percent were satisfied they could navigate easily everywhere they pleased. More than 86 percent of users found the ability to navigate useful.

Magazine readers expressed similar sentiments. The majority of magazine-reading patrons (83 percent) had no problem downloading or transferring their selection to a card and 43 percent chose the magazine because they liked its topic. Additionally, 62 percent thought the magazine offered the right number of navigation points, and 73 percent considered navigation easy.

The increased navigation features offered by magazines are a big draw for patrons. One patron commented, "I’ve only read one magazine so far—October issue of Money—and its navigation offerings are fantastic! . . . If all the magazines are like this, I am going to become even more of a magazine junkie than I’ve always been!"

"These results appear to confirm that we are approaching the download in an appropriate manner, that development is on the right path," notes Bernstein. "Only when you put this technology into patrons’ hands do you really understand how well or poorly it functions."

Open forum

In addition to surveys, patrons also share their comments on a specially created message board. The board offers participants an open forum for sharing with each other feedback, questions, criticisms, and suggestions about the DTBs and the download experience. It is also NLS’s primary vehicle for communicating with participants.

The message board has proven quite popular among participants. Patrons posted more than nine hundred messages in the first two months of the project. Postings have covered a range of topics, including audio quality, the flash card, navigation features, web-site design, player functionality, bookmarks, and book requests.

Pilot participants have been impressed with the audio quality. One hearing-impaired patron praised the crisp, clear audio quality, commenting that it is a true gift to users.

Patrons are finding that navigation makes digital talking books much more useful and enjoyable to read; the ability to jump between book sections facilitates preferred reading styles. "The last nonfiction book I read from this pilot worked great with skipping. It really let me skip forward and back and finish a book, learning what I needed to know, in a fraction of its real time," commented a user. "Looking forward to accessing more and more books with good navigation."

Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones

Completed
Start 1/12/04—Finish 10/1/08

The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses.

For information on the NLS digital project contact:

Jean M. Moss
Digital Projects Coordinator
jemo@loc.gov
Fax: (202) 707-1690

To view the Strategic Business Plan on the Web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2006.html


Books for Adults

Cassettes Nonfiction

Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames     RC 59428
by Ray Hagen and Laura Wagner
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Hollywood leading ladies of the 1930s-1950s identified by the authors as "hot tamales [who] weren't dependent on men to get where they wanted to go." Profiles Lucille Ball, Joan Blondell, Ida Lupino, Jane Russell, Ann Sheridan, Barbara Stanwyck, and others. Foreword by Jane Russell. Narrated by author. 2004.

The Best American Essays 2004     RC 59431
edited by Louis Menand
read by Don Hagen
3 cassettes
Twenty-two essays recalling the past. In "America, Look at Your Shame!" James Agee recalls his own experience with racism in 1943. Wayne Koestenbaum revisits his literary coming of age in "My '80s." Kathryn Chetkovich recounts her lover's professional jealousy in "Envy." Some strong language. 2004.

Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier     RC 59654
by Terry Laughlin
read by Derald Breneman
2 cassettes
Coach and editor of Fitness Swimmer describes techniques for becoming a more efficient swimmer. Covers training, racing, balance, and moves to learn for fishlike motion through the water. Includes drills, tips, and dry land exercises for strength, suppleness, and slimming. Revised edition. 2004.

American Evita: Hillary Clinton's Path to Power     RC 59657
by Christopher Andersen
read by Conrad Feininger
2 cassettes
Journalist Andersen, of Bill and Hillary: The Marriage (RC 48856), argues that Bill Clinton and his wife, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, are engaged in a long-term plan to win the presidency for Mrs. Clinton and a Supreme Court position for the former chief executive. Strong language. 2004.

Popular Mechanics Complete Home How-To     RC 59731
by Albert Jackson and David Day
read by Richard Hauenstein
9 cassettes in 2 containers
Comprehensive do-it-yourself home improvement guide. Detailed instructions explain simple tasks like replacing an electrical switch as well as more involved projects like paving with concrete. Covers plumbing, heating, insulation, home security, windows and doors, roof maintenance, pest infestation, floor and wall coverings, appliance repair, wiring, decorating, and more. 2004.

The R.A.T. (Real-World Aptitude Test): Preparing Yourself for Leaving Home     RC 59861
by Homer E. Moyer Jr.
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
The Real-World Aptitude Test, for young people preparing to live independently, provides questions, answers, and helpful hints on practical knowledge and survival skills. Topics include sex, drugs, etiquette, budget, employment, nutrition, cooking, and emergencies, among others. For senior high and older readers. 2003.

Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood     RC 59992
by Donald Bogle
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Author of Dorothy Dandridge (RC 46289) chronicles social roles of African American actors in the first half of the twentieth century. Outlines the migration of blacks to California and the lives of such movie stars as Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Hattie McDaniel, and Stepin Fetchit. Some strong language. 2005.

The Billion Dollar BET: Robert Johnson and the Inside Story of Black Entertainment Television      RC 60023
by Brett Pulley
read by Chuck Young
2 cassettes
Forbes magazine senior editor traces the rise of the world's first African American billionaire, Robert Johnson, founder and chief executive of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) cable network. Describes Johnson's humble background and success in turning a $15,000 bank loan into a billion-dollar media empire. Some strong language. 2004.

The Greek Way      RC 60259
by Edith Hamilton
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
The author of Mythology (RC 20026) explores the accomplishments of Greek intellectual life in the fifth century B.C.E. Discusses customs, philosophy, religion, and art, referencing the era's noted writers—the poet Pindar; dramatists Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles; and historians Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon—with excerpts from classic works. 1930.

Exuberance: The Passion for Life      RC 60260
by Kay Redfield Jamison
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Psychiatry professor explores exuberance and its fueling of creative and scientific achievement, citing John Muir's passion for the environment, Wilson Bentley's obsession with snowflakes, and Watson and Crick's discovery of DNA. Discusses hereditary factors, this emotion's influence on human survival, and the dangers of seeking exuberance through drugs. 2004.

Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead      RC 60265
by Phil Lesh
read by John Lescault
3 cassettes
Bassist for the Grateful Dead, who joined the band in 1965, details the evolution of the group led by Jerry Garcia. Describes the concert tours, fanatic Dead Head fans, and the financial and drug problems that plagued the musicians. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Ogden Nash: The Life and Work of America's Laureate of Light Verse      RC 60527
by Douglas M. Parker
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
An authorized biography of the urbane and witty American poet Ogden Nash (1902-1971) based on his published and unpublished writings and interviews with his two daughters. Discusses Nash's work at the New Yorker, his unique humorous perspective on family life, and his attempts at careers beyond poetry. 2005.

Almost Paradise: The East Hampton Murder of Ted Ammon     RC 60537
by Kieran Crowley
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
New York Post reporter details the October 2001 murder of multimillionaire Ted Ammon allegedly by his wife Generosa's blue collar lover, Danny Pelosi. Traces Generosa's troubled childhood, Ted's financial success, and Danny's psychiatric problems—all factors in this author's analysis of the crime. Strong language. 2005.

American Judaism: A History      RC 60567
by Jonathan D. Sarna
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Brandeis University professor details 350 years of Judaism in the United States. Sarna portrays American Jews as a people struggling to be both Jewish and American. Addresses their concerns about assimilation, issues of religious adaptation and continuity, and influences from and contributions to a diverse and pluralistic society. 2004.

Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior: Freshly Updated      RC 60597
by Judith Martin
read by Margaret Strom
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Miss Manners provides her "gentle readers" a guide to gracious living in the twenty-first century. In addition to etiquette for traditional matters such as introductions, dining, weddings, divorce, death, and dress, she also covers decorum for modern issues including breast feeding, e-mails, cell phones, answering machines, and the Internet. 2005.

Seasons in Basilicata: A Year in a Southern Italian Hill Village      RC 60617
by David Yeadon
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
Describes the seasonal delights and ancient traditions an English-speaking couple enjoys while living in rural Italy. Inspired by Carlo Levi's Christ Stopped at Eboli (RC 39274), they settle in the region, discover the pagan streak Levi wrote about, and experience culinary and scenic pleasures. 2004.

I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking      RC 60619
by Alton Brown
read by Dan Willems
2 cassettes
Host of Food Network's "Good Eats" offers a manual on "how to control the process known as cooking." The book is arranged according to techniques—searing, frying, braising, boiling, and microwaving—with each lesson featuring a master recipe to demonstrate the method. James Beard Foundation Award. 2002.

Letter from America, 1946-2004      RC 60633
by Alistair Cooke
read by Peter Gil
4 cassettes
Selected commentaries from among the nearly three thousand written and broadcast by the British-born journalist during his six-decade career in New York City. Cooke's observations about American political and social customs include his encounters with many presidents, friendships with renowned artists, and accounts of landmark events. 2004.

Talking Back—to Presidents, Dictators, and Assorted Scoundrels      RC 60675
by Andrea Mitchell
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Autobiography by veteran NBC political correspondent who was one of the first women in broadcast news. Describes the three decades she spent covering U.S. presidents, foreign heads of state, and wars. Also portrays her social life as the wife of Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan. 2005.

The Leading Men of MGM      RC 60817
by Jane Ellen Wayne
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
In this companion to The Golden Girls of MGM (RC 56320), the author writes about legendary actors who were under contract to Louis B. Mayer's Hollywood studio. Reveals personal information regarding the affairs and vices of Clark Gable, Peter Lawford, Robert Taylor, and others. Includes filmographies. Strong language. 2004.

How the North Won: A Military History of the Civil War      RC 60825
by Herman Hattaway and Archer Jones
read by Robert Sams
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Provides a military account of the Civil War "from the viewpoint of the higher commanders on both sides." Emphasizes the war's management and planning rather than specific battles and posits that guerrilla raids and defense won the conflict. The authors offer revisionist theories of Lincoln, Lee, and Grant. 1983.

Napoleon: A Political Life      RC 60869
by Steven Englund
read by Anne Flosnik
5 cassettes
French historian highlights the political rather than the military or personal leadership of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). Charts Napoleon's rise and fall from his Corsican boyhood to his political achievements and final exile. Analyzes Napoleon's ideologies and influences, including the French Revolution. 2004.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer      RC 61087
by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
read by Steven Carpenter
5 cassettes
Biography of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967)—"the father of the atomic bomb." Chronicles his New York City upbringing, marriage to Kitty Puening, work on the Manhattan Project, and life after the 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearings which denied Oppenheimer his security clearance for questioning the ethics of nuclear weapons. 2005.

Flying Blind      RC 61092
by Michael A. Smerconish
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Journalist criticizes airline security procedures established by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration. Contends that random screening—which avoids racial or ethnic profiling, particularly of Arab men—may be politically correct but actually jeopardizes the war on terror and passenger safety. Foreword by Senator Arlen Specter. 2004.

Voltaire in Exile: The Last Years, 1753-78      RC 61093
by Ian Davidson
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Portrait of eighteenth-century French playwright, poet, historian, and philosopher who in 1753 was banished by Louis XV to Geneva. References Voltaire's personal correspondence to detail the twenty-five-year isolation during which he developed ideas of equality and human rights, campaigned against injustice, and penned his satirical masterpiece Candide (RC 31736). 2004.

One Woman's Army: The Commanding General of Abu Ghraib Tells Her Story      RC 61151
by Janis Karpinski
read by Bernadette Dunne
2 cassettes
General Janis Karpinski, commander of the U.S. military prison in Iraq, provides her personal account of the corruption and failures in the chain of command that permitted prisoner abuse to occur. Discusses her inexperience in running a prison, lack of disciplined guards, and use of private firms. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream      RC 61157
by Barbara Ehrenreich
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
The author who explored blue-collar work in Nickel and Dimed (RC 52291) investigates the plight of unemployed and underemployed white-collar workers. Ehrenreich poses as an educated and experienced person and still suffers job rejection in the corporate world although she says she "did everything right." Bestseller. 2005.

Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption      RC 61158
by Christopher Kennedy Lawford
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
Lawford recounts his life as the son of Patricia Kennedy and movie actor Peter Lawford. Describes experiences with drugs, alcohol, and debauchery followed by twenty years of sobriety. Details his own acting career and relates competitiveness with his Kennedy cousins. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Yankee Magazine Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs, and More: 1,001 Ingenious Ways to Use Common Household Items to Repair, Restore, Revive, or Replace Just About Everything in Your Life      RC 61173
by Earl Proulx
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
Handyman columnist's ideas for saving time, money, and waste. Tips include using vinegar to clear clogged showerheads, hair spray to end static cling, olive oil to clean grease off hands, and more. 1999.

Persistence Is Power! A Real-World Guide for the Newly Disabled Employee      RC 61175
by Jeanne Lazo and Carol J. Amato
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Provides disabled employees with information about disability insurance, Social Security, and Workers' Compensation. Explains the Americans with Disabilities Act. Offers advice for filing claims and managing paperwork, and provides forms and resources. Addresses emotional, medical, legal, privacy, and monetary issues. 2004.

The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: Two Hundred Delicious Recipes Ready in Thirty Minutes or Less      RC 61176
by Arthur Agatston
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Fast cookery for dieters recommended by the Florida cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet (RC 56409). Includes healthy appetizers, main courses, and desserts that use a minimum number of ingredients and are easy to prepare. 2005.

Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America's Local Legends and Best-Kept Secrets      RC 61177
by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
A collection of seemingly fantastic tales corroborated with actual events and historical data whenever possible. Grouped not by geography but by broad topics including ancient mysteries, unexplained phenomena, bizarre beasts, local heroes and villains, ghosts, and cemeteries. Covers Emily's Bridge in Vermont and the Winchester Mystery House in California. 2004.

Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy; or, How Love Conquered Marriage      RC 61178
by Stephanie Coontz
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Traces the evolution of marriage from being an economic institution with rigid rules to the modern Western concept of a union based on love and flexibility. Discusses various social crises through the ages that were precipitated by changes in marriage customs and expectations. 2005.

The New New Journalism: Conversations with America's Best Nonfiction Writers on Their Craft      RC 61180
by Robert S. Boynton
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Professor interviews nineteen writers representing "the continued maturation of American literary journalism"—a "new new" style distinct from the traditions of predecessors from Stephen Crane to Tom Wolfe. Eric Schlosser, Gay Talese, Calvin Trillin, and others reflect on their careers and creative process: finding inspiration, researching, writing, rewriting, and publishing. 2005.

The Religious History of America      RC 61181
by Edwin S. Gaustad and Leigh E. Schmidt
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
Two professors of religion discuss the cultural, political, and economic influences that helped shape religion in America throughout its history. Topics include the Puritans in New England, separation of church and state, slavery, the growth of the church in the twentieth century, and war's effects on religion. 2002.

Herding Cats: A Life in Politics      RC 61184
by Trent Lott
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Republican senator from Mississippi recalls growing up the son of a sharecropper, attending "Ole Miss" when it became integrated, and succeeding his mentor, Democrat William Colmer, to the House of Representatives in 1972. Highlights his career in both the House and Senate. 2005.

American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country      RC 61187
by Kay Bailey Hutchison
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
First female to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate presents pioneering women in American history. Profiles Clara Barton, Mary Cassatt, Amelia Earhart, Margaret Chase Smith, and others. Also includes interviews with contemporary women, such as astronaut Sally Ride, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and journalist Barbara Walters. 2004.

The Great Arc: The Dramatic Tale of How India Was Mapped and Everest Was Named      61208
by John Keay
read by Jeremy Gage
2 cassettes
History of the arduous and technically difficult nineteenth-century scientific expedition to survey the 1,600-mile length of India and establish its longitude, latitude, and height above sea level. Discusses the roles and personalities of William Lambton, who conceived the idea, and of George Everest, who completed it. 2000.

The Pontiff in Winter: Triumph and Conflict in the Reign of John Paul II      RC 61224
by John Cornwell
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Cambridge scholar and author of Hitler's Pope (RC 49241) analyzes the long reign of Pope John Paul II, the former Karol Wojtyla. Discusses the pope's accomplishments and his views on controversial issues including birth control and abuses by the clergy. Criticizes the centralization of papal power. 2004.

A Bevy of Beasts      RC 61226
by Gerald Durrell
read by Steven Crossley
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Author recounts with characteristic wit his early years as student keeper at England's Whipsnade Zoo, one of the country's first "open" exhibitions. Describes humorous experiences with animals including a singing bear, a herd of friendly yaks, and a gentle giraffe whose best friend is a goat. 1973.

The Global Soul: Jet Lag, Shopping Malls, and the Search for Home      RC 61234
by Pico Iyer
read by Peter Ganim
3 cassettes
The author uses his own international background as a starting point for exploring the multicultural phenomena of an increasingly mobile world. As he travels to far-flung cities (including Atlanta for the Olympics), he reflects upon others who commute between cultures and places, probing their psychological makeup and sense of rootlessness. 2000.

Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion     RC 61253
by Alan Burdick
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
Journalist investigates how human travel has accelerated the natural process of species migration by inadvertently introducing exotic plants, animals, insects, and diseases into foreign ecosystems. Burdick records his travels by land and sea to hot spots of ecological invasion to assess the impact on native organisms and biodiversity. National Book Award. 2005.

Education and Rehabilitation for Empowerment     RC 61268
by C. Edwin Vaughan and James H. Omvig
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
The authors argue that the history of educational and rehabilitative services for blind people has condoned dependency. Provides an overview of the U.S. rehabilitation system during the twentieth century. Advocates for a positive philosophy toward blindness that includes empowerment, mobility, communication, and "blending in." 2005.

Yes, Your Parents Are Crazy! A Teen Survival Handbook     RC 61269
by Michael J. Bradley
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
Psychologist and author of Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! (RC 55891) offers teens advice on dealing with family, school, and peer relationships. Author discusses physical, emotional, and psychological concerns of young adults and includes anecdotes from his practice. Foreword by Clay Aiken. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

On Hitler's Mountain: Overcoming the Legacy of a Nazi Childhood     RC 61273
by Irmgard A. Hunt
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Memoir of a German native who grew up during World War II in a Bavarian village near Adolf Hitler's alpine compound. Recalls meeting the dictator, losing her soldier father, and joining the Hitler Youth. Explores her continuing struggle to understand how she, her family, and others tolerated Nazi control. 2005.

A Thread across the Ocean: The Heroic Story of the Transatlantic Cable     RC 61274
by John Steele Gordon
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Chronicles efforts over twelve years to lay more than 2,000 miles of underwater telegraph cable connecting Europe and America, a project seen through to completion in 1866 by U.S. businessman and entrepreneur Cyrus Field. Examines the influences of the Industrial Revolution and England's role in providing technical and financial support. 2002.

Nelson's Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed the World     RC 61276
by Roy Adkins
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
First-person accounts portray the October 21, 1805, battle during which Lord Horatio Nelson engaged France and her Spanish allies after Napoleon threatened to invade England. Describes nineteenth-century naval warfare technology and tactics. Explains why the battle, which resulted in Nelson's death, marked the beginning of British empire building. Violence. 2004.

Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats     RC 61277
by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
Social history of the custom of wearing hats to church in accordance with the apostle Paul's edict to cover one's head. Through interviews with African American women of all ages, the authors explore the faith and fashion of black American churches. Foreword by Maya Angelou. 2000.

Dying to Cross: The Worst Immigrant Tragedy in American History     RC 61284
by Jorge Ramos
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Emmy Award-winning journalist recounts the 2003 smuggling of illegal aliens across the Mexico-Texas border that resulted in the deaths of nineteen people locked inside a truck. Using survivor interviews and courtroom data, Ramos reconstructs the experiences of those who paid human traffickers to enter the United States. 2005.

Love My Rifle More than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army     RC 61285
by Kayla Williams
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
An army intelligence expert's account of experiences she had while she was posted to various infantry units in Iraq during 2003. Williams describes the terrible conditions the soldiers endured, the boredom, the realities of war, and the sexual dynamics of being a female among males. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Live Your Best Life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration from O, the Oprah Magazine     RC 61289
edited by the Oprah Magazine read by Barbara Pinolini
4 cassettes
In articles culled from O, the Oprah Magazine, Oprah offers more than a hundred articles on such topics as diet and exercise, happiness, confidence, spirituality, dating, marriage, sex, and parenthood. Also featured are everyday heroes. Contributors include Dr. Phil, Suze Orman, Harry Connick Jr., and Julie Morgenstern. 2005.

Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow-Walkers     RC 61293
by Candy Harrington
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
This edition of Barrier-Free Travel (RC 56626), revised after September 11, 2001, contains updates on access-related rules and regulations and airport security procedures that apply to wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Covers travel with wheeler kids, tips and tools for planning a trip, and expanded sections on cruises and resources. 2005.

No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam     RC 61297
by Reza Aslan
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies reconstructs the origins of Islam from the prophet Muhammad's message of moral accountability and social egalitarianism, and its evolution into ideologies of rigid legalism and uncompromising orthodoxy. Discusses Muslims' current struggle to define the future of their faith and argues for reform. 2005.

Decision at Sea: Five Naval Battles That Shaped American History     RC 61299
by Craig L. Symonds
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Historian illustrates how five pivotal naval battles shaped U.S. history, stimulated the development of new technology, and changed the nature of sea warfare. Analyzes the battles of Lake Erie (1813), Hampton Roads (1862), Manila Bay (1898), Midway (1942), and Operation Praying Mantis (1988). 2005.

The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys     RC 61309
by Deirdre Imus
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Author shares organic, vegetarian, and vegan recipes from her family's environmentally friendly, 4,000-acre New Mexico cattle ranch that hosts children experiencing illness or loss. Offers ideas for soups, sandwiches, sauces and dips, salads, main dishes, desserts, and more. Provides information on egg, dairy, and meat substitutes and healthy living. 2004.

Wild Ducks Flying Backward: The Short Writings of Tom Robbins     RC 61310
by Tom Robbins
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
A compilation of the novelist Tom Robbins's nonfiction writing—stories, poems, musings, critiques, travel articles, celebrity profiles, and responses to self-posed questions. In "Kissing," Robbins ranks the tradition of osculation as western man's greatest invention. In "Till Lunch Do Us Part," he praises the appeal of a ripe tomato sandwich. 2005.

The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology     RC 61318
by Ray Kurzweil
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
Inventor and author of The Age of Spiritual Machines (RC 48260) posits that humankind will merge its biology with nanotechnology and robotics to create a new species. He predicts the result will eliminate aging, pollution, and world hunger. 2005.

Cobra Two: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq     RC 61326
by MichaelS R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor
read by various narrators
5 cassettes
Following their analysis of the First Gulf War in The General's War (RC 41075), Gordon, a New York Times Pentagon correspondent, and Trainor, a three-star general retired from the Marine Corps, chronicle the decisions behind the U.S. military engagement in Iraq. Violence and strong language. 2006.

The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell     RC 61328
by Mark Kurlansky
read by John H. Mayer
2 cassettes
Author of Cod (RC 45502) produces a social history of New York City from 1609 to 2005 by examining the rise and fall of oyster harvesting and consumption in the Hudson River area. Describes the desecration of a natural resource. Includes historic recipes. Descriptions of sex, violence, and some strong language. 2006.

You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation     RC 61332
by Deborah Tannen
read by Cassandra Campbell
2 cassettes
Sociolinguist author of You Just Don't Understand (RC 32031) and I Only Say This Because I Love You (RC 53484) analyzes conversations between mothers and grown daughters, explains why their interactions are often tense, and suggests ways to improve both communications and relationships. Anecdotes illustrate how misunderstandings arise. 2006.

The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions     RC 61336
by Karen Armstrong
read by Karen Armstrong
4 cassettes
Chronicles the ninth century B.C.E., during which time four distinct world civilizations developed lasting belief systems: Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhism in India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Examines spiritual sages—like Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, and Ezekiel—and their commonality concerning the primacy of compassion. 2006.

Cracking Cases: The Science of Solving Crimes     RC 61377
by Henry C. Lee
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Renowned forensic criminologist reviews five homicide cases that involve a man killing a wife or ex-spouse. Focuses on the science used to find information to solve the crimes. Includes the O.J. Simpson case—for which Dr. Lee worked for the defense—and the "woodchipper" murder case. 2002.

Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice     RC 61429
edited by Kevin A. Ring
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
Compilation of rulings by conservative Supreme Court associate justice Antonin Scalia, who was appointed to the bench in 1986. Includes his written opinions on religion, abortion, the ADA, gay rights, capital punishment, free speech, and affirmative action, referencing the U.S. Constitution and its historical interpretations. 2004.

Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus     RC 61443
by Mirta Ojito
read by Constance Crawford
2 cassettes
Award-winning reporter describes her family's flight from Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift when she was sixteen years old. Reminisces about life under a Communist regime and her subsequent integration into American culture. Relates accounts of other refugees and of those who helped them leave the island. 2005.

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed     RC 61482
by John Vaillant
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Wilderness writer's account of logger-turned-activist Grant Hadwin, who in 1997 cut down a three-hundred-year-old Sitka spruce sacred to the Haida Indians as a protest against timber company practices. Discusses lumberjacks' perilous work, Native American traditions, Hadwin's obsession to stop irreparable damage to forests, and the consequences of his actions. 2005.

Worth More Dead: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files     RC 61497
by Ann Rule
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Author analyzes five murders and the motives behind them. "Old Man's Darling" is an account of a young woman who couldn't handle her older lover's rejection. "A Desperate Housewife" recounts a woman's disappearance that ended in her husband's murder conviction. Sequel to Kiss Me, Kill Me: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files (RC 59525). Violence. Bestseller. 2005.

America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation     RC 61512
by Michael MacCambridge
read by Bill Wallace
5 cassettes
A history of American football concentrating on the development of the National Football League during the last half of the twentieth century. Focuses on the sport's use of television, marketing, racial integration, and innovative leadership to overtake baseball as the dominant spectator sport. Some strong language. 2004.

Don't Sabotage Your Success! Make Office Politics Work     RC 61513
by Karen Ginsburg Wood
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
1 cassette
Provides tips to enhance workplace relationships and gain professional happiness and success when job performance alone may not guarantee advancement. Author shares her personal career experiences and offers strategies for understanding workplace dynamics, altering negative behavior, and perfecting the art of schmoozing. 2001.

Into a Paris Quartier: Reine Margot's Chapel and Other Haunts of St.-Germain     RC 61522
by Diane Johnson
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
Johnson, a part-time resident of Paris, describes the legendary area in which she lives, St.-Germain-des-Prés, aka the Left Bank. Discusses the neighborhood's four-hundred-year history as the home of four queens, three Musketeers, several kings, and numerous artistic Americans. Details the region's streets, statues, architecture, and offbeat surprises. 2005.

The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece     RC 61523
by Edward Dolnick
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Chronicles the 1994 theft and recovery of Edvard Munch's The Scream, a painting valued at seventy-two million dollars. Describes the heist from Norway's National Gallery in Oslo and the subsequent three-month investigation by half-English, half-American undercover detective Charley Hill of Scotland Yard's elite Art and Antiques Unit. Strong language. 2005.

Turning Memories into Memoirs: A Handbook for Writing Lifestories     RC 61546
by Denis Ledoux
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Writing coach presents a step-by-step guide for recording a personal or family history. Covers jogging one's memory, conducting interviews and research, discerning fact from fiction, choosing a theme, making it meaningful, and editing a finished product. Includes exercises, sample life stories, and tips on grammar and storytelling techniques. 2003.

Love Smart: Find the One You Want—Fix the One You Got     RC 61563
by Phil McGraw
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Nationally syndicated television host offers advice to women on building a committed relationship with a new person or a current partner. Offers "secrets and strategies" for finding the right man including insights into the male perspective, tips for self-improvement, rules of dating etiquette, and ways to overcome stereotypes. Bestseller. 2005.

An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror     RC 61579
by David Frum and Richard Perle
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Frum, author of The Right Man (RC 55531) and former special assistant to President George W. Bush, and Perle, former Defense Policy Board chairman, examine foreign, domestic, and ideological threats to America. They support Bush administration initiatives like the Patriot Act but identify U.S. military, intelligence, and diplomatic vulnerabilities. 2003.

Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson     RC 61593
by Keith Ablow
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
In an attempt to find a scientific explanation, a forensic psychiatrist examines the reasons Scott Peterson would kill his pregnant wife. Posits that Peterson's family history caused his sociopathic personality and that a new lover and impending fatherhood created "the perfect psychological storm" behind the 2002 crime. 2005.

Revolutionary Wealth: Shaping Tomorrow's Way of Life     RC 61608
by Alvin Toffler and Heidi Toffler
read by Melissa Edris
3 cassettes
Authors of Creating a New Civilization (RC 41142) predict major shifts in business and society by 2025. Discusses the skills that managers will need as technology, wealth, and culture converge. Considers the crumbling of traditional institutions and the rise of nongovernmental organizations, flexible work schedules, and international dependence. 2006.

Message in a Bottle: The Making of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome     RC 61611
by Janet Golden
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Social history of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the diagnosis of physical and mental birth defects linked to prenatal alcohol exposure. Examines the changing definitions and meanings of FAS from the 1970s to the 1990s as shaped by the medical establishment, the media, politics, and legal and social concerns. 2005.

Cassette Books, 2004     RC 61614
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
A catalog of talking books produced on cassette during 2004 for adult and young adult readers. The nonfiction and fiction sections list books by subject categories. Separate listings identify teen selections, Spanish-language books, and bestsellers. 2005.

Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East     RC 61625
by Clyde Prestowitz
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Author of Rogue Nation (RC 57090) warns of danger to the American economy as eastern countries like China and India compete in the world market. Criticizes U.S. trade and budget deficits, insufficient savings, failing schools, and low investments in research. Cautions that such factors could lead to another depression. 2005.

For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice     RC 61637
by Sharon Rocha
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
Murder victim's mother describes the ordeal of having her twenty-seven- year-old, seven-months-pregnant daughter, Laci Peterson, vanish on Christmas Eve 2002. Relates her conversations with Laci's husband Scott, detectives, and other parties. Discusses anecdotes about Laci's childhood. Strong language. Bestseller. 2006.

O     RC 61695
by Omari Grandberry
read by Bill Quinn
1 cassette
Twenty-year-old Omari Grandberry describes his happy childhood in Los Angeles, his conscious decision to avoid street life, and his rise to hip-hop fame as a member of B2K from 2000 to 2004. Analyzes the music business and the band's breakup. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

Professional Ethics and Etiquette     RC 61701
edited by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company
read by Peter Johnson
1 cassette
Advice for developing business character and building professional relationships. Urges readers to assess their own personality, values, strengths, and weaknesses to identify areas needing improvement. Offers tips on becoming more responsible, improving time-management and memory skills, balancing life and work, and more. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

House of War: The Pentagon and the Disastrous Rise of American Power     RC 61728
by James Carroll
read by Robertson Dean
5 cassettes
Chronicle of the U.S. military establishment in the Pentagon, from the building's construction to the institution's rise as a governmental unit. Argues that the bombing of Germany and Japan in World War II, the violence of the Iraq war, and uncontrolled nuclear buildup all illustrate the Pentagon's unrestrained command. 2006.

Stumbling on Happiness     RC 61735
by Daniel Gilbert
read by Daniel Gilbert
2 cassettes
Harvard psychologist uses anecdotes and scientific research to argue that people cannot predict what will make them happy. Claims that individuals cannot accurately envision their future and are often surprised at how it really turns out. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006.

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig     RC 61772
by Jonathan Eig
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Reporter uses archives, interviews, and letters to depict the man he considers the New York Yankee's "greatest" first baseman, Lou Gehrig (1903-1941). Covers Gehrig's upbringing as the only child of German immigrants, his fallout with teammate Babe Ruth, and his optimism while facing death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 2005.

For the Survival of Democracy: Franklin Roosevelt and the World Crisis of the 1930s     RC 61774
by Alonzo L. Hamby
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
History professor recounts U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt's handling of the economic disaster of the Great Depression while totalitarian governments rose in Europe. Compares the American response to the crisis with those of Great Britain and Germany and credits FDR with the survival of democracy. 2004.

My Year in Iraq: The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope     RC 61775
by L. Paul Bremer III
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
American former diplomat Bremer recounts his work as administrator, from May 2003 until June 2004, of the then newly formed Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Bremer contends that more troops were needed after the U.S. invasion, justifies dismantling the Iraqi army, and describes the rivalries between diverse groups. 2006.

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America     RC 61778
by Christopher Hitchens
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Journalist's concise biography of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third U.S. president. Posits that Jefferson "designed America" by incorporating the concept of human rights into the Declaration of Independence. Describes the public and private life of this man of contradictions, who was both a freedom advocate and a slaveholder. 2005.

Alex: The Life of a Child     RC 61780
by Frank Deford
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Journalist's portrait of his daughter, Alexandra, who was just eight years old when she died in 1980 from cystic fibrosis. He recounts Alexandra's life and passing, finds solace in the joy she brought to their family, and reveals the courage of a young girl facing death. Includes 1997 postscript. 1983.

Poker Night: Winning at Home, at the Casino, and Beyond     RC 61797
by John Vorhaus
read by Betty Williams
2 cassettes
A renowned poker strategist and commentator offers a guide to all aspects of home poker: hosting a party, understanding variations of the game, recruiting players, establishing house rules, and setting betting limits. Explains what beats what; basic games such as stud, Omaha, and Texas hold 'em; and playing in casinos. 2004.

Murder on the Rails: The True Story of the Detective Who Unlocked the Shocking Secrets of the Boxcar Serial Killer     RC 61798
by William G. Palmini Jr. and Tanya Chalupa
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Former detective Palmini details the murder investigation that led to the March 1996 apprehension of serial killer Robert Silveria Jr. Silveria, a member of the little-known Freight Train Riders of America gang, is suspected of murdering an untold number of victims across the country. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Does God Belong in Public Schools?     RC 61802
by Kent Greenawalt
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Columbia University law professor examines the relationship between religion and the U.S. public school system. Analyses court decisions about constitutional limits. Considers controversies such as sex education, evolution versus creationism, Christmas celebrations, religious clubs, and alternate lifestyles, among others. Reviews the history and purposes of American education programs. 2005.

Beating Back the Devil: On the Front Lines with the Disease Detectives of the Epidemic Intelligence Service     RC 61804
by Maryn McKenna
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Reporter traces the history of the Atlanta-based Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1951 to 2003. Follows EIS medical professionals as they investigate disease outbreaks caused by polio, West Nile virus, smallpox, AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, SARS, and biological weapons. 2004.

VoiceMale: What Husbands Really Think about Their Marriages, Their Wives, Sex, Housework, and Commitment     RC 61954
by Neil Chethik
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
An examination of men's attitudes, behavior, and marriage expectations based on firsthand interviews and a national survey of nearly four hundred husbands. Discusses the male perspective on intimacy, sex, money, career, children, in-laws, and fidelity. Offers advice for better relationships. Some strong language. 2006.

My Descent into Death: A Second Chance at Life     RC 61973
by Howard Storm
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Former atheist discusses the near-death experience he had while awaiting surgery in a Paris hospital. Storm describes first experiencing darkness and pain, being embraced by a brilliant light, seeing his wounds vanish, and conversing with Jesus and his angels. Foreword by Anne Rice. 2005.

The Girl He Left Behind: The Life and Times of Libbie Custer     RC 61974
by Suzanne Middendorf Arruda
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Traces the life of Elizabeth "Libbie" Custer, who married General George Armstrong Custer during the Civil War. Depicts the nomadic lifestyle of a nineteenth-century military wife, describes George's death at the Little Big Horn, and recounts Libbie's efforts to preserve her husband's reputation. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Cassettes Fiction

Garden of Beasts: A Novel of Berlin 1936     RC 59230
by Jeffery Deaver
read by Michael Kramer
3 cassettes
The U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence coerces hit man Paul Schumann to pose as a journalist covering the Berlin Olympics and assassinate a high-ranking Nazi. German spies trail Schumann, who meanwhile becomes involved with his landlady. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

Kissing in Technicolor     RC 59235
by Jane Mendle
read by Victoria Gordon
2 cassettes
Charlotte Frost, a New York City grad student, thinks her dreams are coming true when soap opera star Hank Destin not only wants to date her but also agrees to appear in her film project. Tensions on the set force Charlotte to decide on her priorities. Some strong language. 2004.

Life Goes On: A Harmony Novel     RC 59412
by Philip Gulley
read by Derald Breneman
2 cassettes
A lot happens in quiet Harmony as its Quaker pastor, Sam Gardner, tends his eccentric flock: his house needs constant repair, the "sausage queen" turns out to be vegetarian, the town spinster might finally get hitched, and Sam realizes he has forsaken the gospel. 2004.

Gates of Eden: Stories     RC 59426
by Ethan Coen
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Fourteen offbeat and ironic tales involving crime, violence, and other forms of deviant behavior. In the title story a state weights-and-measures inspector is seduced by a Japanese temptress in a blackmail scheme. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1998.

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart     RC 59694
by Deb Caletti
read by Mimi Bederman
2 cassettes
In the summer of her junior year, sixteen-year-old Ruby McQueen and her mother, both nursing broken hearts, help an elderly member of their book club reunite with a lost love. Along the way they gain independence. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. National Book Award Finalist. 2004.

Dating Dead Men: Wollie Shelley Novel     RC 59695
by Harley Jane Kozak
read by Gillian Green
2 cassettes
Los Angeles greeting card artist Wollie Shelley, busy with a dating research project, dashes off to visit her institutionalized, schizophrenic brother. She finds a body on the road and fears that her sibling could be involved. As Wollie investigates, a colorful cast of characters gradually enters her life. 2004.

The Mt. Monadnock Blues     RC 59868
by Larry Duberstein
read by Derald Breneman
2 cassettes
Forty-year-old gay Boston travel agent Tim Bannon raises his niece and nephew after his sister and her husband are killed in a car accident. But a homophobic brother-in-law contests Tim's guardianship and sues to take the children away. Strong language. 2003.

Prep     RC 59891
by Curtis Sittenfeld
read by Victoria Gordon
3 cassettes
Midwest scholarship student Lee Fiora feels isolated at a New England prep school. She struggles to understand a roommate's suicide attempt, conducts a secret sexual relationship with a popular boy, and alienates the school community through a perceived betrayal. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

The Mermaid Chair     RC 60121
by Sue Monk Kidd
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
When fortyish Jesse Sullivan returns to Egret Island to reconnect with her failing mother, she doesn't expect to be overwhelmed with passion for a Benedictine monk. Jessie confronts her present confusion while she probes her mother's past. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Dragon's Lair: A Medieval Mystery     RC 60184
by Sharon Kay Penman
read by Kate Kiley
2 cassettes
England, 1193. When ransom money to free her son, Richard Lionheart, from the Holy Roman Emperor disappears and is presumed stolen, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine sends agent Justin de Quincy to recover the payment. Sequel to Cruel as the Grave (RC 51126). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003.

Trophy Hunt: A Joe Pickett Novel     RC 60195
by C.J. Box
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett encounters a mysteriously mutilated moose during a fishing trip. When several cattle and two men turn up similarly disfigured, Joe becomes a reluctant member of the governor's special task force to uncover who, or what, is behind the killings. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Masters of Fantasy     RC 60249
edited by Bill Fawcett and Brian Thomsen
read by Derald Breneman
4 cassettes
Adventure stories related to popular fantasy series and commissioned to introduce some of the bestselling authors of this genre. David Drake (Isles series), Alan Dean Foster (Spellsinger), Mercedes Lackey (Valdemar), Andre Norton (Witchworld), and Mickey Zucker Reichert (Shadamehr) contribute, among others. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Alamut     RC 60468
by Vladimir Bartol
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
Slovenian writer's allegory of power and corruption based on the life of eleventh-century political terrorist Hasan ibn Sabbah. Ismaili leader Sabbah plans to take back Persia from its Sunni Turkish occupiers. Avani, a Shiite Muslim, joins the fedayeen, while slave girl Halima is imprisoned in the harem. 2004 translation. 1938.

The Rose of the World: Fool's Gold, Book 3     RC 60604
by Jude Fisher
read by MaryBeth Wise
5 cassettes
Mage Rahe's overconfidence has allowed his captives—the Woman, the Man, and the Beast—to escape from Sanctuary. As Rahe plots to recapture them, Rosa Eldi's powers begin to return. Rosa realizes her true identity and works to restore her world, Elda. Sequel to Wild Magic (RC 56905). Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Cinnamon Kiss: An Easy Rawlins Mystery     RC 60638
by Walter Mosley
read by Michael Boatman
2 cassettes
California, 1960s. To pay for his daughter's expensive medical treatment, Easy Rawlins joins PI Saul Lynx in tracking down a missing wealthy lawyer and his lover Cinnamon. The investigation takes Easy to San Francisco, where he encounters the hippie movement and murder. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2005.

Cover the Butter     RC 60646
by Carrie Kabak
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
United Kingdom, 1995. Kate Cadogan Fanshaw returns home to discover her eighteen-year-old son has trashed the house. Infuriated by her husband Rodney's indifference, Kate assesses her life through the sixties, seventies, and eighties and rethinks her current situation. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Geographer's Library     RC 60653
by Jon Fasman
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Small-town Connecticut reporter Paul Tomm is assigned to write the obituary of enigmatic history professor Jaan Pühapäev. Researching, Paul uncovers links to occult objects stolen from a twelfth-century royal geographer and learns that neither Jaan's life nor his death were what they seemed. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

The Ambassador's Son: A Josh Thurlow Novel, Book 2     RC 60656
by Homer Hickam
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Solomon Islands, World War II. Coast Guard captain Josh Thurlow is assigned to find a young marine officer who has apparently deserted. PT boat skipper John Kennedy, son of a former ambassador to Great Britain, aids the daring search. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005.

The Camel Club     RC 60678
by David Baldacci
read by Jonathan Davis
3 cassettes
Wealthy businessmen and politicians gather at the Camel Club, unaware that their conversations are being monitored. After homeless Oliver Stone witnesses a murder, Secret Service agent Alex Ford interviews him. Ford's subsequent investigation yields information on a potential political assassination. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Shadows of Steel: A Patrick McLanahan Thriller     RC 60735
by Dale Brown
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Iran sinks an American spy ship and takes prisoners, determined to control the Persian Gulf with its aircraft carriers. Since the United States military is crippled by budget cuts, Patrick McLanahan and his secret agency plan to respond with a stealth bomber attack. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996.

The Minister's Daughter     RC 60759
by Julie Hearn
read by Terry Donnelly
2 cassettes
England, 1645. To conceal an out-of- wedlock pregnancy, the daughters of the town minister successfully accuse a local healer and her granddaughter of witchcraft. Years later, during the 1692 Salem trials, their lie has unexpected repercussions. For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

High Plains Tango     RC 60763
by Robert James Waller
read by Robertson Dean
2 cassettes
Carlisle McMillan, carpenter son of photographer Robert Kincaid from The Bridges of Madison County (RC 35861), settles in Salamander, South Dakota. There McMillan renovates his home and falls in love with Susanna Benteen—while he resists the local government's seizure of his land to build a highway. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

Migration: Species Imperative, Book 2     RC 61083
by Julie E. Czerneda
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
The formerly peaceful Dhryn aliens have abandoned their home world and set off across space, annihilating every life-form in their path. Fearing the worst, the Interspecies Union summons Pacific Coast salmon research biologist Mackenzie "Mac" Connor to help find a way to stop them. Sequel to Survival (RC 60864). 2005.

Playing with Boys     RC 61100
by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Los Angeles. Spanish-language TV star Marcella Bosch dreams of being a big-screen actress, while stay-at-home mom Olivia Flores aspires to be a screenwriter and would-be film producer Alexis Lopez hopes to start a company. Together the thirtyish women forge friendship and Hollywood success. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

A Fine Passion: A Bastion Club Novel, Book 4     RC 61108
by Stephanie Laurens
read by Vanessa Maroney
3 cassettes
Baron Jack Warnefleet flees London to avoid marriage to a scheming female. Arriving at his estate he rescues neighbor Lady Clarice Altwood from an unmanageable horse. When Clarice's cousin is accused of espionage, Jack and Clarice work to find the real culprit. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.

A Kingsbury Collection: Where Yesterday Lives, When Joy Came to Stay, On Every Side     RC 61115
by Karen Kingsbury
read by Michele Schaeffer
6 cassettes
Three novels in which people recover their faith. In Where Yesterday Lives, reporter Ellen Barrett returns to Michigan for her father's funeral and confronts her past. Jordan Riley, in On Every Side, loses his anger after finding love. In When Joy Came to Stay, Maggie Stovall faces the truth. 1998.

Immoral     RC 61116
by Brian Freeman
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Jonathan Stride of the Duluth, Minnesota, police department and his partner Maggie Bei investigate the disappearance of two teenaged girls. The main suspect is murdered during the subsequent trial, but years later further evidence surfaces in Las Vegas. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

Oh, Play That Thing: The Last Roundup, Book 2     RC 61130
by Roddy Doyle
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Henry Smart, from A Star Called Henry (RC 49579), lands in New York City in 1924 after leaving Ireland, his revolutionary friends, and his family. When mobsters run Henry out of town, he resettles in Chicago, becoming the frontman for Louis Armstrong. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2004.

The Covenant     RC 61142
by Naomi Ragen
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Four teenagers in a Nazi concentration camp—Esther, Maria, Leah, and Ariana—vow to always be there for one another. Decades later when Leah's granddaughter calls from Israel with the news that her husband and daughter have been kidnapped by Hamas, the women put their considerable influence to work. Some violence. 2004.

Fear the Night     RC 61150
by John Lutz
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
A serial killer nicknamed the Night Sniper terrorizes New York City and taunts the police. The madman wants retired detective Vincent Repetto to catch him, so he murders Repetto's friend in order to force his hand. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

A Brief Lunacy     RC 61152
by Cynthia Thayer
read by various narrators
2 cassettes
Maine retirees Carl and Jessie Jensen worry when their institutionalized daughter Sylvie runs away. Meanwhile the lost camper the Jensens allowed into their home is Sylvie's schizophrenic boyfriend Jonah, who becomes increasingly agitated and takes the couple hostage. Under stress, Carl reveals his traumatic wartime experiences. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

Larry Bond's First Team: Angels of Wrath     RC 61153
by Larry Bond and Jim Defilice
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
CIA agent Bob Ferguson leads a new team operating outside conventional restrictions to uncover instigators of an Armageddon scenario in Jerusalem. Soon the team is tracking links to the Iraqi resistance, a Syrian arms dealer, fanatical terrorists, and Israel's Mossad. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

The Red Hat Society's Acting Their Age     RC 61155
by Regina Hale Sutherland
read by Staci Snell
2 cassettes
Members of the Red Hat Society, a nationwide organization of middle-aged women, extol their age and experience and find love and happiness. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

Anansi Boys     RC 61156
by Neil Gaiman
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Fat Charlie considers his father's behavior so embarrassing that even the way he dies in a karaoke bar seems undignified. Then the arrival of a previously unknown brother named Spider, who is so much like their father, turns Charlie's life upside down. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Sweetwater Creek     RC 61159
by Anne Rivers Siddons
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Twelve-year-old Emily Parmenter lives on a plantation where her father raises hunting spaniels and her only friends are her dog and the wise black housekeeper. When troubled debutante Lulu Foxworth moves in to recuperate, Emily grows up too fast. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Goodnight Nobody     RC 61160
by Jennifer Weiner
read by Victoria Gordon
2 cassettes
Kate Klein, former Manhattan journalist and the mother of three preschool children, is bored with her stale suburban marriage. When Kate discovers the body of neighbor Kitty Cavanaugh, she decides to get some excitement into her life and find the killer. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2005.

A Test of Faith     RC 61170
by Maxine Billings
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
After unexpectedly losing her husband, Clayton, thirty-five-year-old African American Andrea Hamilton faces yet more challenges. She must raise her five-year-old daughter alone—and she discovers she is pregnant. As her twin sister, Leah, prepares to marry Clayton's brother, Andrea turns to family and faith in her journey through grief. 2005.

Savage Wilderness     RC 61171
by Harold Coyle
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
French and Indian War, 1754-1760. British forces and American colonial militias battle the French and their Indian allies for control of frontier territory from Canada to Virginia. Embroiled in the conflict are soldiers, officers, natives, and colonists including exiled Scottish rebel Ian McPherson, who joins the Virginia Regiment. Violence. 1997.

Witch Hunt     RC 61174
by Ian Rankin
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Retired British secret service agent Dominic Elder is called into service after an international female assassin known as "Witch" appears in England. Elder joins Michael Barclay in tracking the woman to a gypsy encampment, where they learn of a possible personal vendetta. Some violence and some strong language. 1993.

Star Quality     RC 61183
by Lori Foster,
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Three short stories about lovers affected by the light of the moon. In "Once in a Blue Moon," Stan acquires the ability to read minds, including Jenna's naughty one. In "Moonstruck," divorcée Julia's bad luck is about to change. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.

Honeymoon Suite     RC 61186
by Lynn Michaels
read by Colleen Delany
3 cassettes
Kansas City. When their family's fortune is stolen, sisters Dory and Jill Lambert vow to save their reputations and estate. Then Chase McKay, chauffeur's-son-turned-millionaire, returns to town and complicates matters. Chase was Dory's childhood crush, but he lusts after Jill. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.

From the Heart     RC 61188
by Nora Roberts
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Three romances written in the 1980s. In Tonight and Always, an anthropologist and the writer for whom she is doing research fall in love. A Matter of Choice involves an antiques dealer, a New York cop, and international smuggling. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1983.

Heart and Soul     RC 61189
by Eva Rutland
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Randall Enterprises takes over Jill Ferrell's San Francisco advertising company. Scott Randall has a personal interest in the deal—and in Jill. Jill's friend Kris Gilroy, a young African American woman, finds love of her own with Tom Harris, a white man, but fears her family's disapproval. Some strong language. 2005.

How to Marry a Marquis     RC 61190
by Julia Quinn
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
While working as a companion to Lady Danbury, Elizabeth finds and reads the book How to Marry a Marquis. Since she needs to support her siblings, Elizabeth proceeds to intrigue and charm Lady Danbury's estate manager, unaware that he is really a marquis. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

Match Me if You Can     RC 61191
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
After ditzy Annabelle Granger inherits her grandmother's matchmaking business, she convinces sports agent Heath Champion to become her client. Although already working with Portia Powers's agency, Heath agrees he needs additional help in finding a trophy wife. Soon sparks fly. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Kingdom of the Golden Dragon     RC 61217
by Isabel Allende
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
On their latest International Geographic expedition to the remote Himalayas, Alexander and Nadia team up again to locate a sacred statue of a golden dragon before it is stolen by a greedy outsider. Sequel to City of the Beasts (RC 56606). For senior high and older readers. 2004.

My Sunshine: The Coulter Family, Book 6     RC 61219
by Catherine Anderson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Isaiah Coulter's mother is matchmaking for him again, this time with a neighbor whose granddaughter works as a kennel keeper. They hope the couple's mutual love of animals will spark a romance. Sequel to Bright Eyes (RC 59542). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.

The Black Prince     RC 61229
by Iris Murdoch
read by John Horton
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Long divorced and now retired, Bradley Pearson prepares to move to an English seaside cottage to write. But a crisis in the marriage of close friends, Pearson's sudden passion for their daughter, and his own obtuseness lead to an accusation of murder. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1973.

The Twelfth Card: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel     RC 61232
by Jeffery Deaver
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
After African American teenager Geneva Settle is attacked at a Manhattan library while conducting genealogical research, quadriplegic detective Lincoln Rhyme and his assistant Amelia Sachs investigate. When Geneva continues to be stalked, the evidence ultimately leads to a post-Civil War family secret. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Wanderer of the Wasteland     RC 61240
by Zane Grey
read by Richard Davidson
3 cassettes
Late 1870s. Adam Larey has reluctantly come west with his brother Guerd. Then a fight between them over a woman turns deadly. Adam flees and for fourteen years wanders through Death Valley until he comes to the realization that he must pay for his crime. 1923.

Banewreaker: The Sundering, Volume 1     RC 61251
by Jacqueline Carey
read by Ray Childs
4 cassettes
Seven Shapers fight a war that sunders the world they created. Exiled Shaper Satoris, called Banewreaker, learns of a prophecy that his destruction will heal the land. To thwart a powerful alliance, Satoris sends Tanaros Blacksword to kidnap Cerelinde, Lady of Ellylon, on her wedding day. Some violence. 2004.

An Obituary for Major Reno     RC 61252
by Richard S. Wheeler
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
1889. Dying of cancer, Marcus Reno—the man held responsible for Custer's 1876 defeat at the Little Bighorn—grants an interview to New York Herald correspondent Joseph Richler in hopes of restoring his honor. Reno's story of treachery, scape-goating, and lost love unfolds alongside his own version of the infamous battle. 2004.

Islands     RC 61254
by Dan Sleigh
read by Dan Bloom
6 cassettes
A story of the Dutch colony at South Africa's Cape of Good Hope in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Follows the life of Pieternella, a beautiful mixed-heritage woman, and seven men inexorably linked to her life. Translated from the Afrikaans by André Brink. Violence and some strong language. 2002.

Breaking Point     RC 61257
by Suzanne Brockmann
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
3 cassettes
When FBI agent Max Bhagat learns his ex-lover Gina Vitagliano has been killed in a terrorist bombing, he heads to Germany to identify the body—but it isn't Gina. Gina has been kidnapped, and only wanted expatriate Grady Morant can help. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

The Love Affair of an English Lord: Boscastle Trilogy, Book 2     RC 61258
by Jillian Hunter
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Chloe Boscastle has been banished to the countryside by her brother Grayson. Her exile turns into adventure when she discovers the supposedly dead Dominic Breckland, the Viscount Stratfield, in her closet. While attempting to find his enemy, they create a little scandal of their own. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

What's French for "EW"? Emily Williams, Book 3     RC 61264
by Katie Maxwell
read by Lindsay Ellison
1 cassette
Emily is off to Paris for two weeks to study French and celebrate her seventeenth birthday. And thanks to a mishap before leaving England, Emily must take a school project along. For senior high readers. 2004.

Estate of Mind: A Den of Antiquity Mystery     RC 61265
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
To please her mother, North Carolina antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake buys an ugly reproduction at a church auction. Underneath the painting she discovers a hidden masterpiece worth millions. Soon Abigail becomes the target of thieves and murderers. Some strong language. 1999.

The Best-Kept Secret     RC 61266
by Kimberla Lawson Roby
read by Gail Nelson
2 cassettes
The Reverend Curtis Black is starting over again, with a new church and his third wife. He is determined to follow the straight and narrow. This time it is his wife who begins to stray. Sequel to Too Much of a Good Thing (RC 60253). Some descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Destruction of the Books     RC 61270
by Mel Odom
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Librarian Juhg retrieves a wizard's book from a goblin ship and brings it to Grandmagister Edgewick Lamplighter to unravel its secrets, but the book is a trap that could destroy the Great Library. Sequel to The Rover (RC 56430). For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Lord of the Libraries     RC 61271
by Mel Odom
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
The Vault of All Known Knowledge has been destroyed and its caretaker, Grandmagister Edgewick Lamplighter, abducted. Librarian Juhg sets out to rescue his mentor and find the legendary lost Book of Time. Sequel to The Destruction of the Books (RC 61270). For junior and senior high and older readers. 2005.

The Duke's Ballad: Witch World     RC 61275
by Andre Norton and Lyn McConchie
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Three years after fleeing her evil older brother Kirion, sorcerer to the duke of Kars, witch Aisling returns to her homeland with her younger brother Keelan and feline companion Wind Dancer. Aisling infiltrates court, determined to destroy Kirion and restore peace and prosperity. Sequel to Ciara's Song (RC 51316). 2005.

Links     RC 61281
by Nuruddin Farah
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
New York professor Jeebleh returns to his native Somalia after two decades to settle his late mother's accounts and pacify her spirit. He discovers a war-torn Mogadiscio run by warlords. To help a friend free his captured niece, Jeebleh struggles with corruption and his own conscience. 2003.

The Scourge of God     RC 61286
by William Dietrich
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Roman Empire, A.D. 449. Attila the Hun is on the verge of attacking Rome and taking Emperor Valentinian III's sister Honoria as his wife. Jonas, a scribe from Constantinople, joins the Roman diplomatic mission to seek peace but instead becomes a hostage. Violence and some strong language. 2005.

Tyrannosaur Canyon     RC 61287
by Douglas Preston
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
New Mexico. A prospector who is dying of gunshot wounds gives Tom Broadbent, from The Codex (RC 59287), a notebook revealing the location of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. When the killer kidnaps Tom's wife, Tom discovers information about some missing moon rocks. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

Touching Darkness: Midnighters, Volume 2     RC 61290
by Scott Westerfeld
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
As they continue to battle evil creatures living in an hour hidden at midnight, Jessica and her new friends learn about the shadowy past of Bixby, Oklahoma, and uncover a deadly conspiracy that reaches beyond the secret hour. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Shaman's Crossing: The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 1     RC 61300
by Robin Hobb
read by Robert Sams
5 cassettes
As a second son of a new noble, Nevare Burvelle is destined to be a soldier. He learns the ways and magic of the Plainspeople before entering the King's Cavalla Academy, an elite military school, where he encounters injustice, discrimination, and foul play. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

The Secret on Ararat: Babylon Rising, Book 2     RC 61301
by Tim LaHaye and Bob Phillips
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Following Babylon Rising (RC 57737), archaeologist and biblical scholar Michael Murphy ascends Mount Ararat to continue his quest for Noah's ark. Michael's archenemy Methuselah throws obstacles in his path. Flashbacks highlight the ordeal of Noah and his family. Some violence. 2004.

The Hummingbird's Daughter     RC 61312
by Luis Alberto Urrea
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Teresita Urrea, illegitimate daughter of a Mexican landowner, learns healing from a medicine woman. After a near-death experience, her powers grow. She preaches self-reliance and is proclaimed a saint by the faithful, who begin an uprising. Based on the life of Saint Teresa de Cabora. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Prior Bad Acts     RC 61320
by Tami Hoag
read by Holter Graham
2 cassettes
Minneapolis detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, from Dust to Dust (RC 50847), unwillingly serve as guards to the unpopular judge Carey Moore. When Moore is kidnapped, the two work feverishly to correct their mistake. Violence, strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006.

Speak of the Devil     RC 61321
by Richard Hawke
read by Paul Michael
2 cassettes
Fritz Malone, a disgraced cop and son of a former police commissioner, witnesses a killer gun down seven people during the annual New York Thanksgiving Day parade. Malone is mistakenly nabbed but subsequently hired to find the shooter, who has also kidnapped the deputy mayor. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Leonardo's Swans     RC 61323
by Karen Essex
read by Kathe Mazur
3 cassettes
In fifteenth-century Italy, Isabella d'Este marries a minor aristocrat while her younger sister Beatrice weds the manipulative future duke of Milan. Isabella encourages the duke's advances in order to become a model for his resident artist, Leonardo da Vinci. 2005.

The Templar Legacy     RC 61331
by Steve Berry
read by Paul Michael
3 cassettes
Cotton Malone, retired top operative of the U.S. Justice Department, comes to the aid of his former supervisor Stephanie Nelle, who is pursuing the legendary treasure of the Knights Templar. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2006.

Whale Season     RC 61333
by N.M. Kelby
read by Marc Cashman
2 cassettes
Dr. Ricardo Garcia arrives in Whale Harbor, Florida, on Christmas Eve believing he's Jesus and looking for a card game. The locals, including sheriff Trot Jeeter, his friend and rival Leon, and Carlotta, their mutual love interest, react in different ways. Meanwhile someone is murdering senior citizens. 2006.

In the Company of the Courtesan     RC 61334
by Sarah Dunant
read by Stephen Hoye
3 cassettes
Renaissance Italy. After Rome is attacked and burned in 1527, courtesan Fiammetta escapes to Venice with her servant Bucino, a dwarf, and a few jewels. Fiammetta recovers with the help of a blind healer called La Draga and resumes her profession amidst treachery. Descriptions of sex, violence and strong language. 2005.

Gone     RC 61335
by Lisa Gardner
read by Anna Fields
2 cassettes
Private investigator Pierce Quincy's partner—who is also his lover—is missing, as is the child whose case she's been working on. Then her car is found with blood stains. 2006.

The Good Life     RC 61337
by Jay McInerney
read by Robertson Dean
3 cassettes
Luke McGavock is tired of a hectic life concentrated on making money. Corrine Calloway yearns for an existence outside of mothering twins. On September 11, 2001, both of their spouses die in the attack on the Twin Towers. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006.

Sea Change: A Jesse Stone Mystery     RC 61343
by Robert B. Parker
read by Scott Sowers
2 cassettes
Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone investigates the unmourned death of a Florida heiress. Ft. Lauderdale cop Kelly Cruz helps Stone uncover the depraved world of the rich while Stone deals with sobriety and his ex-wife. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

The Minotaur     RC 61345
by Barbara Vine
read by Rosalyn Landor
3 cassettes
Nurse Kerstin Kvist takes a job caring for a thirty-nine-year-old man with schizophrenia who lives with his widowed mother and three unmarried sisters in a large old manor in the Essex countryside. As family secrets are revealed, Kerstin begins to doubt the man's diagnosis. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2005.

The Divide     RC 61349
by Nicholas Evans
read by David Hartley Margolin
3 cassettes
Abbie Cooper, FBI wanted eco-terrorist, is found frozen in Montana. Her parents examine whether their unexpected divorce played a role in Abbie's attraction to the radical Rolf, in her death, and in their son Josh's drug addiction. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2005.

I'll Watch the Moon     RC 61357
by Ann Tatlock
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
St. Paul, Minnesota; 1948. When nine-year-old Nova Tierney's older brother Dewey contracts polio, she is quarantined for the summer. Nova and her mother befriend a concentration camp survivor, a tenant at their family boarding house, who helps restore the mother's faith in God. For senior high and older readers. 2003.

A Changed Man     RC 61361
by Francine Prose
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Neo-Nazi Vincent Nolan walks into the World Brotherhood Watch headquarters intending to help them work for human rights. Meyer Maslow, the foundation's head and a Holocaust survivor, is skeptical of Vincent's sincerity. As Vincent transforms his life, he also changes those around him. Some strong language. 2005.

Ramage's Devil: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 13     RC 61363
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
The outbreak of war interrupts Captain Ramage's honeymoon in France. The newlyweds elude capture, but their royalist host is arrested and deported to Devil's Island. Dispatched aboard Calypso, Ramage plots a daring rescue. Sequel to Ramage and the Renegades (RC 61350). Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1982.

Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories     RC 61367
by Garth Nix
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
A collection of fantasy short stories, including two different takes on the Merlin myth. Also contains a novella that is set in the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre—the world of the trilogy Sabriel (RC 44682), Lirael (RC 52678), and Abhorsen (RC 55530). Some descriptions of sex. For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

In the Bleak Midwinter: A Reverend Clare Fergusson Mystery     RC 61372
by Julia Spencer-Fleming
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Clare Fergusson, an ex-military pilot and the newly appointed Episcopal priest at St. Alban's Church in an upstate New York village, discovers an abandoned infant on the church steps. After the baby's mother is found murdered, Clare joins police chief Russ Van Alstyne in investigating the case. Strong language. 2002.

Adored     RC 61375
by Tilly Bagshawe
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Siena McMahon's father exiles her to England after her legendary movie star grandfather dies. She is nevertheless determined to restore fame and fortune by returning to Hollywood as a model. But family strife and bad choices jeopardize Siena's plans. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2005.

Ramage's Trial: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 14     RC 61379
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Captain Ramage receives dire news from home: his new wife, Sarah, is missing and presumed captured by the French. A sequence of bizarre events leads Ramage, en route to England, to face a full court martial presided over by his nemesis, Rear-Admiral Goddard. Sequel to Ramage's Devil (RC 61363). Some violence. 1984.

Tales of the Grand Tour     RC 61399
by Ben Bova
read by J.P. Linton
3 cassettes
Twelve short stories about expanding humanity's habitat through space exploration on Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn and in the asteroid belt. In "Sam and the Flying Dutchman," fickle freight transporter Sam Gunn fails to marry his sweetheart. In "Red Sky at Morning," Mars mission trainee Jamie Waterman encounters Dex Trumball. 2004.

Smouldering Fire     RC 61401
by D.E. Stevenson
read by Terry Donnelly
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Iain MacAslan rents his Scottish Highland estate to a wealthy Londoner, who brings up a large house party. Among the guests are divorcée Linda Medworth and her young son, Richard. Iain and Linda's burgeoning relationship is interrupted when Linda's abusive ex-husband arrives and threatens to take Richard away. 1938.

London Refrain: Zion Covenant, Volume 7     RC 61404
by Bodie Thoene and Brock Thoene
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Warsaw, 1939. Eva Weitzman is desperately trying to enter and hide in the British Embassy before Hitler's army reaches the city. Miraculously, a young Jewish woman gives Eva her British passport. But this show of kindness may not save Eva. Sequel to Warsaw Requiem (RC 34906). 1994.

Peach Cobbler Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery     RC 61409
by Joanne Fluke
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Lake Eden, Minnesota. Hannah Swensen's Cookie Jar has always had a monopoly on the bakery business in town—until southerners Shawna Lee and Vanessa open the Magnolia Blossom Bakery across the street. Then Shawna Lee is discovered dead, and Hannah becomes the prime suspect. Includes recipes. 2005.

Shroud     RC 61410
by John Banville
read by Lewis Grenville
2 cassettes
Widowed California professor Axel Vander, paralyzed in one leg and blind in one eye, is a survivor of war—torn Europe. He is also a fraud. When a strange woman threatens to expose him, he returns to Europe to confront her-and his hidden truths. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2002.

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet: Horror Stories     RC 61412
by Richard Matheson
read by Jonathan Davis
3 cassettes
Twenty tales of terror originally published in the 1950s and 1960s. In the title piece, an air traveler who is afraid of flying and on the verge of a breakdown tries to show a stewardess the hideous, not-quite-human man he spies on the airplane's wing. Some strong language. 2002.

The Alpine Pursuit: An Emma Lord Mystery     RC 61413
by Mary Daheim
read by Barbara Caruso
2 cassettes
Washington state. Newspaper editor Emma Lord covers the community college theater performance for the Alpine Advocate. On opening night, a fake shooting scene turns deadly when real bullets are fired and the dean of students is killed. Emma and her part-time lover, sheriff Milo Dodge, investigate. Some strong language. 2004.

Body Double     RC 61421
by Tess Gerritsen
read by Gabra Zackman
2 cassettes
Boston medical examiner Maura Isles discovers that the dead woman in her driveway is her identical twin. Detective Jane Rizzoli, who is expecting a child, assists officer Rick Ballard and Maura in the investigation, which leads them to a serial killer who targets pregnant women. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Code Name: Nanny     RC 61434
by Christina Skye
read by Barbara Caruso
3 cassettes
FBI agent Summer Mulcahey poses as a nanny to guard San Francisco assistant district attorney Cara O'Connor and her daughters. Cara, Senator Tate Winslow's fiancée, has received death threats. Unbeknownst to Summer, navy SEAL Gabe Morgan is also undercover. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda; a Splinter Cell Adventure     RC 61436
by David Michaels
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
Physicist Gregory Jeinsen disappears just as his company develops an unmanned undersea vehicle capable of carrying nuclear weapons. When Gregory is found murdered in Hong Kong, the National Security Agency's Third Echelon sends in top secret operative Sam Fisher. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2005.

Godslayer: The Sundering, Volume 2     RC 61438
by Jacqueline Carey
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
Exiled god Satoris, whose dispute with his siblings caused Urulat's sundering, attempts to thwart his prophesied destruction. As the races unite against him, Satoris holds Lady Cerelinde captive in his fortress, where hangs the dagger Godslayer that alone can end his life. Sequel to Banewreaker (RC 61251). Some violence. 2005.

My Surrender: The Rose Hunters, Book 3     RC 61440
by Connie Brockway
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Bored with her position as a companion, Charlotte Nash welcomes the opportunity to become a go-between for spies transporting information between England and France—even if it ruins her reputation. But can she risk trusting the love of one spy? Sequel to My Pleasure (RC 60021). Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Julia's Hope     RC 61447
by Leisha Kelly
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
The 1929 market crash left Samuel Wortham, his wife, Julia, and their two children with absolutely nothing. Forced to leave their home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and take shelter in an abandoned farmhouse in Illinois, they are blessed by the mercy of owner Emma Graham, who offers new hope. 2002.

Summer Boys     RC 61448
by Hailey Abbott
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Three teenage cousins reunite at their families' summer cottages at the beach. But problems arise when Jamie is rejected by last year's boyfriend, Ella falls for her sister's guy, and Beth sees her best buddy George in a new light. For senior high readers. 2004.

Lifeguard     RC 61488
by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
read by Billy Campbell
2 cassettes
Palm Beach, Florida, lifeguard Ned Kelly takes part in a mansion art heist to get rich quick. After Ned's friends and lover are killed, he flees to Boston. FBI agent Ellie Shurtleff tracks Ned down but believes that he is innocent. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

A Wedding in December     RC 61489
by Anita Shreve
read by Linda Emond
2 cassettes
Widowed Berkshires innkeeper Nora hosts six of her longtime school friends for a wedding. Forty-three-year-old cancer-stricken Bridget, a single mother, is marrying a former lover after a chance encounter reunites them. Old secrets and hurts are divulged and forgiven. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Mary, Mary: An Alex Cross Mystery     RC 61490
by James Patterson
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
2 cassettes
FBI agent Alex Cross, vacationing with his family at Disneyland, assists the LAPD in solving a murder case. A serial killer who calls herself Mary Smith is targeting Hollywood stars and taunting the newspaper by describing the details of their deaths. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Saving Fish from Drowning     RC 61495
by Amy Tan
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Chinese American art expert Bibi Chen organizes a trip to Burma for her friends. Although Bibi dies beforehand, the group continues with its plans. Bibi watches from the spirit world as the tourists are kidnapped by a native tribe that claims one of them as their savior. Bestseller. 2005.

In a Wild Wood: Wild Series, Book 2     RC 61499
by Sasha Lord
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Matalia McTaver, daughter of Ronin and Kalial, is an independent woman determined to experience the pleasures of the flesh. After a chance encounter, she marries Brogan O'Bannon, who intends to claim the Kirkcaldy fortune. Only his twin brother stands in the way. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2004.

Forest of the Pygmies     RC 61502
by Isabel Allende
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Alexander and his grandmother Kate Cold go on an elephant-led safari in Africa with Nadia Santos and an International Geographic team. A rescue mission in the Pygmies' territory reveals slavery and poaching. Sequel to Kingdom of the Golden Dragon (RC 61217). For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

Raven's Gate: The Gatekeepers, Book 1     RC 61504
by Anthony Horowitz
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
To avoid jail, fourteen-year-old Matt enters a foster program in a remote Yorkshire village. Matt uncovers an evil plot involving witchcraft and finds his destiny inextricably intertwined with the site of an ancient stone circle, Raven's Gate. Some violence. For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

Marriage Bait     RC 61510
by Eva Rutland
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
Insurance firm vice president in charge of operations Scot Harding wants to replace his administrative assistant and offers the job to secretary Lisa Wilson. Initially Lisa refuses, concerned the new position would detract from her quest for a husband. When Lisa finally accepts, Scot can't resist her lure. 1997.

Birds of a Feather     RC 61520
by Victor Canning
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Sir Anthony Swale, wealthy master of a grand seaside estate and collector of rare masterpieces, is also a spy for the Soviets. While Swale is preoccupied with capturing wild falcons, aging British agents Sir John Warboys and Sir Richard Quint enlist veteran gunman Alfie Grey to exterminate Swale. Some descriptions of sex. 1985.

The Siren Queen: An Ursula Blanchard Mystery     RC 61524
by Fiona Buckley
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
England, 1569. While visiting the Duke of Norfolk to interview potential husbands for her young daughter Meg, Ursula Blanchard uncovers suspicious correspondence between the duke and Mary Stuart of Scotland. Then two murders occur. 2004.

Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven?     RC 61525
by Erica Orloff
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
1 cassette
Lily Waters, a forty-year-old, divorced New York newspaper columnist is diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer. Contemplating death, Lily arranges for her gay friend Michael to adopt her two teenage children. She also helps Michael find a loving partner. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

Maggie by the Book: A Maggie Kelly Mystery     RC 61535
by Kasey Michaels
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Manhattan author Maggie Kelly attends an annual romance writers' convention with viscount Alexandre Blake, a Regency-era sleuth who came to life in Maggie Needs an Alibi (RC 56795). A killer strikes while police lieutenant Steve Wendell distracts Maggie, forcing Alex to investigate. Some strong language. 2003.

Marriage Most Scandalous     RC 61539
by Johanna Lindsey
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Sebastian Townshend, disowned by his family, left England after he unintentionally killed his best friend in a duel. When childhood neighbor Margaret Landor discovers that Sebastian is working as a mercenary in France, she begs him to return to England to save his father's life. Some descriptions of sex. 2005.

It Sleeps in Me     RC 61541
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Sora, high chieftess of the Black Falcon Nation, learns from war chief Skinner that her ex-husband, Flint, is dead and that his shadow-soul lives within Skinner. Meanwhile a rival clan requests warriors to defend a jade quarry, but Sora suspects a conspiracy. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005.

Cape Perdido     RC 61542
by Marcia Muller
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
New York environmental consultant Jessie Domingo travels to a California lumber town where activist Joseph Openshaw fights to stop a greedy corporation from draining the Perdido River. The conflict escalates as arson, a sniper, and a woman's disappearance become linked to a decades-old murder. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

The Heartbreaker     RC 61557
by Carly Phillips
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Chase Chandler, from The Bachelor (RC 54933) and The Playboy (RC 58881), runs the family newspaper in Yorkshire Falls, New York, after his father's death. When Sloane Carlisle comes to town after uncovering a family secret, the two fall in love. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

The Moth     RC 61560
by Catherine Cookson
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes (Reissue)
England, 1913. When a violent argument forces Robert Bradley to quit his uncle's carpentry business, he finds work at the estate of young Agnes Thorman. Agnes manages her family's crumbling finances and cares for her eccentric younger sister, Millie. Defying social conventions, Agnes and Robert fall in love. 1986.

Red Lily: In the Garden, Book 3     RC 61562
by Nora Roberts
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
The ghost of Harper House is still causing problems for friends and coworkers Rosalind, Stella, and especially new mother Hayley. But Hayley, the latest target of the apparition's jealousy, finds herself falling in love. Sequel to Black Rose (RC 60606). Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Holly     RC 61564
by Jude Deveraux
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Holly Latham, a restoration architect, has persuaded her parents to purchase a North Carolina plantation she once visited. She hopes to restore Belle Chere, a nearby estate, and marry its owner. But during the summer Holly finds herself drawn to the gardener. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2003.

Hangman's Curse: The Veritas Project, Book 1     RC 61565
by Frank Peretti
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Star athletes at Baker High are rendered insane by an alleged curse of the school's ghosts. Sixteen-year-old twins Elijah and Elisha Springfield and their parents, undercover investigators with the secret Veritas Project, seek to learn the truth. They trust in God for help. For junior and senior high readers. 2001.

The Sign of the Book: A Cliff Janeway Mystery     RC 61567
by John Dunning
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Denver book dealer Cliff Janeway goes to a small Colorado town to help his lover, attorney Erin D'Angelo, defend Erin's estranged friend Laura Marshall, who stands accused of killing her husband. Cliff discovers the victim's unusual book collection and suspects that Laura is hiding the truth. Strong language. 2005.

Safe Haven: A Hideaway Novel, Book 2     RC 61569
by Hannah Alexander
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Teenager Fawn Morrison comes to Hideaway, Missouri, as a fugitive because someone killed her lover back in Branson. Karah Lee Fletcher, a doctor in Hideaway's new medical clinic, befriends Fawn. And paramedic Taylor Jackson finds his admiration for Karah turning into something deeper. 2004.

Looking for Peyton Place     RC 61610
by Barbara Delinsky
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Thirty-three-year old novelist Annie Barnes returns to her hometown in New Hampshire after her mother mysteriously dies. The locals fear that Annie will denigrate their town, which was the basis for Peyton Place (RC 51035). Instead Annie discovers environmental pollution and falls in love. 2005.

Death in a Strange Country: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery     RC 61683
by Donna Leon
read by Peter Ganim
3 cassettes
Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates the murder of Mike Foster, a nearby American military base's public health officer, found floating in toxic water. Later Foster's boss is also killed. Brunetti suspects an environmental cover-up that eventually extends beyond the U.S. military to the Italian government—and even to Brunetti's own father-in-law. 1993.

Maigret's Rival: An Inspector Maigret Mystery     RC 61684
by Georges Simenon
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
Inspector Maigret travels unofficially to a distant village to help a friend's brother-in-law, who is involved in a scandal. It seems Etienne Naud is accused of causing the death of his unmarried daughter's lover. Maigret also spots a former colleague on the train. 1944.

Mortal Causes: A John Rebus Mystery     RC 61688
by Ian Rankin
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Edinburgh. Inspector John Rebus investigates the case of a gangster's son found murdered in a medieval cellar, an apparent victim of a Northern Ireland-style punishment. Rebus heads to Belfast and uncovers possible connections to drugs, gun trafficking, the IRA, and loyalist paramilitary groups. Violence and strong language. 1994.

Genevieve     RC 61691
by Eric Jerome Dickey
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
An unnamed African American medical research analyst and his wife, Genevieve Forbes, travel to Alabama for the funeral of Genevieve's grandmother. There the husband begins a torrid affair with Kenya, his wife's sister—or so he believes—that reveals shocking family truths. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2005.

The Ranger and Other Stories     RC 61692
by Zane Grey
read by Richard Davidson
2 cassettes
Four westerns. In "The Ranger," a man risks his life to rescue the woman he loves. In "Canyon Walls," a fugitive seeks sanctuary with Mormons. In "Avalanche," a beautiful woman comes between two brothers, and in "From Missouri," a schoolteacher travels west to meet her unknown correspondent. 1960.

Double Sin and Other Stories: A Hercule Poirot Mystery     RC 61693
by Agatha Christie
read by Terry Donnelly
2 cassettes
Eight eerie short mysteries featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. In "The Dressmaker's Doll," a toy adopts some rather human—and sinister—traits. In "Sanctuary," a dying man's last word becomes a clue to a crime. Also includes "Wasps' Nest," "The Last Séance," "Greenshaw's Folly," the title piece, and others. 1925.

Posse from Hell     RC 61694
by Clair Huffaker
read by Richard Davidson
1 cassette
1881. After causing death and destruction in the town of Paradise, a gang of four hardened criminals take a female hostage. Young marshal Banner Cole can organize a posse of only seven men, but he is determined to pursue the outlaws anyway. Violence and strong language. 1958.

The Miracle     RC 61715
by John L'Heureux
read by Jonathan Davis
2 cassettes
Early 1970s. Young, vibrant, liberal Father LeBlanc is well liked by his Boston parishioners but not by his superiors. Transferred to a small New Hampshire parish to assist an ailing priest, LeBlanc questions his faith after witnessing a miracle and committing mortal sin. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Strange Affair: An Inspector Alan Banks Mystery     RC 61722
by Peter Robinson
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Detective Annie Cabbot investigates the case of a young woman found shot to death in a car. The crime scene yields a note bearing Inspector Alan Banks's name and address. Meanwhile an urgent message sends Alan to London to find his estranged brother. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

I Say a Little Prayer     RC 61729
by E. Lynn Harris
read by Mirron E. Willis
2 cassettes
Former musician Chauncey Greer quit performing during his teenage years when his bisexuality was exposed. Now, almost forty, he returns to church and is inspired to revive his career. When a fundamentalist preacher plans to speak out against homosexuality, Chauncey takes a stand—and a special friend returns. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2006.

Killer Dreams     RC 61730
by Iris Johansen
read by Jennifer Van Dyck
2 cassettes
Dream therapist Sophie Dunston and her ten-year-old son are being stalked by a killer who has already attacked her once. Former hit man Jock Gavin employs the unpredictable Matt Royd to protect Sophie and her boy, but the nightmare continues. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006.

The Man of My Dreams     RC 61731
by Curtis Sittenfeld
read by Susan Denaker
2 cassettes
Fourteen-year-old Hannah Gavener's controlling father ends his marriage, breaking up his family and sending his passive daughter to live with her aunt in Pittsburgh. Throughout high school and college Hannah searches for security and romance, undergoes therapy, and pursues a cousin's cast-off boyfriend. 2006.

The Death of Achilles: An Erast Fandorin Mystery     RC 61733
by Boris Akunin
read by Paul Michael
3 cassettes
Russia, 1882. Diplomat Erast Fandorin returns to Moscow after six years of travels and adventures abroad. When his friend General Michel "Achilles" Sobolev dies of an apparent heart attack, Erast begins an investigation that leads him to a singer named Wanda. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1998.

The Faithful Spy     RC 61737
by Alex Berenson
read by Robertson Dean
3 cassettes
CIA agent John Wells, long undercover in Afghanistan and Pakistan, is suspected by his handlers of defecting to the other side. Furthermore, Wells began to believe in the tenets of Islam while he lived beside the jihadis. 2006.

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell     RC 61762
by Lilian Jackson Braun
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Journalist Jim Qwilleran helps plan a knock-out celebration of Pickax City's sesquicentennial. Meanwhile Nathan and Doris Ledfield, a wealthy couple, mysteriously die leaving their greedy nephew to inherit their estate. Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum help to uncover the truth about the couple's demise. Bestseller. 2006.

All Night Long     RC 61763
by Jayne Ann Krentz
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
An e-mail from old friend Pamela Webb summons reporter Irene Stenson to the California town where her parents died seventeen years ago in a murder-suicide. But she finds Pamela dead. Ex-marine Luke Danner helps Irene discover what happened to Pamela and to Irene's parents. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Memory in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery     RC 61764
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Lieutenant Eve Dallas's abusive former foster mother, Trudy Lombard, shows up in Eve's office at Christmas- time 2059 and then tries to blackmail Eve's husband, Roarke. When Trudy is later murdered, Eve and Roarke set out to prove their innocence. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006.

Gilt by Association: A Den of Antiquity Mystery     RC 61769
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
After her divorce, Abigail Timberlake opens an antiques store in Charlotte, North Carolina. When a French armoire arrives with a body in it, the shop becomes a crime scene. Abigail investigates on her own so that she can reopen the business as soon as possible. Some strong language. 1996.

Across a Wild Sea: Wild Series, Book 3     RC 61770
by Sasha Lord
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Blind, beautiful, perceptive Alannah grew up on an isolated island among her beloved horses after she was left to drift out to sea as an infant. But when a storm casts ashore ruthless Scottish sea captain Xanthier O'Bannon, Alannah's entire world changes. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005.

Dreamland Lake     RC 61790
by Richard Peck
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette (Reissue)
Teenagers Flip and Brian, best friends, find a dead body while exploring the abandoned Dreamland Lake amusement park. The police believe the corpse was a vagrant who died of natural causes, but the boys suspect otherwise and investigate, changing their lives forever. For junior and senior high readers. 1973.

Bag Limit: A Posadas County Mystery     RC 61792
by Steven F. Havill
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Three days before New Mexico sheriff Bill Gastner's retirement date, a carload of teenagers hits his police vehicle. The nineteen-year-old drunk driver, Matt Baca, tries to escape custody and is accidentally killed. When Matt's father dies suddenly, Gastner suspects a cover-up. Strong language and some violence. 2001.

The Ming and I: A Den of Antiquity Mystery     RC 61801
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Charlotte, North Carolina. Den of Antiquity owner Abigail Timberlake refuses to buy an old vase from June Troyan. Shortly thereafter, June dies in a hit-and-run accident. Greg Washburn investigates June's murder and the subsequent disappearance of what proves to be a valuable Ming vase. Some strong language. 1997.

Twice Buried: A Posadas County Mystery     RC 61805
by Steven F. Havill
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
New Mexico undersheriff Bill Gastner discovers eighty-six-year-old Anna Hocking dead from an apparent (but suspicious) fall. Soon a realtor's body is found on old-timer Reuben Fuentes's property. Bill thinks Reuben is innocent and summons former deputy Estelle Reyes-Guzman, Reuben's grandniece, for help. Some violence and some strong language. 1994.

Robbers' Roost     RC 61810
by Zane Grey
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Utah, 1870s. A battle takes place between rival outlaw gangs at Robbers' Roost, a canyon hideout in no-man's-land. The only survivors of the shootout are one man, an Englishwoman—and a fortune in cash. 1932.

The Deception: The Baron Novels, Book 3     RC 61818
by Catherine Coulter
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
England, 1815. Posing as a widow, half-French Evangeline de Beauchamps visits her late cousin's husband, Richard Chesleigh, duke of Portsmouth. Richard appoints Evangeline his son's nanny, unaware that she is being forced to perform a traitorous mission by Napoleon's agents. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998.

Curtains for Three: A Nero Wolfe Mystery     RC 61820
by Rex Stout
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
A trio of short mysteries featuring orchid-growing New York private detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant, Archie Goodwin. Cases involve lovers out to make sure the other isn't a killer, a horseman shot from his saddle, and a frightened female flimflam artist claiming she spied a murderer. 1994 introduction. 1948.

Tiles and Tribulations: A Den of Antiquity Mystery     RC 61823
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
C.J., Abigail Timberlake Washburn's friend, hires Madame Woo-Woo to conduct a séance because C.J.'s old Charleston mansion seems to be haunted. When Madame Woo-Woo suddenly dies, Abby and her husband Greg investigate. Some strong language. 2003.

The Last Dark Place: An Abe Lieberman Mystery     RC 61856
by Stuart M. Kaminsky
read by Richard Davidson
2 cassettes
An assassin is killed in an Arizona airport while handcuffed to policeman Abe Lieberman, who is extraditing him to Chicago. Later, back home, Abe joins partner Bill Hanrahan in investigating a series of rapes and in defusing a potential gang war. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

Avalon High     RC 61870
by Meg Cabot
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
High school junior Ellie moves to Annapolis, Maryland, with her professor parents who specialize in medieval history. At Avalon High, where several students may be reincarnations of King Arthur and his court, Ellie falls in love. For senior high readers. 2006.

Inexcusable     RC 61879
by Chris Lynch
read by Nick Sullivan
1 cassette
High school senior and football star Keir believes he's a "good guy" who can do no wrong. When his behavior spins out of control, escalating into date rape on graduation night, Keir is forced to assess his morals. Some strong language. For senior high readers. National Book Award Finalist. 2005.

Errors and Omissions     RC 62140
by Paul Goldstein
read by Paul Michael
2 cassettes
United Pictures hires alcoholic lawyer Michael Seeley to prove it owns a lucrative film series. Seeley meets United's founder, Polish émigré Mayer Bermann, and film scholar Julia Walsh. Her research leads Seeley from Nazi-occupied Poland and the 1950s blacklisting scandal to a reclusive writer. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006.

Where Is Janice Gantry?     RC 62288
by John D. MacDonald
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Sam Brice, a divorced automobile appraiser for a Florida Keys insurance company, aids escaped convict Charles Haywood, inadvertently leading to the disappearance of Sam's ex-lover, Janice Gantry. Police believe Charles abducted Janice, but Sam—himself a suspect—investigates on his own. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1961.

Books for Children

Cassettes Nonfiction

Clay     RC 59234
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Step-by-step instructions for using different types of clay and acrylic paints to create original craft projects. Items include a candleholder, a mobile, a puppet, a handprint tile, and a mug. For grades 3-6. 2004.

I Fall Down     RC 59450
by Vicki Cobb
read by Russ Weinstein
1 cassette
Simple experiments using common household objects introduce the basic concept of gravity and its relationship to weight. For grades K-3. 2004.

A Kid's Guide to Staying Safe around Water     RC 60055
by Maribeth Boelts
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Discusses safety tips for swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean. Covers swimming lessons, lifeguards, the buddy system, life jackets, and the importance of knowing water conditions, among other things. For grades K-3. 1997.

The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun     RC 60059
by Wendie Old
read by Rick Wiseman
1 cassette
Describes the Pennsylvania origins of the February 2 tradition of using a groundhog's shadow to forecast winter's end. Factual chapters discuss the "Reason for Seasons" and groundhog behavior. Includes riddles and directions for planning a Groundhog Day party. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Daniel Boone     RC 60235
by James Daugherty
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette (Reissue)
Biography of the legendary frontiersman born in 1734. Describes the call of the West that led Daniel Boone to Kentucky and eventually to Missouri. Discusses his enjoyment of the wilderness, the company of Indians, and pioneering experiences. For grades 4-7 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1939.

Empire of Alexander the Great     RC 61282
by Debra Skelton and Pamela Dell
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette
Presents a military biography of the charismatic commander Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.E.), who died at age thirty-two. Discusses ways his empire spread Greek culture and social values throughout the Middle East and Europe, initiated world trade, and encouraged intellectual exchange. For grades 6-9. 2005.

Bites and Stings     RC 61294
by Alvin Silverstein,
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
Discusses irritations and injuries from mosquitoes, ticks, bees, snakes, and other sources in the outdoors—as well as pet dogs, cats, and hamsters. Covers the body's reactions to bites and stings and ways to treat them. Gives tips on awareness and prevention. For grades 3-6. 2001.

The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands     RC 61298
by Sneed B. Collard III read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Discusses the 1989 creation of a national wildlife refuge in Iowa. Describes the restoration of the native tallgrass prairie that supported elk, deer, pronghorns, bison, wolves, grizzly bears, and birds before Europeans arrived in the 1800s. Explains the project's importance and the progress made since 1989. For grades 4-7. 2005.

Bill Nye the Science Guy's Great Big Book of Tiny Germs     RC 61307
by Bill Nye and Kathleen W. Zoehfeld
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
Scientist from television show explains bacteria, viruses, germs, immune systems, vaccinations, and epidemics. Provides twelve step-by-step experiments that use common household materials to demonstrate the scientific facts discussed in each chapter. For grades 3-6. 2005.

Ten Thousand Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War     RC 61583
by Philip Caputo
read by Ted Stoddard
1 cassette
Overview of the Vietnam conflict by the Pulitzer Prize-winning former soldier. Presents background information on communism and U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Discusses the war's chief participants and key battles and chronicles the changing political and social climate of 1960s and 1970s America. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2005.

Kids' Easy-to-Create Wildlife Habitats for Small Spaces in the City, Suburbs, and Countryside     RC 61618
by Emily Stetson
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Encourages children to explore the natural world by providing animals, birds, and insects with food, shelter, and water. Introduces projects with environmental lessons. Provides supply lists and clear instructions for activities like preparing a feast for butterflies and making a compost pile. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Coping with Asperger Syndrome     RC 61786
by Maxine Rosaler
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Overview of a neurological disorder related to autism that affects social behavior. Discusses characteristics and management of the condition as well as theories concerning its causes. For grades 6-9. 2004.

ER Vets: Life in an Animal Emergency Room     RC 61876
by Donna M. Jackson
read by L.J. Ganser
1 cassette
Discusses veterinary medicine by examining the workings of an emergency room at an animal hospital. Describes pets and owners who come for care and the doctors and vet techs who attend them. Provides tips on pet first aid and a section on grief counseling. For grades 5-8. 2005.

How Basketball Works     RC 61888
by Keltie Thomas
read by L.J. Ganser
1 cassette
Guide to the origin and history of basketball. Covers equipment, positions, training, stats, and rules. Offers tips, such as how to make a jump shot, and facts, such as changes in shoe design since 1903. Includes anecdotes about Michael Jordan, Sheryl Swoopes, and other legendary players. For grades 5-8. 2005.

Cassettes Fiction

Peril in the Bessledorf Parachute Factory: A Bessledorf Hotel Mystery     RC 59433
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by Richard Magesis
1 cassette
Bernie attempts to marry off his older sister Delores so that he can have her bedroom. But his scheming produces a near disaster at the Bessledorf Parachute Factory, where Delores works. For grades 4-7. 1999.

Ghost Light on Graveyard Shoal: American Girl History Mysteries     RC 59437
by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Glenn Island, Virginia; 1895. Twelve-year-old Rhoda's father operates a U.S. Lifesaving Station where he risks his life to save people from shipwrecks. Rhoda becomes suspicious that someone is luring boats into treacherous waters in order to salvage their bounty, and she searches for the culprit. For grades 4-7. 2003.

Bernie Magruder and the Disappearing Bodies: A Bessledorf Hotel Mystery     RC 59438
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by Grace Ragsdale
1 cassette
Bernie's father may lose his job as manager of the Bessledorf Hotel because of dead bodies that mysteriously appear and disappear. Bernie and his friends investigate the problem. For grades 4-7. 1986.

The Journal of Otto Peltonen: A Finnish Immigrant     RC 59442
by William Durbin
read by Dave Corey
1 cassette
Fifteen-year-old Otto records in a diary his 1905 journey in steerage with his mother and sisters from Finland to America. He joins his father working in a dreary Minnesota iron mining community and becomes involved in a union fight for better working conditions. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Winter of the Ice Wizard: Magic Tree House, Book 32     RC 59444
by Mary Pope Osborne
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
Jack and Annie travel with Teddy and Kathleen to the snowy Land-behind-the-Clouds to retrieve Merlin's Staff of Strength. But the Ice Wizard has already captured Merlin and Morgan and possesses the staff. The Wizard will only exchange them for his missing eye. For grades 2-4. 2004.

The Mystery at Skeleton Point: A Boxcar Children Mystery     RC 59445
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
read by Graci Ragsdale
1 cassette
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny help a relative clean out an old house where the previous owner, a doctor, had collected skeletons. When valuable statues disappear, the children learn of a local myth about a walking skeleton, and they decide to investigate. For grades 3-6. 2002.

The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty: United States Marine Corps     RC 59448
by Ellen Emerson White
read by Neil Berman
1 cassette
In his journal eighteen-year-old marine enlistee Patrick Flaherty of Boston records his 1967 arrival in Vietnam, the war's brutal conditions, and his participation in the siege of Khe Sanh. For grades 5-8. 2002.

Goodbye Mousie     RC 59452
by Robie H. Harris
read by Ligaya Romero
1 cassette
A little boy grieves for his dead pet mouse, going through stages of denial, anger, and, finally, acceptance. He helps to bury Mousie and decides to wait before getting another pet. For preschool-grade 2. 2001.

The Sea of Trolls     RC 59623
by Nancy Farmer
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
After Jack becomes apprenticed to a Druid bard, he and his little sister Lucy are captured by Viking Berserkers. To appease a half-troll queen and save his sister, Jack journeys deep into enemy territory and encounters troll-bears, giant spiders, and dragons. For grades 5-8. 2004.

The Midnight Mystery: A Boxcar Children Mystery     RC 59689
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
read by Graci Ragsdale
1 cassette
At midnight while the Alden children stay at the old home of a famous artist known for her one-of-a-kind clocks, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny hear a mysterious tapping sound along with the regular chimes and decide to investigate. For grades 3-6. 2003.

The Grim Grotto: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 11     RC 59697
by Lemony Snicket
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
In this sequel to The Slippery Slope (RC 56930), the Baudelaire orphans' adventures include travel by submarine to an underwater cave in search of a particular sugar bowl sought by the evil Count Olaf. For grades 4-7. 2004.

The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Treasury     RC 59857
by Betty MacDonald
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Three books about the unusual Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, who lives in an upside-down house in a town where she is every child's friend. She makes chores fun and solves many family problems. Contains "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle," "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic," and "Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle." For grades 3-6. 1947.

The Wrath of Mulgarath: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5     RC 60022
by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Following The Ironwood Tree (RC 59233), Jared, Simon, and Mallory arrive home to find the house ransacked and Mom missing. Simon's griffin, Byron, catches a hobgoblin, Hogsqueal, who tells them that Mulgarath and his goblins abducted their mother. For grades 2-4. 2004.

The Witch of Clatteringshaws: The Wolves Chronicles     RC 60050
by Joan Aiken
read by Jennifer Mendenhall
1 cassette
Dido travels to Scotland to relieve reluctant Simon from the burden of being King of England by seeking another heir to the throne. Her friend Piers and Father Sam's cousin Malise, the Witch of Clatteringshaws, help Dido. For grades 5-8. 2005.

Becoming Naomi León     RC 60266
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
read by MaryBeth Wise
1 cassette
For seven years Naomi and brother Owen lived happily with Gram in her trailer. Gram arranged Owen's surgeries for his physical disabilities and helped Naomi begin to speak again. When their mother reappears, Gram takes the children to Mexico to find their father and their heritage. For grades 4-7. Schneider Family Award. 2004.

Willow Run     RC 60749
by Patricia Reilly Giff
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
During World War II, eleven-year-old Meggie moves with her parents to Willow Run, Michigan, where her father has a job in the B-24 bomber factory. Meggie learns about various kinds of bravery from the many people there. Companion to Lily's Crossing (RC 45659). For grades 5-8. 2005.

Flush     RC 60792
by Carl Hiaasen
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
The Florida Keys. With their father jailed for sinking a gambling boat, Noah Underwood and his sister Abbey gather evidence that casino owner Dusty Muleman is illegally emptying sewage tanks into coastal waters. They receive help from a former card dealer, a pirate, and Dusty's ex-girlfriend. For grades 5-8. 2005.

Shackleton's Stowaway     RC 61101
by Victoria McKernan
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
A fictionalized account of the adventures of eighteen-year-old Perce Blackborow, who stowed away on the 1914 Shackleton Antarctic expedition. After their ship Endurance is crushed by ice, Blackborow survives many hardships including frostbite during the nearly two-year return journey across ice and sea. For grades 5-8. 2005.

Finding the Forger: A Bianca Balducci Mystery     RC 61305
by Libby Sternberg
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Bianca Balducci leads a hectic teenage life worrying about Christmas shopping, boyfriends, and a bad home perm while helping her private investigator sister on an art forgery case—at the Baltimore museum where her friend Sarah works. Sequel to Uncovering Sadie's Secrets (RC 59089). For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2004.

The Black Jacket Mystery: A Trixie Belden Mystery     RC 61508
by Kathryn Kenny
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
Trixie is active in organizing an ice carnival to raise funds for her Mexican pen pal's school library. But when a series of thefts and accidents occur in her neighborhood and a mysterious problem faces local horse groom Bill Regan, Trixie investigates. For grades 4-7. 1961.

The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost     RC 61518
by Brad Strickland
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
On a Boy Scout campout in the Michigan woods, Lewis Barnavelt discovers a grave and a whistle that draws him, his friend Rose Rita Pottinger, and his uncle Jonathan into a battle with evil. Sequel to The Tower at the End of the World (RC 57295). For grades 5-8. 2003.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy     RC 61553
by Jeanne Birdsall
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
A widowed father takes his four daughters, aged four through twelve, and the family dog on a three-week vacation at a Berkshire Mountain estate cottage. The girls make friends with the owner's son, much to his snobbish mother's dismay. For grades 4-7. National Book Award. 2005.

The Specter from the Magician's Museum: A Lewis Barnavelt Mystery RC 61554
by Brad Strickland
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
New Zebedee, Michigan; 1950s. Lewis Barnavelt and his friend Rose Rita Pottinger decide to perform a magic act for the school talent show. While researching in a magician's museum, Rose Rita becomes ensnared by an evil spell and it's up to Lewis to free her. For grades 4-7. 1998.

Far Traveler     RC 61686
by Rebecca Tingle
read by Lisette Lecat
2 cassettes
After the death of her mother, Aethelflaed of Mercia, sixteen-year-old Aelfwyn flees from her uncle King Edward's control. Disguised as a boy, she travels the countryside as a bard until a fateful decision is pressed upon her. Sequel to The Edge on the Sword (RC 53994). For grades 6-9. 2005.

Heat Wave: Left Behind—The Kids, Book 37     RC 61768
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
As the six-year mark of the Tribulation approaches, a heat wave devastates the world. Reunited in Wisconsin, Judd and Vicki grow closer while working together. Then Judd becomes stranded in New Babylon, far from Vicki. Sequel to Ominous Choices (RC 58481). For grades 5-8. 2004.

The Perils of Love: Left Behind-The Kids, Book 38     RC 61822
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
After the Heat Wave (RC 61768), darkness falls on New Babylon, causing suicides. Vicki and Lionel fly to Petra, where Judd joins them and they watch Chloe's statement of faith and televised execution. The Kids celebrate new beginnings with Judd and Vicki's marriage. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Kailey: An American Girl Today     RC 61878
by Amy Goldman Koss
read by Gabra Zackman
1 cassette
Ten-year-old Kailey and her best pal, Tess, love to ride on bodyboards in a California cove and observe tidal pool creatures. When a developer posts signs for an oceanfront complex, Kailey needs to act fast to save the natural coast from becoming a boat marina. For grades 3-6. 2003.

The Road to War: Left Behind-The Kids, Book 39     RC 61942
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
In Wisconsin, Mark is captured by Global Community members and speaks about God before facing the guillotine. His death saddens the Young Tribulation Force, which is immersed in preparations for the Battle of Armageddon. Sequel to The Perils of Love (RC 61822). For grades 5-8. 2004.

Triumphant Return: Left Behind-The Kids, Book 40     RC 61977
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
While Nicolae Carpathia expects the defeat of the rebels against the Global Community, Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and the rest of the Young Trib Force await the Glorious Appearing—the return of Jesus Christ. Sequel to The Road to War (RC 61942). For grades 5-8. 2004.

Foreign Language Books

Spanish

Don Quijote de la Mancha     RC 60979
por Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
leído por Juan Ramírez
14 cassettes en 3 cajas (Reedición)
Un anciano hidalgo, trastornado por la lectura de libros de caballerías, se nombra caballero andante y, acompañado por su escudero mundano, Sancho Panza, sale en busca de aventuras. Edición del IV Centenario redactado por la Real Academia Española. Incluye notas, ensayos, y otro material analítico. (An aged Spanish gentleman, addled by the idealism of chivalric novels, appoints himself a knight errant and, accompanied by his ignorant but highly practical squire, Sancho Panza, sets out in search of adventure. Royal Spanish Academy's four-hundredth anniversary edition provides notes, prologues, introductions, and other critical material.) 2005.

Los Secretos del Código: La Guía No Autorizada a los Misterios detrás de El Código Da Vinci (Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries behind The Da Vinci Code)     RC 60982
recopilado por Dan Burstein
leído por Juan Ramírez
5 cassettes
Un compendio de escritos tomados de libros, revistas, ensayos, entrevistas, y páginas de la red que desentrañan los temas religiosos que se hallan en El Código Da Vinci (RC 58957). Los distintos expertos examinan los enigmas del comienzo de la era cristiana, abarcando temas como la relación de Jesús con María Magdalena, la credibilidad de las escrituras bíblicas alternativas, y la existencia de sociedades secretas como los Templarios. (Excerpts from books, web sites, articles, commentaries, and interviews relating to the major religious themes in El Código Da Vinci (RC 58957). Contributing experts offer views on Jesus's relationship with Mary Magdalene, the credibility of alternative scriptures, secret societies like the Knights Templar, and more.) 2004.

La Reina del Sur (The Queen of the South)     RC 60992
por Arturo Pérez-Reverte
leído por Juan Ramírez
4 cassettes
Un ex-reportero se entrevista con la notoria Teresa Mendoza, y por sus conversaciones y memorias retrospectivas se pinta la enigmática vida de la joven mujer mexicana que, por sus experiencias con el mundo criminal, se ve corriendo de asesinos y acaba convirtiéndose en una poderosa traficante internacional de drogas. Violencia, lenguaje injurioso, y algunas descripciones explícitas de índole sexual. (An unnamed ex-reporter narrates the enigmatic life of Mexican Teresa Mendoza, on the run from hit men. Her experiences unfolding through fictional interviews and flashbacks, she evolves into a notorious drug smuggler. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex.) 2002.

La Guerra del Fin del Mundo (The War of the End of the World)     RC 60994
por Mario Vargas Llosa
leído por María Pino
5 cassettes
Novela histórica que se basa en un episodio nacional de Brasil. En las tierras paupérrimas del noreste de ese pais, los pobres, los inhabilitados, y los marginados de la sociedad fundan la ciudad de Canudos, inspirados por un hombre mesiánico y enigmático que llaman "El Consejero." Cuando Canudos rechaza la soberanía de la República, el gobierno manda tropas para detener el movimiento. Contiene descripciones explícitas de índole sexual. (Historical novel based on an actual incident. In northern Brazil the poor, the disabled, and the outcasts of society establish Canudos, a religious utopia inspired by the man they call the Counselor. When Canudos rejects the Brazilian Republic, the government sends in troops. Explicit descriptions of sex.) 1981.

Ficciones (Fictions)     RC 60996
por Jorge Luis Borges
leído por Luis Alfonso Omana
2 cassettes
El autor argentino presenta dieciséis de sus mejores y primeros cuentos de misterio y de fantasía. Siempre reflejando el distinto estilo laberíntico de Borges, los cuentos incluyen "Las Ruinas Circulares," "La Lotería en Babilonia," "La Biblioteca de Babel," "La Muerte y la Brújula," y "El Sur," el favorito del autor. (Sixteen of the earliest and best-known mystery and fantasy stories of the Argentinian author. Characterized by a distinctive labyrinthian style, the works include "Las Ruinas Circulares," "La Lotería en Babilonia," "La Biblioteca de Babel," "La Muerte y la Brújula," and the author's favorite, "El Sur.") 1941.

La Tía Julia y el Escribidor (Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter)     RC 60999
por Mario Vargas Llosa
leído por Juan Ramírez
3 cassettes
Novela graciosa y sofisticada que cuenta un episodio de la vida y del amor en Lima durante los años cincuenta. El joven escritor Mario, mientras trabaja en una emisora de radio, se enamora de Julia, su tía divorciada de treinta y dos años. La pasión prohibida produce un escándalo universal. Contiene descripciones de índole sexual y de lenguaje injurioso. (Lima, Peru; 1950s. Ribald, sophisticated tale of life and love. Young Mario, while working at a radio station, falls in love with Julia, his divorced thirty-two- year-old aunt. Their liaison, from fling to romance to marriage, creates a national scandal. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.) 1977.

Ensayo sobre la Ceguera (Blindness)     RC 61001
por José Saramago
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Sin saber por qué, la gente queda ciega de repente. La mujer de un médico no es afectada, pero finge la cegura para poder quedarse con su esposo. El gobierno aloja a los ciegos en un abandonado hospital de enfermos mentales, y aquí los ciegos se enfrentan a la primitiva voluntad de sobrevivir a cualquier precio. Algunas descripciones de violencia, de lenguaje injurioso, y de índole sexual. (Without cause, people are suddenly becoming blind. A doctor's wife who is spared pretends she is blind to remain with her husband. Quarantined in an abandoned mental hospital, the blinded citizens create a reign of terror. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language.) 1995.

Eragon     RC 61002
por Christopher Paolini
leído por María Pino
4 cassettes
El joven Eragon, de quince años, cría la dragona, Saphira, que sale de una piedra misterioso azul. Juntos, Eragon y Saphira, aprenden la mágia y las artes marciales, y rechazando el servicio al malvado rey Galbatorix, salen en busca de guerreros, elfos, y otros valientes que quieren luchar contra el Imperio. Algunas descripciones de violencia. Para grados 6 a 9 y lectores mayores. (Fifteen-year-old Eragon bonds with the baby Dragon, Saphira, that hatches from a mysterious blue stone. They train in magic and martial arts and, refusing to serve the evil king, sally forth to encounter warriors, dwarves, and others battling the empire. Some violence. For grades 6-9 and older readers.) 2003.

El Aleph (The Aleph)     RC 61008
por Jorge Luis Borges
leído por Juan Ramírez
1 cassette
El autor argentino ofrece dieciocho cuentos que aplican tratamientos surrealistas, místicos y poéticos a lo humano. En el cuento del título, Borges, trueca en ensayo filosófico la historia de un hombre que encuentra el Aleph, el centro infinito del tiempo y espacio que revela simultáneamente todas las cosas del universo. (Eighteen stories by the Argentinian author who applies surreal, mystical, and poetic treatments to human characters and situations. The title story resembles a philosophical essay on the reaction of a man who encounters the point in space and time that shows all things in the universe simultaneously.) 1949.

El Club Dumas (The Club Dumas)     RC 61011
por Arturo Pérez-Reverte
leído por Peter Gil
3 cassettes
Lucas Corso, un comprador de libros antiguos, se enreda en una aventura literaria que se enfoca en un capítulo manuscrito de la novela Los Tres Mosqueteros de Alejandro Dumas. El dueño del manuscrito aparece muerto, pero no se sabe si se trata de suicidio o asesino. ¿Y qué papel hace la hermosa viuda del muerto?—que ella también se interesa en libros antiguos. Por fin, Corso viaja de Madrid a París para investigar a fondo el misterio. (A handwritten chapter of Dumas's The Three Musketeers embroils rare-book hunter Lucas Corso in a literary intrigue. The manuscript's owner is found hanged, but was the death suicide or homicide? The beautiful widow has her own interest in rare books. Corso investigates from Madrid to Paris.) 1993.

Elogio de la Madrastra (In Praise of the Stepmother)     RC 61012
por Mario Vargas Llosa
leído por Peter Pereyra
1 cassette
Don Rigoberto es el fantaseador amante de su esposa, la sensual doña Lucrecia. Lucrecia es tambien la madrasta de Alfonso, el hijo prepubescente de Don Rigoberto. Paradójicamente, la presencia angelical y la anhelante mirada de Alfonso siempre parecen corromper la felicidad erótica de sus padres. Descripciones explícitas de índole sexual. (Don Rigoberto, attentive father of prepubescent Alfonso, has an intense, loving relationship with sensual Doña Lucrecia, the boy's step-mother. Paradoxically, it is Alfonso's angelic presence and penetrating observations that constantly spoil the parents' erotic happiness. Explicit descriptions of sex.) 1988.

Joseph Ratzinger: Una Biografía (Joseph Ratzinger: A Biography)     RC 61013
por Pablo Blanco
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
El autor español, filósofo y teológico, presenta una biografía del Cardenal alemán Joseph Ratzinger, publicada poco antes de hacerse Ratzinger el Papa Benedicto XVI en 2005. Abarca la vida y educación teológica de Ratzinger desde su nacimiento en Alemania en 1927 hasta su obra en 2003 como colegial del Vaticano y colega íntimo del Papa Juan Pablo II. (Spanish philosopher and theologian's biography of German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, published shortly before the cardinal became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Covers Ratzinger's life from his birth in 1927 to his tenure as a Vatican leader and close colleague of Pope John Paul II in 2003.) 2004.

La Región Más Transparente (Where the Air Is Clear)     RC 61015
por Carlos Fuentes
leído por Juan Ramírez
4 cassettes
Novela que pinta las vidas egocéntricas de personas de la clase alta de la Ciudad de México, incluso un millonario ambicioso, un escritor reaccionario, y una mujer advenediza que rechaza su origen humilde. Hay otra persona, el enigmático Ixca Cienfuegos, que observa e intenta destruir este grupo en nombre de la Revolución mexicana. (Novel depicting the self-serving lives of a group of upper-class Mexico City residents, including a self-made millionaire, a writer, and a social climber. Enigmatic Ixca Cienfuegos observes these people and plans to destroy them in the name of the Mexican revolution.) 1958.


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Posted on 2011-01-10