NLS: Talking Book Topics

by E. Barrie Kavasch and Karen Baar

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

History and uses of Native American healing practices. Examines major stages of an individual's life from different tribal perspectives. Describes rituals and the herbs, fungi, and other materials used for rites of passage, illness prevention, and healing. Contains more than sixty easy-to-prepare American Indian-inspired recipes. 1999.

by Robert V. Hine and John Mack Faragher

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

In this updated version of The American West: An Interpretive History (RC 23190), the authors extend their research to include further material on Native Americans, women, and the environment, as well as the development of Silicon Valley. Reevaluates many of the myths and assumptions about the West. 2000.

by J.W. Schultz

read by Chuck Benson

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Autobiography of a trader and rancher who married a Piegan woman and moved to the Blackfeet reservation in 1886. He recalls his adventures in the Montana Territory, where he learned the customs, language, and traditions of his wife's people--participating in buffalo hunts and enjoying the wilderness. 1907.

by Gregory A. Freeman

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Using FBI case notes, newspaper articles, and court documents, a journalist recalls the practice of peonage. Asserts that such "debt bondage," forcing African American men into indefinite servitude, was widespread in the South. Details the 1921 case of a Georgia plantation owner and his overseer accused of killing their farm laborers. 1999.

by Wendy Northcutt

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Compilation of bizarre anecdotes from a popular Internet site commemorating individuals whose actions have lethal personal consequences, thereby removing them from the gene pool. Award-winners include tourists who locked themselves out of their car in a tiger grotto and a terrorist who opened his returned letter bomb. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by Ian Kershaw

read by Roy Avers

6 cassettes

Evaluates the conditions that facilitated the relatively unknown Adolf Hitler's rise to power in German society during the post-World War I era. Investigates the originating motives, adroit manipulations, and sheer luck that led from Hitler's early successes to the creation of an aggressive superpower. Prequel to Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis (RC 51684). Violence. 1998.

by Neil Hanson

read by David Cutler

2 cassettes

Drawing from newspaper accounts and court proceedings, a journalist depicts the 1884 Mignonette journey and the ensuing case in English court that made cannibalism a felony. Shipwrecked and wandering the seas in a lifeboat without food and water for several days, the crew killed and ate its youngest member. Some violence. 1999.

edited by A.J. Russell

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A book of daily Christian inspirations and devotions compiled by two women who chose to remain anonymous and who maintained that the messages were channeled through them by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 1933.

by Salima Ikram and Aidan Dodson

read by Madelyn Buzzard

4 cassettes

Examines funerary beliefs and customs through three thousand years of Egyptian history. Discusses what is known about mummies, from preservation of the body to modern DNA tests. Covers immediate appurtenances, including adornments, amulets, and jewelry, as well as containers for bodies and body parts, such as coffins, sarcophagi, and canopic jars. 1998.

by Hannah Green

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

An American writer describes her spiritual awakening in Conques, a village in southern France, where the remains of a fourth-century martyr, twelve-year-old Sainte Foy, are venerated. Green intermingles history, biography, spiritual meditation, and personal experience to describe the life and times of the girl who is the village's patron saint. 2000.

by David Levering Lewis

read by Jake Williams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Lewis narrates the story of Du Bois's life between 1919 and 1963. Analyzes the competing racial, political, and cultural ideologies of the time and explains the interplay among events, Du Bois's writings, and his fight for equality and justice for African Americans. Sequel to W.E.B. Du Bois: Biography of a Race, 1868-1919 (RC 40267). 2000.

by John Aloysius Farrell

read by Robert Sams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

The life and times of politician Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill (1912-1994), whose career spanned fifty years and culminated in five terms as Speaker of the House. Describes O'Neill's family history as well as the changing fortunes of the Democratic party during the course of the twentieth century. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Laura Hillenbrand

read by Annie Wauters

3 cassettes

Recounts the rise of an "undersized, crooked-legged" thoroughbred horse that in 1938 was the year's number one newsmaker over Franklin Roosevelt, Hitler, and Lou Gehrig. Hillenbrand tells Seabiscuit's story through the three men who made a true long shot into a winner: owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, and jockey Red Pollard. Bestseller 2001.

by Herbert Marder

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

Examines the last decade of the British writer's life--from 1930 until her suicide in 1941. Discusses Woolf's writing and her viewpoints in the context of social and political events of the times; explores her fascination with drowning and death. Includes excerpts from her diaries and letters. 2000.

by Richard D. Smith

read by Michael Scherer

3 cassettes

This biography of Bill Monroe (1911-1996) explores his musical genius and reveals his character flaws. Examines the long-running feud between Monroe and his former band members Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and discusses the debate about the origins of bluegrass and Monroe's place in the American music pantheon. 2000.

by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison

read by Kerry Cundiff

4 cassettes

Award-winning authors present more than three hundred recipes reflecting over four centuries of the culinary innovations and adaptations of immigrants and natives. The collection focuses on what's "flavorful, fun, and practical" and on the use of fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques. Includes appetizers, sandwiches, soups, meats, vegetables, grains, desserts, drinks, and cooking technique tips. 1999.

by Susan M. Love

read by Madelyn Buzzard

5 cassettes

Revised edition of RC 36430 discusses breast anatomy, variations in development, and common problems such as infections and lumpiness. The surgeon also discusses diagnostic tools, prediction and prevention of cancer (including the author's research on ductal lavage), treatment, and living with breast cancer. 2000.

edited by Richard Rhodes

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

A chronological presentation of texts about technological change, spanning the twentieth century, includes Henry Ford's concept for a horseless carriage, H.G. Wells's prediction of atomic bombs, Arthur C. Clarke's vision of geosynchrony, Murphy's Law, the silent spring of Rachel Carson, and E.F. Schumacher's reminder that small is beautiful. 1999.

by A.J. Langguth

read by Steven Carpenter

6 cassettes

Former war correspondent describes thirty years of U.S. and North Vietnam foreign relations politics. Compares presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford with their Communist counterparts and discusses events in the fighting field and in the capitals. Violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Bertrand Russell

read by Geoffrey Sherman

7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)

Nobel laureate examines philosophy as "an integral part of social and political life," from the rise of Greek civilization, through the era of Catholic dominance to the Renaissance, to the twentieth century and the emergence of modern philosophy. 1945.

by Francis Mark Mondimore

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

A guide to the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and causes of the psychiatric illness formerly known as manic depression. Discusses variations of the illness as manifest in youth and women; both traditional and nontraditional treatment options; advice for coping and handling emergencies; and other resources. 1999.

by Gerald Astor

read by Richard Hauenstein

4 cassettes

Accounts of World War II aerial battles mounted from Britain by the newly formed Eighth Air Force of the U.S. Army Air Corps against the German Luftwaffe. Based on diaries, journals, and letters of pilots, navigators, and crew members, including those of the P-51 Mustang fighter and the B-17 Flying Fortress. 1997.

by Marc Freedman

read by David Myers

3 cassettes

Discusses how extending life expectancy has produced an ever-increasing group of older Americans whose experiences and talents are untapped resources that could benefit society. Citing examples of people who continued working after their first retirement, the author describes existing and potential programs that can create opportunities for aging citizens. 1999.

by Robert N. Rosen

read by Roy Avers

4 cassettes

A history of the participation of southern Jews in the Confederate effort during the American Civil War. Rosen estimates that more than 2,000 Jews, comfortably assimilated in religiously tolerant southern society, went into battle under rebel colors. Presents numerous anecdotes and portraits of southern Jewish loyalists, some of whom even held slaves. 2000.

by Joel Brinkley and Steve Lohr

read by Randy Davidson

3 cassettes

Two New York Times reporters present consolidated two-year coverage of the antitrust case brought by the U.S. against Microsoft in 1998. They explore the government's claim that the software giant prodded computer companies to develop systems around its programs, and they provide background information on the attorneys, Microsoft, and the trial judge. 2001.

by Neil Howe and William Strauss

read by Gary Tipton

4 cassettes

Using statistics and testimonials, examines the generation of Americans born between 1982 and 2000. The authors argue that since birth the "millennials" have been spurred toward achievement at home and in school and that they are more culturally diverse, hardworking, and effective as community builders than any age group since the Second World War. 2000.

by Ira B. Black

read by Fred Major

3 cassettes

A neuroscientist and cell biologist chronicles a half century of research that led to a reexamination of the functioning and treatment of the brain. Employs a fictionalized account of a banker's battle with Alzheimer's disease to explain unfolding discoveries. Observes that environmental factors can cause the brain to grow and change. 2001.

by Seymour Martin Lipset and Gary Marks

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Two political sociologists explain the rejection of the socialist movement in the United States. Observing the emphasis on economic centralization in many democratic countries, they attribute its relative insignificance in America to the overall prosperity of the working class, the operations of the two-party system, and legal constraints. 2000.

by Herbert P. Bix

read by Lou Harpenau

5 cassettes

Explores Emperor Hirohito's role in twentieth-century Japanese politics and developments. Asserts that the monarch helped advance the country's nationalistic agenda. Argues that he actively participated in developing policies guiding the Asia-Pacific war, including the Pearl Harbor campaign and negotiations when Russia attacked Manchuria. National Book Critics Circle Award. 2000.

by James Bamford

read by Lou Harpenau

5 cassettes

In this sequel to The Puzzle Palace (RC 19096), the author pursues his investigation of the National Security Agency--"the largest, most secret, and most advanced spy organization on the planet." Bamford analyzes the agency's Vietnam and cold war activities, technological capabilities, and personnel, and argues the need for congressional oversight. Bestseller 2001.

by Bill Sammon

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Partisan analysis of the 2000 U.S. presidential election crisis when, for thirty-six days, the results of the race were contested by Democratic candidate Al Gore. Describes how the Gore campaign's efforts in Florida came to an end when George W. Bush's electoral victory was ensured by a Supreme Court decision. Bestseller 2001.

by Evan Thomas

read by Terence Aselford

5 cassettes

Newsweek editor assesses the life and career of the New York senator who was attorney general in the 1960s administration of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. Thomas relies on interviews, personal files, and declassified national security documents; argues that courage and determination contributed to his success; and explores the relationship between the two men. 2000.

edited by Paul K. Longmore and Lauri Umansky

read by Jake Williams

3 cassettes

Fourteen essays examine disability in the social context of American history. Several essays discuss attitudes toward deafness and blindness specifically, including Kim Nielsen's "Helen Keller and the Politics of Civic Fitness." The collection ends with Richard K. Scotch's historical overview of "American Disability Policy in the Twentieth Century." 2001.

by Godfrey Hodgson

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

Presents an account of the popular senator's life as a politician who championed both liberal and conservative causes. Traces Moynihan's difficult childhood, his educational path, and his varied career in government. Discusses the philosophy behind his landmark 1965 report on African American families. Some strong language. 2000.

edited by Dick Schaap

read by Erik Sandvold

3 cassettes

Twenty-three pieces celebrating both traditional and fringe sports. Includes "Storm Warning," about yachting; "Enter the Chicken," about cockfighting; "Bottom of the Ninth," about Tiger Stadium; and "How I Won the Minnesota Statehouse, by Jimmy (Big Boy) Valente as Told to Garrison Keillor," about a wrestler who becomes governor. Some strong language. 2000.

by Ralph Nader

read by Jake Williams

4 cassettes

Four decades of essays from the consumer advocate and the 2000 presidential nominee of the Green Party. Includes Nader's views on the government, corporations, world trade, consumer rights, legal reform, the media, and citizen action. 2000.

by Natalie Cole

read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona

2 cassettes

Grammy Award-winning singer reveals the hardships and blessings in her life. Recounts her privileged childhood as the daughter of Nat King Cole, her marriages, her substance abuse, and difficulties with her mother. Also relates details about her career and her successful rehabilitation. Some strong language. 2000.

by James Atlas

read by Bill Wallace

5 cassettes

Authorized biography of novelist Saul Bellow, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976. Covers his development as a writer, relationships with other literary figures, and five marriages. Offers insights into Bellow's novels, including The Adventures of Augie March (RC 15751), Herzog (RC 22553), and Ravelstein (RC 50448). 2000.

by Graham Robb

read by Robert Blumenfeld

4 cassettes

Biography of the nineteenth-century French Symbolist poet who abandoned poetry by the age of twenty. Discusses his originality, homosexual affair with Paul Verlaine, self-exile to East Africa, early death, and influence as a rebel artist. Provides insight into his poems, available in Complete Works: Arthur Rimbaud (RC 50570). 2000.

by Philip Short

read by Peter Johnson

6 cassettes

Chronicles the life and times of the Chinese leader Mao Zedong (1893-1976). Highlights the turmoil of decades of civil war and power struggles within the Communist Party and examines the subsequent failures of the "Great Leap Forward" and the Cultural Revolution. Analyzes the leader's achievements and his continuing legacy. Some strong language. 1999.

edited by Bill Henderson

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

Anthology of sixty-two selections from alternative literary presses. Contains Amitav Ghosh's essay "The March of the Novel through History: The Testimony of My Grandfather's Bookcase"; the poem "Also Love You," by Reginald Shepherd; and Pam Houston's wistful tale "The Best Girlfriend You Never Had." Some strong language. 2000.

by Wendell Berry

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Farmer, poet, novelist, and critic Berry speaks out against exaggerated deference to empiricist science in a concise rebuttal to Edward O. Wilson's Consilience (RC 46359). Berry argues that Wilson is actually proposing a subjugation of art and religion by science rather than the "reconciliation" he claims. 2000.

by Sandra Dalka-Prysby

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes

Author describes how, at forty-eight and 310 pounds in 1993, she asked Family Circle magazine to help her lose 150 pounds and stop smoking. She includes journal entries from the following five years to illustrate her slow but certain progress and the effect it has had on her physically and emotionally. 1999.

by William J. Weiner and others

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

Three medical specialists provide up-to-date information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and management of this progressive neurological disease. Covers the different stages of the illness, the motor and nonmotor problems, drug therapy, and the emerging role of surgery. Includes a question and answer chapter. 2001.

by Shunryu Suzuki

read by John Polk

1 cassette

Informal talks on Zen meditation and practice, presented originally by Suzuki in California in 1970. Introduces attitudes and concepts encouraging the Zen way of living. Discusses posture and breathing, non-duality, emptiness, and enlightment, using examples from everyday living and common sense. 1999.

by Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

read by Tom Burch

2 cassettes

A journalist details the activities of fundraisers and describes donors' impact on American politics. Birnbaum argues that the small elite group has had an increasingly large say in the way the government is run and asserts that the American Association of Retired Persons is the most effective fundraising organization in the nation. 2000.

by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham

read by Tom Burch

2 cassettes

Describes the beliefs behind Alcoholics Anonymous that do not rely on any specific religious doctrine. Asserts that the twelve-step program evokes "the spiritual realities of humility, gratitude, tolerance, and forgiveness." Explores ancient traditions and cultures that deal with a higher power. 1992.

by Esther Knudson Tipps

read by Kerry Cundiff

1 cassette (Reissue)

Cooking methods and techniques developed through research at the Texas School for the Blind. In addition to recipes, the book gives basic principles of meal planning, marketing, food preparation, table service, and food storage. 1986.

by Don Vandervort

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Provides solutions to more than four hundred home problems and advice on handling emergencies; appliance repair information; house maintenance tips on plumbing, electrical, and cooling/heating systems; interior and exterior surface problems; doors and windows; and when to call for an expert. 2000.

edited by Bill Bryson

read by Barry Bernson

3 cassettes

Twenty-five selections from the travel essays and articles published in the year 2000. Each describes a specific moment in time--taking the first drink of the day, breaking down in the middle of the desert, picking up hitchhikers in Cuba, and becoming a hostage while on safari. Some strong language. 2000.

by Roger Lowenstein

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Chronicles how a private Wall Street hedge fund firm developed computer models to deconstruct and minimize investment risk, convinced that its stock market success would never fail. Explains why the Federal Reserve rescued the firm from bankruptcy in 1998. 2000.

by Vincent Crapanzano

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

An anthropologist and cultural critic examines the pervasiveness of fundamentalism in American society, focusing on literalist interpretations of the Bible and the Constitution. Argues that narrow construction of religious and legal documents tends to erode citizens' freedoms and basic rights. 2000.

by Bruce P. Rosenthal and Kate Kelly

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Dr. Rosenthal, the chief of Low Vision Programs at Lighthouse International, and coauthor Kelly provide a resource guide on age-related macular degeneration. Includes research-based information on the disease, services and assistive technology available, and adaptive techniques and devices for use in everyday life. 2001.

by Paul Klebnikov

read by Steven Carpenter

3 cassettes

A Russian expert at Forbes profiles Yeltsin's controversial adviser Berezovsky, the business magnate and suspected assassin. Discusses Berezovsky's role among others who profited in the rampant corruption and violence during the 1990s as Russia declined from a nuclear superpower to an impoverished state. 2000.

by Harry Wu and Carolyn Wakeman

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

Personal account by a survivor of nineteen years in Chinese labor reform camps. Wu recalls his childhood in Shanghai, his arrest in 1960, and the physical and mental hardships of his imprisonment. Describes the plight and reactions of fellow prisoners. 1994.

by Frank Rich

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

A former theater critic of the New York Times reminisces about his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area in the 1950s and 60s. Recalls how his love for the stage developed and how he coped with family problems by taking refuge in theater productions. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by James Merrill

read by Rick Foucheux

4 cassettes

A collection of most of the poetry published in his lifetime by the award-winning American poet James Ingram Merrill (1926-1995), excluding his epic work The Changing Light at Sandover. Contains his earliest poems from 1951, all the poems in the ten trade volumes, his translations from several languages, and his final pieces. 2001.

by Frances FitzGerald

read by Nanette Savard

6 cassettes

Examines President Reagan's world view and the origins of his "Star Wars" missile defense initiative. Documents the clashes between Secretary of State George Shultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger concerning the program. Concludes with a report on missile defense research after the Reagan years. 2000.

by Steven A. Holmes

read by Bob Moore

3 cassettes

Traces Ron Brown's youth in Harlem; his years at Middlebury College; his positions as chief lobbyist of the National Urban League, partner in the Patton Boggs law firm, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and secretary of commerce; and his untimely death. Discusses his efforts to expand America's export market. 2000.

by P.G. Wodehouse

read by David Cutler

5 cassettes

Collection of stories by the British humorist, featuring golf, the Drones Club, Mr. Mulliner, Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, and Jeeves. Also includes the novel Quick Service. 1960.

by Alan Murray

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Wall Street Journal Washington bureau chief asserts that the globalization, information explosion, deregulation, and digitization embodied by the Internet have produced a new economic system in the United States. Includes tips on how to thrive in the altered environment, which features individual empowerment, greater consumer clout, and business accountability. 2000.

by Sandra Tsing Loh

read by Nanette Savard

2 cassettes

Downwardly mobile thirty-five-year-old's witty account of a year in suburban Van Nuys, California. Through four seasons, from the "Winter of Our Discontent" to the "Fall of Our Dearest Expectations," she muses on her brushes with fame, a $300-an-hour therapist, a too-thin and well-off sister, and her musician spouse. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by M. David Stone and Alfred Poor

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

Basic information on diagnosing and solving common personal computer problems. Provides information on crashing systems, disk drives, display screens, joysticks, error messages, startups, keyboards, and printer and mouse difficulties. Published by Microsoft. Explains reinstalling Windows. 2001.

by Matthew Danda

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Advice on safeguarding one's privacy and security while using the Internet. Although the author concentrates on Microsoft products, a general overview of the concepts discussed may be drawn from the information provided. Covers viruses, online shopping, e-mail and chat rooms, downloading, securing and backing up files, and spamming. 2001.

by Robert D. Putnam

read by Butch Hoover

5 cassettes

Harvard professor asserts that citizen reluctance to join community organizations and volunteer groups has caused the decline of civic engagement in the U.S. Putnam presents statistical data supporting his analysis and gives recommendations for rebuilding social bonds. 2000.

by Patrick Tierney

read by Bruce Huntey

4 cassettes

An indictment of anthropologists and the media who have exploited the native Yanomami people of Brazil and Venezuela. Claims that ethnographer Napoleon Chagnon, who has published provocative accounts of the rainforest dwellers, unethically disrupted their culture and heedlessly introduced infection. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Pamela Reed Gibson

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

4 cassettes

Defines the illness called multiple chemical sensitivity, chemical illness, environmental illness, or total allergy, among other names. Discusses symptoms, conventional as well as alternative treatments, food, and environmental concerns. Looks at psychological factors, practical considerations, and disability issues, including a discussion of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contains information on "Gulf War illness." 2000.

by Melanie Astaire Witt

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

A guide for job-seekers with disabilities who, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, are entitled to compete for jobs on an equal basis with the nondisabled. Witt offers suggestions on identifying suitable jobs, uncovering marketable skills, creating standout resumes, understanding accommodation requirements, and interviewing successfully. 1992.

by Piri Thomas

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Thirtieth-anniversary edition of the classic autobiography about growing up in New York's Spanish Harlem during the depression. Poverty led Piri into a life of drugs, crime, and prison. After being rehabilitated, he dedicated his life to helping similar youth. Afterword (1997) by the author. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1967.

by Joan Mactavish

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

Biography of Mae Brown (1935-1973), who was the first deaf-blind person to graduate from a Canadian university and a counselor at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Her college tutor chronicles Brown's family, education, social and professional life, and triumphs and disappointments. 2000.

by David Lindley

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

A portrait of the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann (1844-1906), a pioneering proponent of atomic theory. Describes the controversy provoked by his perspectives, including the opposition of philosopher and physicist Ernst Mach, who denied the existence of atoms. Examines Boltzmann's legacy to modern theoretical physics. 2001.

by Joe Martin and Ross Yockey

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

The author, after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), offers inspirational advice on living with this condition. With a deep faith in God and the help of his friends and family, Martin raises money for research and continues to work. 2000.

by Aphrodite Jones

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

Account of a gruesome homicide in central Florida. When Rick and Ruth Wendorf were murdered in November 1996, sixteen-year-old Rod Ferrell, the leader of a gothic vampire cult, was charged. Among the four teenage followers arrested with Ferrell was the Wendorfs' daughter, Heather. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Karl Maier

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

A journalist describes how Africans are responding creatively to changing socioeconomic challenges, observing that, from the vantage of the late 1990s, "sub-Saharan Africa . . . looks and feels very different" than it did ten years ago. Depicts the lives of ordinary people whose efforts are reforming the continent. 1998.

by George Gilder

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

A Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute predicts a revolutionary era of unlimited bandwidth, or a "world enabled and defined by unfamiliar communications technology." Gilder foresees the end of the computer age and anticipates how additional communication designs would affect the global community's social and economic wealth. 2000.

by Rebecca Walker

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

The daughter of divorced African American author Alice Walker and Jewish civil rights lawyer Mel Leventhal recalls her unhappy childhood. Shuttled between two homes and cultures and feeling neglected, Rebecca turned to drugs and sex for comfort before escaping to Yale University. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Michael Farquhar

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

This provocative look into the private lives of public figures offers a collection of vignettes on royal misbehavior through the ages. Includes such figures as Peter the Great, Louis XIV, Henry VIII, Queen Mary, Tiberius Caesar, and several popes. Bestseller 2001.

by Louis Menand

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

An English professor and journalist explores the origin and development of American pragmatism. Menand charts the lives and ideas of William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and John Dewey and explores the consequences for American culture of pragmatism's central tenet--that experience is the decisive test of truth. 2001.

by Frank Castelluccio and Alvin Walker

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A biography of the nightclub singer and stage actress who became famous for her role as Lucille Ball's sidekick on the I Love Lucy television series. Documents her personal life and extensive acting experience before her small-screen debut and her relationship with the well-known cast. Foreword by Robert Osborne. Some strong language. 1998.

by Charles P. Pierce

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Sportswriter and National Public Radio commentator's articles about athletes and a variety of sports. Includes a notorious 1997 piece on Tiger Woods, father and son football players Peyton and Archie Manning, hockey towns, jewelry worn by men, outspoken mothers, and tragic accidents. Foreword by Roy Blount Jr. Some strong language. 2001.

by Mark Twain

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Letters, sketches, and satirical pieces written throughout Twain's career and published posthumously after approval from his daughter, Clara, was granted in 1962. Includes a letter from Satan describing the new creation called Earth, a children's story titled "A Cat-Tale," and a description of a nightmare in "The Great Dark." Some strong language. 1939.

by Chaim Potok

read by Ken Kliban

4 cassettes (Reissue)

A panoramic account of four thousand years of Jewish history. The author, an ordained rabbi and bestselling novelist, draws on the Bible; writings of the ancient scribes, poets, and chroniclers; and findings of archaeologists. Potok's work demonstrates the vigor and rich variety of Jewish life. Bestseller 1978.

by Diana Childress

read by John Horton

1 cassette

An account of English society during the fourteenth century, when Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?-1400) wrote The Canterbury Tales (RC 31894). Describes everyday life, including school, family, science, religion, amusements, and clothing, as well as war and politics and the effects of the Black Death. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Constance Curry

read by Jill Ferris

2 cassettes

A legal scholar weaves interviews, letters, and public documents to record the ordeal of the Carter family, who sent seven of its thirteen children to desegregate an all-white school system in 1965. She examines the African American sharecroppers' courage and endurance against the background of their racially charged Sunflower County, Mississippi, home. 1995.

by Garrett Epps

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Chronicles a conflict between the Native American Church's use of the mood-altering drug peyote in religious rituals and state and federal narcotics statutes. Examines the court decisions involving a Klamath Indian who lost his job and was denied unemployment benefits after participating in the contested ceremonies. 2001.

by John F. Kennedy

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A selection of President Kennedy's speeches and pronouncements, arranged chronologically and by subject, on such diverse topics as peace, Latin America, civil rights, and other domestic issues. Includes Kennedy's undelivered Dallas address. 1964.

by Adrian House

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

House portrays the life of the medieval Italian saint Francis of Assisi, chronicling his youth, his conversion, and his establishment of the Franciscan Order. Discusses Francis's ability to communicate with birds, the appearance of the stigmata on his body, and his relationship with St. Clare. 2000.

by Aldo Leopold

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

The "father of wildlife conservation" in America describes his family's relationship to their Wisconsin acreage in this collection of sketches and essays. A forester by training, Leopold calls for land reform and conservation. He examines the ethics of ecology, and urges protection of wildlife and respect for the environment. 1949.

by Craig Childs

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

A desert born and bred naturalist explores the meaning of water in the southwestern United States. On a series of treks, he examines landscapes carved by flash floods in a region where people can die of thirst or drowning. 2000.

by Pierre Blet

read by Frank Coffee

3 cassettes

An account of Pope Pius XII's role and relationship with the contesting world leaders during World War II. Using primary sources from the Vatican's diplomatic archives, the author describes the pontiff's private maneuvering, public statements, and efforts to protect Jews and other threatened peoples. 1999.

by Wendy Swallow

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

A journalist portrays the difficulties of her divorce after twelve years of marriage and a child-custody battle over her two sons. Recalls her happy dreams as a newlywed, her fantasies about divorce, the actual destructive process, and her adjustment to joint custody and single parenthood. Some strong language. 2001.

by Jill Brooke

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

The author advises overcoming grief by transforming it into positive action. Discusses how children, men, and women mourn differently; explains when to seek professional help; and offers suggestions for remembering a loved one. 2001.

by Alan M. Dershowitz

read by Barry Bernson

2 cassettes

A prominent attorney comments on the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore that stopped the contested vote-counting in Florida and settled the 2000 election. He criticizes the decision as partisan, discusses the justices' motives, and looks at some of their earlier opinions, which he maintains contradict their arguments in this one. Bestseller 2001.

by Denise Chong

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

The life of Vietnamese Kim Phuc, who at age nine was nearly killed by a misdirected napalm air strike by U.S. forces in 1972. Asserts that a much-publicized photograph of the fleeing, terrified girl--with skin and clothing incinerated--helped turn public opinion against the war in Vietnam. 1999.

by Melissa Etheridge

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

The autobiography of a rock star, born in Kansas in 1961, who began writing songs at the age of ten. Describes her career as well as her personal life, which includes coming out as a lesbian and the birth of her partner's two children, fathered by singer David Crosby. Bestseller 2001.

by Leonard Koppett

read by Bruce Huntey

4 cassettes

A revised edition of the 1967 baseball classic explains the principles of pitching, batting, game tactics, and strategies, and the relationships between players, spectators, and the press. Koppett has added discussion of team expansions, playoffs, designated hitters, unions, cable television, and night games. 2001.

by Witold Rybczynski

read by Barry Bernson

1 cassette

The author recalls the process of determining which tool should be designated the best of the millennium for an essay in the New York Times. After he settled on the screwdriver, invented around 1800, his curiosity propelled him into further research on an earlier creation, the screw itself. 2000.

by Gary Smith

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Sports Illustrated articles about the personal lives of sports figures. In "Ali and His Entourage," Smith interviews people who traveled with the boxer. In "Shadow of a Nation," he chronicles the comeback of an alcoholic Crow basketball player. Some strong language. 2000.

by Hugh Brody

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes

An anthropologist's impassioned account of the world's few surviving hunting cultures. Drawing on works of linguists and historians and recalling personal experiences living among indigenous societies in Arctic Canada, Brody uses the Book of Genesis as a paradigm to explain the practices and systems of belief that distinguish hunters from farmers. 2000.

by Eugenia Price

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Advises women to cope with difficult situations by thinking them through and trusting in God. Illustrates eight common problems and offers possible solutions. Offers advice on achieving inner peace. 1962.

by Stanley Williams and Fen Montaigne

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

The volcanologist who led the expedition to the Columbian volcano Galeras when it erupted in 1993 recounts his personal perspective of events and the subsequent physical and mental effects. An experienced field worker, Williams discusses procedures and his team members, six of whom died in the blast. 2001.

by Hugh Merrill

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

A biography of the prolific author John D. MacDonald (1916-1986), creator of the character Travis McGee. Following trends in the publishing industry, MacDonald's work first appeared in pulp magazines, then as original paperbacks, and finally as bestsellers. Traces his development as a writer as well as his private life. 2000. Bestseller 2000.

by Lillian Hellman

read by Terry Hayes Sales

2 cassettes (Reissue)

In this follow-up to her memoir An Unfinished Woman (RC 25375), playwright Hellman reminisces about men and women who influenced her intellectual development. One of the portraits, "Julia," celebrates the moral courage of a beloved friend who worked to save victims of the Nazis in 1937 Europe. 1973.

by Bonnie Angelo

read by Kerry Cundiff

3 cassettes

Biographical sketches of mothers credited with shaping the characters of eleven twentieth-century U.S. presidents. Includes Mattie Truman, a Confederate who refused to sleep in Lincoln's bedroom; Dorothy Ford, who saved her infant son from an abusive father; and the flamboyant Virginia Clinton Kelley, whose "life was too much like a country song." 2000.

by Madeleine L'Engle

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes (Reissue)

L'Engle describes her ninety-year-old mother's plunge into senility during her final summer at Crosswicks, the family home. As she recalls this fourth four-generation season, L'Engle reviews her parent's rich life and shows how her mother influenced the entire family. 1974.

by Stephen G. Bloom

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

A study of misunderstandings and turmoil that followed the 1987 establishment of a kosher slaughterhouse in rural Iowa by a group of Hasidic Jews. Bloom, a secular Jew from San Francisco, sees human foibles on both sides as he explores the gradual accommodation between local farmers and newcomers. 2000.

by Carl Sagan

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

The astronomer and exobiologist writes about the Earth, the solar system, and beyond in a series of anecdotal essays published in 1973. His message is that humans are not the only intelligent beings in the universe. Epilog by David Morrison from NASA; additional commentary by Freeman J. Dyson and Ann Druyan. 2000.

by Steve Allen

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

The acclaimed comedian, entertainer, and early talk show host relates his favorite jokes, one-liners, anecdotes, limericks, quotes, and zingers gleaned from a career spanning more than fifty years in radio, film, and television. 2000.

by Jason Epstein

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

A former editor at Doubleday and Random House recounts the development of publishing during his fifty-year career and recalls authors and publishers he has known personally. He also discusses the challenges the industry faces in the future, including the effects of the Internet. 2001.

by Carlos Castaneda

read by Chris Parente

2 cassettes

A record of the author's initiation into the mysteries of sorcery through the teachings of Don Juan, the Yaqui Indian sorcerer. Castaneda tells of approaching wisdom through hallucinogens and physical and mental exercises, and describes some of his visions and insight. 1972.

by Albert Einstein

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Scientist Albert Einstein presents his theory of relativity--the measurement and study of space and time--for the layman who "is not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." Originally published in 1916. This fifteenth edition includes five appendixes. 1952.

by Simon Winchester

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

The author of The Professor and the Madman (RC 46906) examines the struggle of William Smith to publish the first geological map of England in 1815 and the delayed recognition of his feat because of class discrimination. Discusses Smith's singular contributions to science and the hardships he endured. Bestseller 2001.

by Stephen E. Ambrose

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

A historian describes the B-24 bomber missions over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, recounting the training of the crews and celebrating their skill. Ambrose highlights the pilots' contribution to the Allied victory, focusing on 1972 presidential candidate George McGovern's experiences as a B-24 pilot in the last months of the war. Bestseller 2001.

by Bruce Wilkinson

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette

Offers spiritual counsel for teenagers. Links an Old Testament prayer to Christian teaching, explaining how the prayer can enrich daily life. For junior and senior high readers. Bestseller 2001.

by Carolly Erickson

read by Suzanne Toren

3 cassettes

An account of the Russian empress who was the granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Describes Alexandra's unhappy childhood; her determination to marry Nicholas, the man she loved; her struggle to support him emotionally; her desire to produce a healthy male heir; and her connection with Rasputin. 2001.

by Christopher Andersen

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

Portraits of the princes William and Harry, with and without their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Andersen describes the boys' development from hellions to seemingly well-adjusted adolescents, and the roles of Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and Camilla Parker Bowles after Diana's death. He also looks at the women in William's life. Bestseller 2001.

by Nancy Selfridge and Franklynn Peterson

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

The authors, fibromyalgia patients, posit that this medical condition that affects muscles, ligaments, and tendons is a mind-body disorder that can be alleviated using mental exercises. Suggestions include meditating, journaling, and other stress-reducing activities. 2001.

by Avery D. Faigenbaum and Wayne L. Westcott

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

How to assist children from ages seven to fifteen with strength-building exercises using free weights, weight machines, rubber cords, medicine balls, and body weight to develop every muscle group. Emphasizes sound training principles, injury prevention, and nutrition. Offers age-group programs and sports conditioning for specific games. 2000.

by John Mulholland

read by Rick Foucheux

3 cassettes

Explains how to perform dozens of simple magic tricks developed by the author. Suggests pleasing an audience by using psychology, props, and trained assistants. Includes tricks specifically for entertaining children. 1963.

by Alliance for Technology Access

read by Erik Synnestvedt

3 cassettes

Provides an overview of the hardware, software, and other considerations surrounding computer resources for people with disabilities. Includes personal stories about using technology in daily life. Discusses braille displays, braille embossers and translators, and speech synthesizers, among other products. Foreword by Stephen Hawking. Third edition. 2000.

by Ben Crenshaw

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

A champion golfer from Austin, Texas, reminisces about his life on the course and off. Describes his early mentors, family life, and career from the 1970s to the 1990s, culminating in his captaincy of the American team in its 1999 Ryder Cup victory at Brookline, Massachusetts. 2001.

compiled by Tavis Smiley

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Talk-show host and national radio commentator Smiley presents a collection of essays from twenty-eight black celebrities, addressing issues they view as vital to the African American community. Suggests a variety of solutions and challenges concerning family, responsibility, education, health, economics, the church's role, and the establishment of a legacy. 2001.

by Mary Anne Weaver

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A journalist with more than twenty years of experience in the Middle East, Weaver provides insights into the public and private aspects of a society where militant Islam is on the rise. Contains observations on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, and the Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. 1999.

by Rick Bragg

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist continues the personal history he began in All Over but the Shoutin' (RC 46142). Focuses on his mother's disadvantaged childhood in Appalachia during the Great Depression and recounts the life of her beloved father, Charlie Bundrum, still vividly remembered by relatives. Bestseller 2001.

by Henry Kissinger

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

The Republican Party's elder statesman surveys and critiques U.S. foreign policy around the world in chapters devoted to geographical sectors: Europe and Russia, the Western Hemisphere, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Discusses the politics of globalization, NAFTA, and traditional American stands on peace and justice. Bestseller 2001.

by Ann G. Gaines

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

Focuses on terrorism in the Middle East and how it affects the United States. Discusses the origins and motivations of the organizations and individuals involved. Explores how America can combat violence without impinging on traditional freedoms. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Harold S. Kushner

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

The author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People (RC 48900) recommends that people stop judging success by fame, power, and wealth, and measure their achievement by the positive difference they make in the world. Advises finding a meaningful life through family, friendship, and acts of generosity. Bestseller 2001.

by Mick Foley

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

Continues superstar wrestler Foley's account of his career and personal life, begun in Mankind, Have a Nice Day! (RC 49315). Discusses his role as a World Wrestling Federation commissioner and some of the problems in the sport, including "backyard wrestling" and drugs. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Veteran folksinger Seeger and poet Jacobs offer advice on becoming a storyteller by embellishing old stories, historical tales, and songs, as well as anecdotes from one's own personal history. Includes examples from Seeger's vast repertoire. 2000.

by Penn Jillette

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

A pair of professional illusionists intersperse descriptions of how to perform magic tricks, practical jokes, and pranks throughout this travelog of their favorite wacky tourist attractions. Some strong language. 1997.

Cassettes Fiction

by Caroline B. Cooney

read by Margaret Strom

1 cassette

After her "father" is incapacitated by a stroke, Janie feels betrayed on discovering that he has been sending money to his real daughter, Hannah, who kidnapped Janie years ago. Janie is determined to find and confront Hannah about the past. Sequel to Voice on the Radio (RC 47855). For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

by L.E. Modesitt

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Anna, a sorceress and regent of Defalk, copes with challenges to her leadership and tries to resolve some noblemen's distaste for obeying a woman. She must also decide whether to support the rightful heir to the throne. Sequel to The Spellsong War (RC 51114). Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Ethan Black

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes

Wealthy sex crimes detective Conrad Voort is investigating New York City's first female serial killer. Even his ex-girlfriend Camilla, a television journalist, is a suspect. And Voort himself is an unwitting target. Sequel to The Broken Hearts Club (RC 49227). Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Juan Goytisolo

read by Peter Gil

2 cassettes

The author, considered one of Spain's great modern novelists, creates a deranged exile's stream-of-consciousness diatribe against his homeland under Franco. The protagonist, obsessed with the legendary Count Julian who betrayed his homeland to the invading Moors in the Middle Ages, dreams of another invasion in which destruction will be total. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1974.

by Ken Wells

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Fifteen-year-old Emile "Meely" LaBauve leads an adventurous life in the bayous with his beloved gator-hunting Cajun daddy. But Meely ends up in jail and his father on the lam after the latest of their numerous run-ins with the law. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Mohsin Hamid

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

When Daru's childhood friend Ozi and his wife Mumtaz return to Pakistan from New York City, the friendship dissolves. The affluent Ozi is moving with the elite while Daru is spiraling downward--losing his bank job, using and dealing drugs, and having a reckless affair with Mumtaz. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Kathryn Harrison

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Shanghai, 1899. Beautiful Chinese courtesan May marries Arthur Cohen after he becomes fascinated with her bound feet. Arthur's young niece Alice soon takes the place of the daughter May has given up. But Alice's mother resents her opium-smoking sister-in-law's influence. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2000.

by Karen Robards

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

England, 1810. Lady Gabriella Banning learns her half-brother, Marcus, is dead. She fears she and her sisters will become destitute because their cousin inherits the title. Gabby develops a scheme to save them. Then someone shows up claiming to be Marcus. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Jude Deveraux

read by Colleen Delany

2 cassettes

New York, 1909. Temperance O'Neil, twenty-nine, has become quite famous for her work as a women's rights activist. But suddenly she finds herself forced to move to Edinburgh, where she will serve as housekeeper for her new stepfather's nephew while she also finds him a wife. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by Rose Tremain

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

In 1629, English lute player Peter Claire, twenty-seven, arrives in Denmark to become part of King Christian IV's Royal Orchestra. When Peter falls in love with the king's estranged wife's handmaiden, he realizes he has come to a place where light and dark, good and evil, and music and silence wage war. Whitbread Award. 1999.

by Elizabeth Knox

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

France, 1808. Denied marriage to the woman he loves, Sobran Jodeau takes two bottles of his family's wine and heads for the hills. There he meets Xas, a male "fallen angel," and concludes that Xas has been sent to guide him. But Xas falls in love with Sobran. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Dan Simmons

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

Ernest Hemingway sets up a counterespionage ring, the Crook Factory, in Cuba in 1942 and uses his boat, Pilar, to lure submarines. These fictionalized World War II adventures related by FBI agent Joe Lucas are eventually linked to Hemingway's suicide in 1961. Strong language. 1999.

by Catherine Cookson

read by Corrie James

3 cassettes (Reissue)

In northern England at the turn of the century, sixteen-year-old Emily's kindly widowed employer--and suitor--dies suddenly, and the girl must take a housekeeping post to support her consumptive sister. Although Larry Birch abuses his invalid wife, Emily comes to care for him. And she becomes entangled in the family secrets. Some strong language. 1976.

by J.F. Freedman

read by Faith Potts

4 cassettes

Santa Barbara private investigator Kate Blanchard is hired by Laura Sparks to solve the mystery surrounding the death of her lover while he was in jail. But uncovering secret schemes in Laura's wealthy, politically powerful family puts Kate's life in danger. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996.

by Al Lacy

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Quiet Thunder (RC 52053), John Stranger is in Butte City, Montana, where three years ago Payton Sturgis was hanged for murder. Sturgis had vowed to return and kill all who brought him to justice. Now those people are dying. Bible-toting Stranger is their only hope. Some violence. 1997.

by Perri O'Shaughnessy

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

Lake Tahoe attorney Nina Reilly is defending her son's birth father, Kurt Scott, against a homicide charge. Coincidentally, Nina once worked for Kurt's first wife, filmmaker Terry London. Now Kurt is the main suspect in Terry's murder. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996.

by Elizabeth Gaskell

read by Barbara Caruso

6 cassettes

Hollingford, England; 1800s. When the village doctor, Mr. Gibson, decides to remarry, his only daughter, Molly, is resentful but becomes friends with her stepsister, Cynthia. The two young ladies' social circle includes the family of Squire Hamley, who has two sons--Roger and Osborne. 1866.

by Madison Smartt Bell

read by Frank Coffee

6 cassettes

Three years into the 1790s Haitian slave revolt, Toussaint L'Ouverture rises through the ranks, becoming the island's supreme military commander. Episodes from the lives of ordinary Haitians caught in revolutionary turmoil punctuate the chronicle of Toussaint's struggle. Sequel to All Souls' Rising (RC 42403). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Diane Mott Davidson

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

To escape from her abusive ex-husband, caterer Goldy Bear accepts a summer job cooking for a retired general. After one of her suitors dies in a car accident, she joins another, Detective Tom Schulz, in the investigation. And soon her son, Arch, is in danger. Some violence and some strong language. 1992.

by Don Coldsmith

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes

A series of historical vignettes portrays the challenges faced by pro-slavery and pro-emancipation settlers in the Kansas Territory before the Civil War. The connected episodes present a saga of westward expansion through 1876. Sequel to Tallgrass (RC 46545). 1998.

by Halldór Laxness

read by Bruce Huntey

4 cassettes

A saga of Icelandic peasant life in which Bjartur, a stubborn sheep farmer, struggles to buy and maintain his own land. An independent man, he outlives several wives to raise his brood, including an adopted daughter. By the 1955 Nobel Prize winner. Some strong language. 1946.

by Rosalind Laker

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Carpenter's apprentice Thomas Chippendale first met Isabella Woodleigh when he made a chair for her to use while convalescing in Yorkshire. Each had a dream of the future: he to become a renowned carpenter; she to become his patroness. Neither foresees the heartache they will endure. Some descriptions of sex. 1982.

by Dorothy Simpson

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Detective Inspector Thanet and his partner, Lineham, investigate the death of the wife of ambitious barrister Ralph Mintar, whose daughter also disappeared under curious circumstances four years ago. The two policemen soon uncover extramarital affairs, incest, blackmail, and more murders among the wealthy. Meanwhile, Thanet becomes a grandfather. 1999.

by Parnell Hall

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Puzzle Lady Cora Felton is judging a crossword contest devised by a now-deceased heiress to make her repugnant relatives compete for her fortune. As the rivals scramble to solve clues, two murders occur. It falls to Cora's niece, Sherry, to find the killer. Sequel to A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (RC 49605). 2000.

by Lalita Tademy

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

Tademy's fictionalized account of her maternal ancestors, from 1834 to the 1950s, begins with her enslaved great-great-great-great-grandmother Elisabeth and continues with three generations of successively lighter descendents. She describes these women's struggle for freedom and justice on a Creole plantation in Cane River, Louisiana. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Elizabeth George

read by Mitzi Friedlander

6 cassettes

Is there a connection between a woman killed in a hit-and-run accident on a rainy night in London and a violinist who has recently lost his ability to play? It is up to Detective Inspector Lynley to solve the mystery. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Miriam Grace Monfredo

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Seneca Falls, New York; 1861. Librarian Glynis Tryon's niece Bronwen joins Pinkerton's Detective Agency and is sent to Montgomery, Alabama. Undercover, Bronwen overhears a plot to assassinate newly elected president Abraham Lincoln in Baltimore. She escapes and telegraphs her aunt for help. 1998.

by Maggie Osborne

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

1897. Three wealthy spinsters--Juliette, Clara, and Zoe--vow revenge when they discover that their new husband, Jean Jacques Villette, is a bigamist who absconded with each of their fortunes. But while tracking the scoundrel to Alaska, each of them finds her true love. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by William Safire

read by Jim Zeiger

4 cassettes

Political scandals of the late eighteenth century are revealed by James Thomson Callender, a Scottish fugitive and journalist hired to write incendiary articles regarding men of power. Selecting Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson as his primary targets, he describes their alleged sexual indiscretions. 2000.

by Bruce Alexander

read by George Holmes

2 cassettes

London, 1772. A rash of home invasions and murders occurs, apparently committed by black men. After blind magistrate Sir John Fielding is wounded, his assistant, Jeremy Proctor, tracks down the gang with the help of the Bow Street Runners. 2000.

by Peter S. Beagle

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Arriving in England to live with her new family on a rundown farm, thirteen-year-old Jenny encounters the ghost of a young girl who has haunted the ancient estate for many years. Before she can help the ghost find rest, Jenny faces danger that changes her life. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Barbara Vine

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Young Clodagh Brown loves heights but suffers from claustrophobia. As a teenager she climbed electrical pylons until an accident claimed her boyfriend's life. While in London, Clodagh joins a group of eccentrics who enjoy climbing rooftops. But tragedy strikes again. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by David Eddings and Leigh Eddings

read by J.P. Linton

5 cassettes

Althalus, an unrepentant rogue, accepts employment from a stranger to steal a book from the House at the End of the World. But when he encounters a goddess in the form of a cat, he learns that he must save humanity from a god determined to destroy the universe. 2000.

by Jean Plaidy

read by Jill Ferris

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Thomas More, a scholarly lawyer, reluctantly answers the call to serve King Henry VIII. But the king decides to divorce, initiating a religious conflict that resounds throughout the country. The More family receives riches and honors, but Thomas cannot forsake his conviction that divorce is a sacrilege. 1954.

by Kathleen Winsor

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

6 cassettes (Reissue)

England, 1660. Beautiful, young, illegitimate Amber St. Clare falls in love and flees to London with Lord Carlton. Pregnant and abandoned, she embarks on a life of ill repute--eventually becoming King Charles II's mistress. But she never forgets Carlton. 2000 foreword by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1944.

by John Irving

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Television journalist and addicted womanizer Patrick Wallingford loses his left hand to circus lions in India, on camera. But it is a trip to Japan that changes his life--that and having a hand-transplant with visitation rights for the donor's widow. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Jeff Shaara

read by Robert Sams

5 cassettes

Historical fiction about the American Revolution, covering the period from the Boston Massacre in March 1770 to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the summer of 1776. Events are told from the viewpoint of Benjamin Franklin, John and Abigail Adams, British general Thomas Gage, and George Washington. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Steve Martini

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Attorney Paul Madriani and his San Diego partner, Harry Hinds, defend David Crone, a genetic research physician accused of murdering his beautiful African American rival at the university. Their case is threatened, however, when the main witness for the defendant commits suicide. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by C.J. Cherryh

read by Rick Rohan

3 cassettes

In a universe of warring interstellar empires and powerful nanotechnology, ruler Ila sends rebel warrior Marak to seek the source of his visions. Marak journeys into the desert accompanied by other divinely mad people. Some strong language. 2001.

by Emma Donoghue

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

London, 1760s. Mary Saunders loves fine lace and linens. But unlike her seamstress mother, Mary wants to own them. Unfortunately, her desire for finery leads to a fateful mistake, and Mary becomes a prostitute. Even when she later tries to reform, her love for beautiful fabrics leads to disaster. Descriptions of sex and some violence. 2000.

by Perri O'Shaughnessy

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Lake Tahoe attorney Nina Reilly is hired to help a young woman who has won millions in a casino but who can't reveal her true identity. Nina's sometime lover, Paul van Wagoner, helps to investigate even as witnesses are being murdered. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Elliott Roosevelt

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes

Washington, D.C.; 1943. When an armed White House lawyer is discovered murdered in the Lincoln Bedroom, it is up to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Captain Ed Kennelly to quietly find his killer. The president and his generals are secretly planning the invasion of Europe and cannot be disturbed. 2000.

by Greg Egan

read by John Polk

3 cassettes

It is the end of the second millennium and the planet has evolved into a network of probes, satellites, and servers. Humanity, also, has reconfigured itself into three groups: software, robots, and fleshers. When a cosmic disaster occurs, the various units form an alliance to explore the universe. 1998.

by Dorothea Benton Frank

read by Erin Jones

3 cassettes

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Growing up in the 1960s, Susan Hayes had a relatively average childhood, but now in the 1990s her life is falling apart. She and her sister take an introspective look at their past, which involved family secrets and betrayals. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

edited by Larry Dark

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

These twenty short stories selected from magazines include first, second, and third prize-winning entries by Peter Baida, Cary Holladay, and Alice Munro. In a "A Nurse's Story," Mary McDonald helps her colleagues organize a union for her patients' sake. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Dorothy Simpson

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes (Reissue)

British inspector Luke Thanet delves into the murder of pretty Julie Holmes. His investigation uncovers the story of a disturbed young woman who witnessed an unsolved murder as a child. Thanet suspects Julie's killer is the same person she saw long ago. But some clues point to her husband. 1981.

by Barbara Freethy

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Widow Phoebe MacGuire has a string of pearls she needs to complete before she dies. She wants her two granddaughters, who may still love the same man, to find that one last pearl. She believes that only then will they find happiness in love. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Evan Hunter and Ed McBain

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

While in New York City on business, Los Angeles sex addict Ben Thorpe pursues his hobby relentlessly. He becomes a prime suspect, however, when a hooker he visited is murdered. Detectives Emma Boyle and Jimmy Morgan collaborate on the case. (Coauthors are the same person.) Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2001.

by Bruce Sterling

read by Alec Volz

2 cassettes

It's 1999, and Leggy Starlitz, a shameless entrepreneur, believes that he can use his all-girl fake band to smuggle lip gloss and pantyhose into the Islamic world. But there are conditions for his partners--the scheme should end before the year 2000 and none of the girls must die. Strong language. 2000.

edited by Larry Dark

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

Culled from magazines, these twenty short stories represent the best of the year. Includes first, second, and third prize-winning entries by John Edgar Wideman, Beth Lordan, and Mary Gordon. In "The Gilgul of Park Avenue," a financial consultant suddenly discovers his Jewish soul. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Patti Berg

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Samantha Jones's life has been one tragedy after another. But all that changes when she delivers a tuxedo to millionaire rancher Jack Remington. He is in Palm Beach to attend his sister's engagement party, and he needs a fiancée. Samantha is the perfect candidate. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Mary Jo Putney

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

Divorcée Kate Donovan and ex-husband Patrick inherit her father's demolition company--but only if they live together for a year. Both love the business, so they reluctantly agree. Kate also discovers that her father's death might not have been an accident. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Ha Jin

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

A dozen short stories set in China, by the winner of the National Book Award for Waiting (RC 49107). In "Flame" head nurse Nimei, married to a lackluster man, receives a letter from her spurned first love, Hsu Peng, who is now a high-ranking officer. Some strong language. 2000.

by Pankaj Mishra

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Samar, a sheltered Brahmin student of modest means, moves to bustling Benares, India, where he encounters corruption and Westerners for the first time. He is captivated by Catherine, a sophisticated young French woman, whose ultimate betrayal causes him great emotional turmoil. Some strong language. 2000.

by Andre Norton

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

After the Dark returns, a Wizard seizes control of the Valley, thus placing the balance between good and evil with a pair of twins. The sorcerer seeking to establish tyranny raises the male infant to do his bidding, but the denizens shelter the boy's sister in a nearby Forest. 1999.

by Les Standiford

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Miami builder John Deal wins a large contract but later learns of organized crime connections. He also discovers that his late father had custody of a missing fortune. Now the mob, the owner's son, and a corrupt government official are demanding payment. Violence and strong language. 2001.

by Thomas Perry

read by Ray Foushee

3 cassettes

Security advisor Max Stillman takes young insurance analyst John Walker with him to investigate the misconduct of Walker's ex-lover, agent Ellen Snyder. Snyder approved a twelve-million-dollar payout to a bogus claimant and then disappeared. Stillman and Walker crisscross the country unraveling the lucrative scheme. Strong language and some violence. 2001.

by Margaret Lawrence

read by Annie Wauters

3 cassettes

New York state, 1809. In this sequel to The Burning Bride (RC 50538), midwife Hannah Trevor dies, leaving her grown deaf daughter, Jennet, destitute. Meanwhile, surveyor John Frayne returns, wealthy, to reclaim his late Tory father's house. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by R.A. Salvatore

read by Michael Scherer

4 cassettes

Despite the dactyl's demise, Pony rejects offers to become a baroness or an abbess of the Abellican Church. Plague is killing a large portion of Corona's population and a despised heretic is performing magic. So she must reconsider her decision. Sequel to The Demon Apostle (RC 49339). 2000.

by Alan Furst

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Paris, 1938. Hungarian Nicholas Morath owns an advertising agency in Paris and enjoys the bohemian life. His uncle, diplomat Count Polanyi, requests favors from time to time, and these errands become increasingly dangerous as the Nazis begin their conquest of Europe. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Stephen White

read by Colleen Delany

3 cassettes

Single mom Peyton Francis is lucky to meet former hit man Carl Luppo in a witness-protection program, because she's in desperate need of his expertise. Their Boulder psychologist Alan Gregory and his pregnant assistant-D.A. wife Lauren risk danger by offering additional help. Violence and strong language. 2001.

by Richard Russo

read by Christopher Walker

4 cassettes

Empire Falls, Maine, was once a thriving town with three mills. But the owners, the Whitings, have allowed their vast holdings to become decrepit real estate. Miles Roby, who runs the Empire Grill for Mrs. Whiting, recounts the tale of this dying town with bemused regret. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Harlan Coben

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

New York City pediatrician David Beck's wife and lifelong sweetheart, Elizabeth, was tragically murdered eight years ago by a serial killer. Or so he thought. But the young doctor suddenly begins receiving mysterious e-mails containing information only Elizabeth would know. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by James D. Doss

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Shaman Daisy Perika predicts the giant arachnid that lives beneath Lake Navajo will attack. Her hunch appears true when two men--one a government research scientist and the other a Native American truck driver--disappear from the lake's shore. Daisy's nephew, Ute lawman Charlie Moon, isn't buying it. Some strong language. 2001.

by Susan Merrell

read by Faith Potts

3 cassettes

The Latham family from Sag Harbor, New York, adopts a toddler from Romania. Over the next few turbulent years, they learn that Michael has attachment disorder. His aggressive behavior threatens their marriage and their older daughter. But can they give him up? Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Nancy Werlin

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

High school senior David Yaffe is exiled to his uncle's house after being acquitted of murder. There he is haunted by his dead cousin, Kathy, and harassed by her eleven-year-old sister, Lily. He learns there is another killer in the house. For senior high readers. 1998.

by Samuel Beckett

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

An anguished, disembodied voice expresses a grim, fragmentary vision of human life stripped to its essence in this experimental fiction by the Irish-born winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Originally written in French in 1961 and translated into English by the author. Some strong language. 1964.

by Paula Volsky

read by Anne Flosnik

5 cassettes

The republic of Vonahr needs a magical weapon to annihilate the imperialistic Grewzians, who threaten to conquer the world. A young Vonahrish adventuress must win the "Grand Ellipse" race to obtain an audience with the king who controls the arsenal. 2000.

by Sarah Dessen

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

Sixteen-year-old Caitlin and her family feel betrayed when Caitlin's "perfect" older sister runs away. Caitlin tries to fill the void but drifts into a relationship with an abusive, drug-dealing older boy. It takes a near tragedy for her parents to rally around her. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2000.

by Jill Marie Landis

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

New Orleans, 1816. After Celine Winters kills a wealthy man in self-defense, she trades places with a desperate girl who wants to avoid an arranged marriage. Celine thus weds handsome but troubled Cord Moreau, who is returning to his Caribbean island plantation. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

by Louis L'Amour

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette (Reissue)

To forget the death of his family, Ronan Chantry goes west. He joins trappers and meets Lucinda Falvey, who's looking for lost treasure. Together they fight for their lives against hostile Indians and thieves. Sequel to North to the Rails (RC 33979). Some violence. 1973.

by P.C. Hodgell

read by Barbara Caruso

5 cassettes

Contains God Stalk and its sequel, Dark of the Moon. Jame Talissen--possessing the strange powers of her ancient race, the Kencyr--suffers amnesia and exhaustion after fleeing her enemies. She arrives in the mazed city Tai-tastigon, searching for her brother Tori to give him their father's sword and ring. 2000.

by P.C. Hodgell

read by Barbara Caruso

4 cassettes

Before Jame has time to reconnect with her brother Tori, she winds up in the Women's Halls at Gothregor. She doesn't conform well to their constrictions and soon is off on another perilous adventure. Sequel to Dark of the Gods (RC 52635). 1994.

by A.J. Cronin

read by Tom Martin

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Scotland, 1919. In this sequel to The Green Years (RC 32524), Robert Shannon completes his medical training and dedicates his life to research. He falls in love with Jean Law, one of his students, but religious differences keep them apart. 1948.

by Nora Roberts

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Companion to Considering Kate (RC 51947) consisting of two novels. Reflections focuses on Nick Davidov's star ballerina, Lindsay Dunne, who returns home to care for her mother and opens a studio. Dance of Dreams features Lindsay's student, Ruth Bannion. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 1983.

edited by Carlos Fuentes and Julio Ortega

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Anthology of thirty-nine short stories from various Latin American countries. Includes old masters of the form such as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, and Gabriel García Márquez and recent authors Fernando Ampuero, Juan Villoro, and Rodrigo Fresán. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1998.

by Garth Nix

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Lirael, on her fourteenth birthday, despairs of ever receiving the gift of Sight--seeing into the future. But when a dangerous necromancer threatens to unleash a long-buried evil, it is Lirael who must undertake a mission to save the Old Kingdom. Sequel to Sabriel (RC 44682). For junior and senior high readers. 2001.

by Thomas Hardy

read by Graeme Malcolm

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Clym Yeobright returns to barren Egdon Heath and, against his mother's advice, marries the willful Eustacia Vye. Later, disenchanted, Eustacia begins seeing Damon Wildeve, her former lover, who is married to Clym's cousin. Includes a glossary of unfamiliar regional terms as well as the author's later prefaces and postscripts. 1878.

by Jean M. Auel

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

4 cassettes (Reissue)

After her people perish in an earthquake during the Ice Age, Cro-Magnon woman Ayla is adopted by a beetle-browed Neanderthal clan. Banished several times for flouting taboos, Ayla finally realizes that she must leave the group, doomed to extinction, and seek out her own kind. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1980.

by M.C. Beaton

read by Jamie Horton

1 cassette

Awakened with an agonizing toothache, Scottish police constable Hamish Macbeth seeks out the nearest quack, who would rather pull teeth than save them. But when Hamish arrives, the dentist is dead, with all his teeth drilled. And it turns out that the dentist was quite the ladies' man. 1997.

by David Lodge

read by George Holmes

3 cassettes

Comedy of manners in the British academic world. Ralph Messenger is director of cognitive science at the University of Gloucester. Helen Reed, a recent widow, has taken the post of writer-in-residence. Ralph, who though married indulges in illicit affairs, is attracted to Helen. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Terry Pratchett

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

'Twas the night before Hogswatch and all through Discworld, not a creature was stirring--not even Hogfather himself. So who is going to deliver the children's presents? Susan, a governess, sets out to find him before morning; otherwise the sun won't come up. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1996.

by Lurlene McDaniel

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Four novels chronicle a few years in the lives of Dawn Rochelle and her family and friends after she is diagnosed with leukemia at age thirteen. Includes Six Months to Live, I Want to Live, So Much to Live For, and No Time to Cry. For senior high readers. 2000.

by Ian Rankin

read by Graeme Malcolm

3 cassettes

Inspector John Rebus is assigned to a bogus task force for the new Scottish parliament. He contends with inexperienced--but noble class darling--Inspector Derek Linford, while determining whether a newly discovered corpse, a homeless man's suicide, and a murdered politician are connected. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by Allen B. Ballard

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

Renowned historian provides a fictionalized account of an all-black regiment in the Civil War. Escaped slave Joe Duckett becomes a cavalry scout with the Union army. Alongside other escaped slaves and freedmen, Duckett fights for freedom and family. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Lawrence Sanders

read by Chuck Benson

5 cassettes (Reissue)

Captain Edward Delaney accepts an undercover assignment to track down the serial killer who attacks his victims with an ice ax. The murders take place in an upper East Side precinct in New York. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 1973.

by Joan Hess

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

Bookstore owner Claire Malloy and her teenage daughter, Caron, reluctantly agree to pet-sit a pair of basset hounds. But when the dogs and other neighborhood pets disappear, Claire suspects that animal dealer Newton Churls is selling them for laboratory experiments. 1991.

by Terry Pratchett

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

Wizard Drum Billet is dying--in about six minutes--and wants to pass on his powers to the eighth son of an eighth son who is just being born. The wizard's staff is placed in the child's hand immediately after birth. But, the child is a girl! For senior high and older readers. 1987.

by Donna M. Gershten

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

As Magda awaits the onset of inherited blindness in her comfortable Mexican home, lighting candles to her statue of the Virgin, she recalls her eventful life: childhood poverty, her blind mother, her husbands and lovers, moving to Idaho, and raising her daughter. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bellwether Prize. 2001.

by Henry Denker

read by Bob Askey

3 cassettes

Elderly New York widower Sam Horowitz is lonely, but with the encouragement of his African American friend and former nurse, Harriet Washington, he volunteers at a Harlem hospital's neonatal unit. And with a little matchmaking from Mrs. Washington he falls in love. 1993.

by P.T. Deutermann

read by Jim Zeiger

4 cassettes

Former FBI contract-killer Edwin Kreiss's daughter is missing from an Appalachian hiking trip. Roanoke agent Janet Carter leads the search. Kreiss teams with Carter to uncover political scandal and motives for vengeance, but Kreiss has insider information--an effective weapon. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Irving Wallace

read by Chuck Benson

4 cassettes (Reissue)

Four ordinary men meet in a bar and conspire to physically possess the world's most coveted and worshipped love goddess, actress Sharon Fields. The four proceed with their plan. Only they don't know the real Sharon. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 1974.

by Sharon Ewell Foster

read by Gail Nelson

2 cassettes

Suspended from her Washington, D.C., position by her racist supervisor, African American attorney Garvin Daniels returns to North Carolina. Materialistic Garvin becomes suspicious of her grandmother's relationships with a younger man and a troubled teenager. Meemaw, however, helps Garvin to understand love and to trust God. 2001.

by Rob Reuland

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

Burned-out, alcoholic, Brooklyn assistant district attorney Andrew "Gio" Giobberti prosecutes the boyfriend of a murdered fourteen-year-old single mother. Gio suffers from guilt over his own daughter's death--caused by his negligence--and helping this victim's family somehow assuages his self-reproach. Strong language and some violence. 2001.

by Lindsey Davis

read by George Holmes

2 cassettes

Rome, A.D. 74. Following Two for the Lions (RC 50956), Gaia Laelia, a wealthy six-year-old, tries to hire a reluctant Marcus Didius Falco to protect her from her religious relatives. When a priest from another cult is murdered and Gaia disappears, Falco and his partners investigate. Some violence. 1999.

edited by Connie Willis

read by Nick Sullivan

2 cassettes

A selection of 1997's best short writings and an excerpt from the Nebula Award winner for best novel, Vonda N. McIntyre's The Moon and the Sun. Features the grand master, Poul Anderson; Nebula Award winners Jerry Oltion, Nancy Kress, and Jane Yolen; and among the runners-up, Gregory Feeley. Some strong language. 1999.

by Kristin Hannah

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Well-known talk show host Nora Bridge has been estranged from daughter Ruby for years. But when the ugly truth about her past is uncovered, Nora retreats to Summer Island. There she and Ruby finally come to terms with each other. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Lenore Carroll

read by Jill Ferris

3 cassettes

San Francisco, 1895. Thomasina McIntyre commits one year of service to the Presbyterian Occidental Mission. At twenty-six, she goes on her first raid of a bordello to rescue a young Chinese woman from prostitution. Thereafter, aiding Chinese immigrants and teaching them Christianity become Thomasina's lifework. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Dan Simmons

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Southern California accident-reconstruction expert Dr. Darwin Minor stumbles across a billion-dollar insurance scam organized by the Russian Mafia and becomes a target. But Minor, a widowed ex-marine sniper, and state investigator Ms. Sydney Olson set a trap. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Patricia Elam

read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona

3 cassettes

Photographer Norma has a loving husband and a lively son. Divorced probation officer Moxie is dedicated to her talented teenage daughter. Best friends after meeting in college, Norma and Moxie are very supportive of each other. Suddenly their bond begins to unravel in unexpected ways. 2001.

by M.C. Beaton

read by John Horton

1 cassette

Scottish constable Hamish MacBeth investigates the death of a guest at a local fishing school. The obnoxious decedent, Lady Jane Winters, had insulted everyone--including MacBeth and a child--before her body was discovered. Some strong language. 1985.

by Clive Egleton

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

British intelligence agent Peter Ashton investigates the murder of Adam Zawadzki, a Queen's Messenger in Costa Rica. A neighbor is also murdered in Zawadzki's London house. Vexed by instructions from his supervisor, Jill Sheridan, Ashton begins to suspect traitors are working inside the agency. Strong language and some violence. 2000.

by Brian Lumley

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Eight short stories and a novella of horror. In "No Sharks in the Med," a newlywed couple honeymooning in Greece is stalked by two brothers on an isolated island. In "Vanessa's Voice," a dead singer's husband is haunted by remembered sounds. 2001.

by Cheryl Anne Porter

read by Bob Askey

3 cassettes

In 1889, pregnant Kate Chandler flees from her abusive employer in New York City to join a land rush in Oklahoma. Once there she enlists the help of gunslinger Cole Youngblood, who needs a caretaker for his orphaned niece and nephews. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Chuck Palahniuk

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Medical school dropout Victor Mancini offers a bizarre, angry confession of why he believes he is a loser. He works at a colonial theme park, attends sex-addiction group meetings, and pretends to choke in restaurants to pay for his mother's elder care. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Ciji Ware

read by Ann Hodapp

3 cassettes

Sequel to Midnight on Julia Street (RC 49453). King Duvallon asks his sister, Daphne, a harpist, to return to Natchez for his wedding. For Daphne, that means losing her New York position, facing her former fiancé, and having disturbing visions of her ancestors. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Paul Kafka-Gibbons

read by Chris Parente

2 cassettes

Three couples who live in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C., contemplate love and matrimony. Judge Bailey Allard falls in love with the female housemate whom his son recommended. Allard's clerks, Max and Eve, plan to wed, and his gay son wants to marry his lover. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Kathy Reichs

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes

Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan helps identify victims from a plane crash in North Carolina's Smoky Mountains. After she finds a foot that doesn't match any of the passengers, Tempe is taken off the case in disgrace--forcing her to investigate possible local shenanigans. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Rich Wallace

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

After his dad moves away, basketball-obsessed Jay stays alone in his small hometown to finish his senior year of high school. But when he is cut from the school team, Jay joins a church league and continues playing while struggling to survive. Strong language. For senior high readers. 2000.

by Patti Berg

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Cairo McKnight married Duncan Kincaid on a whim five years ago in Las Vegas. The marriage lasted one day and one night. All Cairo has to show for it is a precocious son and an annulment. But now her son needs a father. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by John Altman

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes

Nazi Katarina Heinrich is undercover in America for almost a decade before she learns the secrets of the atomic bomb. Meanwhile in London, Harry Winterbotham is recruited to become a double agent. The two meet in England with disastrous results. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by Zane Grey

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Texas Ranger Vaughn Steele and his special assistant, Russ Sittell, want to stop the outlaws and cattle rustlers in Fairdale, Pecos County. But Mayor Longstreth, a prominent rancher, doesn't like rangers interfering in his territory. Then his daughter and Steele fall in love. Some strong language. 1997.

by Patti Berg

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Lauren Remington is determined to become the major wedding planner for Palm Beach society. Days before the nuptials of the year, however, her caterer dies. Lauren's only hope lies in the leather-clad Max Wilde, whose speciality is ribs. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Kyle Mills

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Quinn Barry is a computer programmer and an aspiring FBI agent. Quinn gets demoted when she discovers an apparent serial killer while working at the agency. She continues her investigation with the help of onetime suspect, Eric Twain. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2001.

by Zane Grey

read by John Polk

2 cassettes (Reissue)

The Great Plains, 1874. Buffalo hunter Tom Doan has faced Comanche raids, stampedes, murder, and treachery in pursuit of the lucrative hide trade. With girlfriend Milly Fayre's help, he comes to believe the mass slaughter is wrong and turns against his fellow hunters. But now Milly is missing. Foreword (1953) by Loren Grey. 1924.

by L.E. Modesitt

read by Brian Conn

3 cassettes

Daryn joins the Federal Service as a combat pilot in a world in which genetic enhancement has created an effective oligarchy of wealth and ability. When he becomes one of the ruling oligarchs, he must rely on a self-selecting power structure and his mental agility to survive assassination attempts. 2001.

by Dana Stabenow

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Following the death of her lover, in Hunter's Moon (RC 49633), depressed Kate Shugak takes a job in a coastal village as a cargo pilot. Meanwhile, Alaska state trooper Jim Chopin is sent there under cover to investigate Russian smugglers. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Lisa E. Samson

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Middle-aged Poppy Fraser, mother of two young adults and one five-year-old, struggles to come to terms with being a minister's wife. After her husband Duncan's recent career change, Poppy must cope with competitive church life in a small town, finding help in weekly ecumenical meetings with other Christian women. 2001.

by Allen Steele

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

In 2314, a group of historians fly back into the past to document the 1937 explosion of the Hindenburg. Their participation in the transatlantic voyage destroys their world and its time line. "Angels," to prevent further spacetime damage, must stop humanity's time travel. 2001.

by Louis L'Amour

read by John Polk

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A mysterious gunman goes on a rampage, killing men in cold blood. Borden Chantry, who has reluctantly taken on the job of town marshal, is hard pressed to find the murderer. Sequel to Over on the Dry Side (RC 35987). Some strong language. 1977.

by Ann B. Ross

read by Terry Hayes Sales

2 cassettes

Elderly Julia Springer hires private detective J.D. Pickens to find her late husband's mistress, Hazel Marie, who hasn't returned from a date. With Little Lloyd, Hazel's son, in tow, the trio end up at the NASCAR races. Sequel to Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (RC 49141). 2001.

by Van Reid

read by Mitzi Friedlander

4 cassettes

Maine, Christmas 1896. In this companion to Mollie Peer... (RC 50656), Daniel Pathway believes that a little boy named Bird, who is rescued from kidnappers, is the son of his deceased goddaughter. He enlists the support of the Moosepath League to investigate. 2000.

by Louis L'Amour

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Nine tales based on L'Amour's early adventures as a boxer, hobo, and worldwide wanderer. In the title piece, four men cross the China Sea in a stolen boat, seeking the cash from a sunken freighter. Besides the dangers of risky diving equipment and sharks, they face their mutual distrust. 2000.

by Margery Sharp

read by Janis Gray

3 cassettes

In the late 1800s, young, naive Adelaide Culver leads a protected life in London until she decides, against her parents' wishes, to marry her drawing teacher. Poor, unambitious, and alcoholic, Henry Lambert lives in the rundown housing of the converted manor, Britannia Mews. When Adelaide realizes his limitations, pride and, later, blackmail force her to stay and make a life for herself among her unusual neighbors. Some strong language. 1946.

by James Patterson

read by Jill Ferris

1 cassette

Katie Wilkinson, a book editor in New York, believes she has found the perfect man when she meets poet Matt Harrison. They are having a wonderful time together. Then without warning he gives her a diary his wife had written for their son and disappears. Bestseller 2001.

by Alice Hoffman

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

On a glorious June morning, Ethan Ford makes love to his wife, Jorie, in their happy home. But before the day is over, Ethan's secret past will catch up to him, and his perfect marriage will crumble. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Marcia Muller

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Writer Guy Newberry arrives in northern California to research a thirteen-year-old mass murder mystery for a new book. Deputy Rhoda Swift can't forgive herself for not solving the crime many years ago. So the two collaborate to catch the serial killer after more women are murdered. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

by Julia Quinn

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

England, 1815. Sophie Beckett, bastard daughter of a nobleman, becomes nothing more than a servant when her father remarries. But she manages to attend a masquerade ball where she captivates the heart of Benedict Bridgerton, the catch of the season. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Margaret Truman

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

Retired CIA employee Max Pauling, last seen in Murder in Foggy Bottom (RC 50815), obligingly goes to Cuba to ascertain whether an American drug firm headed by a former senator is illegally operating there. He is met in Havana by beautiful Celia Sardiña, whose own mission threatens Max's survival. 2001.

by Clive Cussler

read by Bob Askey

4 cassettes

Dirk Pitt, on board an oceanographic survey vessel, helps rescue passengers from a luxury cruise ship that mysteriously catches fire on its maiden voyage. One of the survivors is Kelly Egan, who has managed to save her father's papers only to have her life threatened. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Faye Kellerman

read by Richard Davidson

3 cassettes

Hate crime leads to murder after a small synagogue is vandalized. As Rina Lazarus and her husband, LAPD detective Peter Decker, investigate, they learn their son, Jacob, knows the teenage suspect, Ernesto Golding. Then Golding and his therapists are found dead. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Paul McAuley

read by Anne Flosnik

3 cassettes

2026. A fungus with unique DNA is spreading across the Pacific Ocean, and scientists believe it is connected with a previous Chinese mission to Mars. Biologist Mariella Anders, hired by NASA, travels to Mars to investigate. While she is there, the Chinese release a hazardous microorganism. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Teresa Medeiros

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Sterling Harlow, Duke of Devonbrooke, returns to claim the estate left after his estranged mother's death. But Laura Fairleigh would inherit the manor only if she marries immediately. When Sterling falls off his horse and loses his memory, Laura hastily arranges a wedding. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by J.F. Freedman

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Disgraced professor Fritz Tullis photographs a murder while birdwatching on his family's Maryland estate. With the help of his mother, Mary, ornithologist Maureen O'Hara, and Baltimore cop Marcus DeWilde, Tullis investigates and discovers that a prominent politician is involved. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Catherine Coulter

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Married FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, last seen in The Edge (RC 48769), rush to save Dillon's sister Lily from danger. Lily is still mourning her daughter's death. She also inherited some valuable paintings, and someone is willing to kill for them. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

by J.A. Jance

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Joanna Brady's twelve-year-old daughter, Jennifer, and her classmate, Dora, discover a body during a Girl Scout campout. Joanna, sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, fears for her daughter's safety when Dora is later murdered. Joanna also suspects her new husband, Butch, of infidelity. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by V.C. Andrews

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Cinnamon Carlson spends her time dreaming of imaginary worlds. It is her escape from a mother who has mental breakdowns, a father who always seems distant, and an overbearing grandmother. But it is her teacher who gives her the hope of real escape. Followed by Ice (RC 52916). Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by V.C. Andrews

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Ice Goodman lives in a silent world of her own choosing, never speaking unless it is absolutely necessary. Consequently she has no friends, and her mother has come to hate her. But when Ice reveals her extraordinary singing voice, her entire world changes. Sequel to Cinnamon (RC 52915). Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Tad Williams

read by Erik Sandvold

6 cassettes

A global conspiracy is threatening to shut down Earth in favor of a more exclusive place--Otherland. The Earth's children are being captured through the Internet and virtual reality, and only a few people are willing to foil the conspiracy scheme. Followed by River of Blue Fire (RC 52925). Violence and strong language. 1996.

by Susan Carroll

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Eldest son Lance St. Leger's ability to night drift sends his spirit away from his body. On one such occasion he meets Lady Rosalind Carlyon, an Arthurian fan, who believes he is Sir Lancelot du Lac's ghost. Sequel to The Bride Finder (RC 49219). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

by Kasey Michaels

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

London, England; the Regency. Kipp Rutland, viscount Willoughby, enters into a marriage of convenience to young widow Abigail Backworth-Maldon. Abby is relieved to restore some wealth to her batty in-laws and send them back to the countryside. The two didn't expect to fall in love. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

by Rohinton Mistry

read by Yolande Bavan

5 cassettes

India, 1975. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has declared a state of emergency, and the resulting upheavals thrust together four struggling people. Dina, a widowed seamstress in her forties, takes in Maneck, the college-age son of a school friend, along with two low-caste tailors, Ishvar and his nephew Om. Some violence. 1995.

by C.J. Box

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden, discovers the bodies of three outfitters. His investigation leads to an endangered species, ruthless businessmen willing to ruin the environment, and threats to his beloved family. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Denise Hamilton

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Los Angeles reporter Eve Diamond, investigating the murder of a Chinese teenager, discovers an underground world of "parachute kids"--wealthy Asians left unsupervised in America by their parents, who live abroad. She also uncovers sexual slavery, gangs, and other criminal activity. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by E. Lynn Harris

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes

After being jilted by Basil Henderson in Not a Day Goes By (RC 50887), African American actress Yancey Braxton becomes a popular singer in Los Angeles. She returns to New York, where Basil, a sports agent, is dating both sexes. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Stephen Coonts

read by Chuck Benson

3 cassettes

A nuclear-powered submarine is hijacked by terrorists not long after an antiballistic-missile defense system satellite disappears. An attack is launched on both Washington, D.C., and New York City. Rear Admiral Jake Grafton, last seen in Hong Kong (RC 51730), heads the rescue team. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Jenoyne Adams

read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona

2 cassettes

A young attorney reflects upon her relationship with her family and her biracial heritage. Mingus Browning's parents are divorcing, and she is torn between the father she has always been close to, the mother she may have to defend in divorce proceedings, and a sister whose loyalty is in doubt. Bestseller 2001.

by Katherine Sutcliffe

read by Chuck Benson

3 cassettes

Notorious Hollywood actor Brandon Carlyle returns home to Ticky Creek, Texas, after his release from prison on a manslaughter charge. But his troubles aren't over--the local sheriff harasses him, a fan stalks him, and tabloid reporter Alyson James shows up. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2001.

by Christina Skye

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Photographer Carolina Sullivan tries to hire gorgeous Ford McKay as a model while on a cruise ship. McKay, a Navy Seal, is elusive until he learns that protecting Carly is his undercover assignment. Both workaholics attempt to avoid an affair. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001.

by Barbara Delinsky

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes

When Gretchen, a reclusive young widow in a suburban cul-de-sac, becomes pregnant, the other three women on the block suspect their husbands. Graham and Amanda struggle with infertility, Karen knows Lee cheats, and Georgia travels for work while Russ stays home. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Garrison Keillor

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Fourteen-year-old Gary is suffering from hormonal anxieties in the summer of 1956. His family belongs to an evangelical group with strict behavioral rules, so he must keep his fantasies to himself. Yet those fantasies find a release when Gary is given an Underwood typewriter. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by V.S. Naipaul

read by Gordon Gould

2 cassettes

The coming-of-age story of Willie Chandran, the son of a Brahman and a woman of lower caste whose disastrous union haunts Willie's existence. Escaping India for London, Willie tries to create a new identity as a writer, and marries a woman from Africa. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Kay Hooper

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Someone is duplicating crimes from 1934 by killing women in Seattle, Washington. The police hope to get help from Maggie Barnes, a sketch artist with the uncanny ability to use victims' memories to draw very accurate pictures of their attackers. But this time Maggie draws hands. Violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Nicholas Evans

read by Michele Schaeffer

3 cassettes

Julia Bishop meets Ed Tully first but soon is introduced to his best friend and fellow forest firefighter Connor Ford. That summer a catastrophic fire forces Julia to choose between the two men she has come to love. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Robert Crais

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Three men invade a house and take hostages after botching a robbery. The chief of police, Jeff Talley, soon discovers that the homeowner is a Mafia accountant. Talley's own family is kidnapped and held in exchange for the mob's computer disks. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Jonathan Franzen

read by Christopher Walker

4 cassettes

Because her husband, Alfred, has Parkinson's disease, elderly midwestern housewife Enid Lambert seeks to gather her grown children for one last Christmas together. But unhappily married banker Gary, recently fired professor Chip, and bisexual chef Denise have other ideas. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Lois McMaster Bujold

read by Vanessa Maroney

4 cassettes

Lupe dy Cazaril, once betrayed and sold into slavery, returns to the royal household he once served, hoping to find a menial job. Instead he is favored with the position of secretary-tutor to the royal princess. But a curse lies over the House of Chalion, endangering Cazaril and all within the royal circle. 2001.

by Max Brand

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Professional thief Jimmy Geraldi, who only steals from other crooks, finally settles down to marry his sweetheart. But when an old friend rides up with a posse after him, Geraldi takes his place and rides off. Soon he has to confront an old enemy in order to clear his name. 1999.

by Nevil Shute

read by Annie Wauters

6 cassettes (Reissue)

An atomic war has destroyed all life in the Northern Hemisphere and the lethal fallout is moving southward. A group of people in Australia, including American navy Commander Dwight Towers, are faced with impending annihilation. They must decide how to spend the precious days remaining to them. 1957.

by Elizabeth Adler

read by Michele Schaeffer

2 cassettes

Lara is devastated after her husband leaves on an extended business trip with his girlfriend and cancels their second honeymoon. Lara decides to use the tickets to Paris for herself and her new lover as she continues a journey of self-discovery. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

by V.C. Andrews

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

When Rose's father tragically dies, she discovers he had kept secrets that change her family's life dramatically. For Rose the revelation means a new home and private school, as well as a chance to showcase her love for dancing. Sequel to Ice (RC 52916). Bestseller 2001.

by John Grisham

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Law professor Ray Atlee arrives at the family home in rural Mississippi and discovers his elderly father dead--and three million dollars in cash. Ray decides not to tell his drug-addicted brother about the loot. But someone is soon after him and the money. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

by Michael V. Uschan

read by Michael Scherer

1 cassette

Discusses the spirit and evolution of the Olympic games and profiles seven men who achieved success: Jim Thorpe, Paavo Nurmi, Jesse Owens, Jean-Claude Killy, Mark Spitz, Vasily Alexeyev, and Eric Heiden. For grades 6-9. 2000.

by Diane Lindsey Reeves and Nancy Heubeck

read by Michael Consoli

1 cassette

Discusses the work of arborists, land surveyors, zoologists, and others in animal- and nature-related careers. Includes tips to help children who like living creatures make good job choices; provides guidelines for preparing for these diverse occupations. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

by Stuart A. Kallen

read by Bill Wallace

1 cassette

Discusses diverse tribes, such as the Navajo, Pueblo, Apache, Maricopa, and the Papago, who lived in harmony with the environment when the Spanish settlers arrived in the sixteenth century. Comments on the historical clash of cultures and the modern-day lives of the descendants of indigenous peoples. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by Lucille Wood-Trost

read by Jake Williams

1 cassette

Discusses the nomadic Plains Indians who relied on bison, the impact of European expansion on their ways of life, the destruction of tribal cultures, and the renewed sense of heritage in Native Americans in the late twentieth century. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by Veda Boyd Jones

read by Bill Wallace

1 cassette

Explains that before the arrival of European traders, seven Native American nations populated the West Coast. These were the Tlingit, Tsimshian, Haida, Bella Coola, Kwakiutl, Nootka, and Coast Salish. Discusses their history, culture, religion, and conflicts and modern efforts to preserve their traditions. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2001.

by Zuza Vrbova

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Describes nonpoisonous snakes as "fascinating," harmless reptiles that make low-maintenance and interesting pets. Provides detailed information on constructing a vivarium or an escape-proof cage, and explains the feeding requirements of snakes. Includes tips on their health care. For grades 2-4. 1998.

by Karyn Morris

read by Patricia McDermott

1 cassette

Practical advice for creating environmentally friendly gardens. Covers topics from basic soil preparation to growing fruits and vegetables, flowers, and native plants. Includes information on planning bird and butterfly habitats, as well as school and community gardens. For grades 3-6. 2000.

by Zuza Vrbova

read by Kerry Cundiff

1 cassette

Covers all aspects of keeping and caring for a pet rabbit. Discusses different breeds and sizes, explains hutch requirements and feeding preferences--rabbits do not eat meat. Includes handling and health care tips. For grades 2-4. 1998.

by Jason Richie

read by Butch Hoover

1 cassette

Outlines the work of the men who invented deadly weapons and armaments, such as the Colt revolver, automatic machine gun, torpedo, and ballistic missile, as well as tanks, submarines, and battleships. Suggests that the most destructive power in the world is the human capacity to innovate. For grades 5-8. 2000.

by Karl-Herbert Delpy

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Expert lovebird breeder describes the eight main species of these short-tailed little parrots that are kept as couples. Provides background information and advice for the lovebird fancier, including practical tips on space requirements, feeding, drinking, and bathing habits. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.

by Ruby Bridges

read by Margaret Strom

1 cassette

Ruby Bridges recounts her experiences as the six-year-old first African American to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1960. She also discusses her reactions to the chants and the jeers and how that year changed her. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 1999.

by Kathlyn Gay

read by Mark Ashby

1 cassette

Examines the various ways children have escaped from communist Cuba and relocated with families in the United States. Describes different programs and measures developed to help them, including air and boat lifts, from the 1960s to early 2000. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by Spencer Glass

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Provides a brief history of the small tropical fish and offers advice on selecting and preparing aquariums for them. Describes the many varieties of guppies, their shapes, and color variations. Also includes information on feeding, breeding, and maintaining their health. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.

by John Coborn

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Examines the characteristics of and the differences between aquatic and land turtles. Advises on appropriate housing and diets for them. Discusses breeding and health problems of captive turtles. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.

by Dennis Kelsey-Wood and Eve Kelsey-Wood

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

Discusses the process of selecting a cat or kitten and the responsibilities of ownership, including feeding it and making sure it stays healthy. Provides detailed descriptions of various breeds of cats and the differences in their coloring, size, and personality. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.

by Linda Yamane

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Introduces eleven-year-old Carly Tex and her family of Western Mono Indians who share a tradition of basketweaving. Describes the gathering and preparing of natural materials, as well as such weaving techniques as coiling and twining. Relates Carly's successful participation in the annual California Indian Basketweavers Gathering. For grades 3-6. 1997.

by Dennis Brindell Fradin

read by Robin Miles

2 cassettes

Twelve accounts based on nineteenth-century fugitive slaves' reminiscences. In their bid for the promise of freedom in the North, the runaways traveled through hostile territory, often at night, with little idea of how to reach their destination. Some violence and some strong language. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by Daniel Cohen

read by Randy Atcher

1 cassette

Portrays the people and events behind the research, development, and use of the first American atomic bombs during the 1940s. Describes the work of Robert Oppenheimer and others at the Los Alamos, New Mexico, secret lab and the detonations of the weapons over Japan. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999.

by Amy Gelman

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Follows an eleven-year-old girl through the experience of choosing and caring for two ferrets. Discusses responsibilities of pet ownership; provides specific tips for bathing, grooming, and litter-box training. Includes information about ferrets' physical characteristics, behavior, health requirements, and associated costs. For grades 3-6. 2001.

by Linda Jacobs Altman

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Presents general background information on parrots. Discusses their physical characteristics, including their speaking ability. Explains how to choose and how to care for these household pets. For grades 3-6. 2001.

by Chris Lynch

read by Gregory Gorton

1 cassette

When Napoleon arrives in Boston from the island of Dominica, twelve-year-old Richard befriends the new student. He hopes Napoleon will learn to play baseball so the two can become the next Red Sox "Gold Dust Twins." But racial tension shatters the trust between them. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

by Charlotte Zolotow

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette (Reissue)

A chain of unpleasant reactions begins one gray, rainy morning when Father forgets to kiss Mother good-bye as he leaves for work. Fortunately, a playful dog reverses the disagreeable mood and saves the day. For preschool-grade 2. 1963.

by Joyce Sweeney

read by Gregory Gorton

1 cassette

Naive Corey, captain of his high school basketball team, readily accepts newcomer Noah as a member of the squad. But as bad and illegal events start happening, Corey recognizes that Noah is evil and manipulates everyone. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by Gail Carson Levine

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

Until Princess Meryl was struck with the Gray Death, Princess Addie had always been afraid of everything. Now Addie battles specters, gryphons, ogres, and dragons while seeking a cure for her sister. Along the way, she fulfills an ancient prophecy. For grades 5-8. Bestseller 2001.

by Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson

read by Catherine Byers

1 cassette

Jack, twelve, and his younger sister Ashley accompany their parents to Mesa Verde National Park, where their veterinarian mother is investigating reports of an attacking cougar. With them is a conniving temporary foster girl, thirteen-year-old Lucky, who has been separated from her scam-artist father. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Pete Seeger

read by Bob Askey

1 cassette

A noisy boy and his father, a mischievous magician, are banished to the edge of town until they devise a clever scheme to save the townspeople from the dreaded giant Abiyoyo. For grades K-3. 1963.

by Robert Louis Stevenson

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Young Jim Hawkins finds a map in a dead seaman's possessions. His friends, Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey, realize it's a treasure map. They hire a ship, unaware that the crew includes the pirate Long John Silver. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1881.

by T.A. Barron

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes

In this sequel to The Mirror of Merlin (RC 49469), Merlin's fragile home on the isle of Fincayra is threatened by a mysterious warrior with swords for arms, and by Stangmar's escape from prison. Meanwhile, Merlin's life continues to move toward its ultimate destiny. For grades 5-8. 2000.

by Patricia Clapp

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Constance Hopkins, a young English girl aboard the Mayflower, begins a journal in November 1620 that concludes after her marriage in February 1626, when life in Plymouth at last brings signs of happiness and an end to extreme hardship. For grades 6-9. 1968.

by Barbara M. Joosse

read by John Polk

1 cassette

Willie is thrilled that his old best friend, Kyle, is moving back into the neighborhood. Willie's new best friend, Lucy, is not as happy. But the three band together to investigate Kyle's mysterious house. For grades 2-4. 1998.

by Iain Lawrence

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Shortly after World War II, an unhappy albino teenager runs away to join a circus, hoping to fit into their world. Harold makes friends with the sideshow performers and trains elephants to play baseball, but mostly he learns to accept himself. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 2000.

by Susan Fletcher

read by Madelyn Buzzard

1 cassette

As the last of the dragon eggs that were laid long ago begin to hatch, Lyf becomes a reluctant friend who tries to save both the dragon mothers and their newly born children from their enemies. Sequel to Dragon's Milk (RC 36623). For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1996.

by Sylvia Louise Engdahl

read by Corrie James

2 cassettes (Reissue)

When young Elana unexpectedly joins the team leaving the spaceship to study the planet Andrecia, she becomes an integral part of an adventure involving three very different civilizations, each one centered on the third planet from the star in its own solar system. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Honor. 1970.

retold by Katrin Tchana

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

Eighteen folktales from various parts of the world featuring heroines who are brave and resourceful. In the title piece, fourteen-year-old Li Chi carries out her plan to cut off an enormous serpent's head, showing more courage than anyone else in her village. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2000.

by C.B. Christiansen

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

In Bitte's twelfth summer, she looks forward to becoming a loving aunt to her unwed fifteen-year-old sister's baby. She searches for an answer to the question "What is love?" Meanwhile she opposes her sister's decision to place the baby for adoption. For grades 5-8. 1994.

by Veronica Chambers

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

1 cassette

In this companion to Marisol and Magdalena (RC 48061), the Panamanian American girls from Brooklyn spend the year planning their traditional "quince" ceremonies that celebrate entering adulthood at age fifteen. Magda hangs around with the wrong crowd while Marisol has her first kiss. For grades 6-9. 2001.

by Gerald Hausman

read by Jim Zeiger

1 cassette

Arizona, 1864. American soldiers kill Tobachischin's Navajo parents and wound him while attempting to relocate the tribe to a reservation. Tobachischin's shaman grandfather heals him and starts him on a literal and spiritual journey to defeat the enemy by reuniting the mystical coyote beads. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 1999.

by Carolyn Meyer

read by Gabriella Cavallero

1 cassette

A fictional diary that could have been written by Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. She records the privileged life of the royal family before World War I and the tragic events that befell them between January 1914 and May 1918. For grades 5-8. 2000.

by David Clement-Davies

read by Nick Sullivan

3 cassettes

When ancient Scotland was beset by Norse invaders, the deer were fighting their own war. Drail, a tyrannical stag and self-styled Lord of the Herds, is consolidating his power, when a prophesied and uniquely marked fawn--Rannoch--is born. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999.

by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

read by Bob Askey

1 cassette

Fourteen-year-old Johnny lives in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War. He is captured by Union soldiers, including young African American Cush Turner, a former slave. The two become well acquainted, and when they are attacked, Johnny helps Cush survive in the countryside. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 1994.

by Eva Ibbotson

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

As caretakers of the Island, Aunt Myrtle, Aunt Etta, and Aunt Coral have always looked after its inhabitants, including seals, mermaids, selkies--and a few ghosts. But they are getting old and need help. So they go to London and kidnap three children--with surprising results. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Fred Bowen

read by John Polk

1 cassette

Center fielder Kyle faces a moral dilemma when he cheats to win a championship baseball game. He takes the advice of his grandmother, an avid fan, and admits his fault. Later he wins another shot at the title for his coed team. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Dave Jarzyna

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

When thirteen-year-old Mitchie goes into a "slump"--arguing with family and friends, acting out in class, and quitting the soccer team--he worries that the situation will never change. He decides to take action and make amends for past wrongs. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1999.

by Arvella Whitmore

read by John Polk

1 cassette

To get money for the Cobras, a street gang he has joined, twelve-year-old Jordan steals his grandpa's heirloom watch. But when he winds the watch, he travels back through time to join his ancestors who were slaves on a plantation. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Jill Paton Walsh

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette (Reissue)

Two teen-age runaways--known to each other as Julie and Bill--team up during the bombing raids on London in 1940. Their priorities are finding food and shelter and keeping away from the authorities, until family concerns raise issues that affect their relationship. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 1969.

by LouAnn Gaeddert

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

In Kansas, as America enters World War II, fourteen-year-old William, a Methodist preacher's son, feels pressured to join the local kids in beating up his good friend Jim and other Mennonites for their refusal to support the war efforts in any way. For grades 6-9. 2000.

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

1 cassette

Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their wealthy and privileged life in Mexico to go work in the southern California agricultural labor camps. They must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing migrant farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression. For grades 6-9. 2000.

by John Neufeld

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Twelve-year-old Michael, one of the four Fickett children, tells how a family decision becomes a problem in a prejudiced community when, in 1968, the Ficketts want to adopt three-year-old Edgar Allan--an African American. For grades 5-8. 1968.

by Kathryn Lasky

read by Colleen Delany

2 cassettes

Salem, Massachusetts; 1692. Twelve-year-old Mary is horrified by the growing hysteria as innocent people are identified as witches and executed. When her own widowed mother is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to hang, Mary takes action. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1994.

by Jean Fritz

read by Gregory Gorton

1 cassette (Reissue)

In 1836, a Pennsylvania community is bitterly divided on the slavery question. Young Brady is at first undecided, but eventually takes an antislavery stand and helps with the "Underground Railroad" activities. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1960.

by Janet Lunn

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

1777. Fifteen-year-old Phoebe Olcott's father died fighting for the colonial rebels. Now she sees her beloved cousin hanged for being a Loyalist spy. Determined to complete his mission, Phoebe sets off alone into the wilderness to deliver his message to the British. For grades 6-9. 1997.

by Sally M. Keehn

read by Colleen Delany

1 cassette

When eighth-grader Willo buys an abused ex-racehorse called Tess, her preoccupied father gives her a deadline to have the animal tamed. With help from her friends, Willo works hard all summer only to have Tess act up at the wrong moment. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Gail Carson Levine

read by Cyn Delafield

1 cassette

When eighth grader Wilma is granted one wish by a mysterious old lady on the subway, she asks to be the most popular kid in her school. School only lasts for another three weeks, so the spell soon wears off--but Wilma comes to understand the true meaning of friendship. For grades 5-8. 2000.

by James Bennett

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

Floyd Rayfield, fifteen, who has lived in foster homes most of his life, believes his destiny is to become a Dakota warrior. No longer able to tolerate his situation, he heads for the Pine Ridge reservation to undergo a vision quest and find a place he really belongs. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 1994.

by Yoshiko Uchida

read by Margaret Strom

1 cassette (Reissue)

In 1942 Yuki Sakane, an eleven-year-old Japanese American, can hardly wait for Christmas. But her world is suddenly shattered when her father is arrested by the FBI and the family is imprisoned after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Based on the author's own experience. For grades 4-7. 1971.

by William Steig

read by Colleen Delany

1 cassette (Reissue)

While dawdling on her way home from school one wonderful afternoon in spring, Pearl Pig finds a small bone that has fallen out of a witch's basket. For grades K-3. Caldecott Honor. 1976.

por Benjamin Spock y Michael B. Rothenberg

leído por Juan Ramírez

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Guía actualizada del célebre pediatra que ofrece una amplia gama de información y consejos para el cuidado de hijos. Incluye temas tales como el papel de los padres, la alimentación de niños, preguntas médicas, el uso del excusado, y la conducta y el manejo de hijos en diferentes edades. (Up-to-date and expanded guide by the famous pediatrician that offers a wide range of advice and information on child care. Discusses parental roles, children's nutrition, medical issues, toilet training, and behavior management for different age levels.) 1997.

por Tim LaHaye y Jerry B. Jenkins

leído por Juan Ramírez

3 cassettes

A los cuarenta y dos meses de la Tribulación, el anticristo Nicolás Carpatia es asesinado, y sospechan a miembros del Comando Tribulación. Mientras cada miembro del Comando lucha para sobrevivir, millones de personas asisten al sepelio de Carpatia. De repente, Carpatia se levanta vivo de su ataúd prometiendo que sus enemigos todavía tendrán que encararse con las calamidades del Gran Tribulación. Sigue a Asesinos (RC 50996). [Forty-two months into the Tribulation Nicolae Carpathia is assassinated and some of the Tribulation Force are suspects. As each member struggles for survival, millions prepare for the funeral. Suddenly Carpathia arises from his coffin and pledges that his attackers have yet to endure the Great Tribulation. Sequel to Asesinos (RC 50996).] 1999.

por Kay Allenbaugh

leído por María Pino

2 cassettes

Mujeres de varios conocimientos y experiencias, incluso pastores, profesionales, novelistas, y madres, presentan ensayos sinceros sobre varios temas como religión, amor y salud mental. (Collection of heartfelt essays by a wide variety of female contributors, including ministers, professional speakers, novelists, and mothers. Topics range from divine intervention to falling in love to overcoming depression.) 1999.

leído por María Pino

2 cassettes

Los editores de la revista de salud Prevention identifican los métodos más efectivos y fáciles para tratar enfermedades en el propio hogar. Aplican estos métodos a problemas de salud--la cardiopatía, el colesterol alto, la depresión, problemas de nervios y el sobrepeso.(Editors of the health magazine Prevention identify easy and effective methods to treat common ailments at home. These work for such common health concerns as heart disease, high cholesterol, depression, stress, and weight problems.) 1999.

por Esmeralda Santiago

leído por María Pino

3 cassettes

Aunque América Gonzalez quita su empleo en Puerto Rico para trabajar con una familia en los Estados Unidos, no puede escapar su pasado. Su novio Correa--quien es casado y quien la pegue, pero que también es el padre de Rosalinda su hija de catorce años--no la deja en paz. (Although América Gonzalez quits her job in Puerto Rico to work with a family in the United States, she cannot escape her past. Her lover, Correa--who is married and beats her but is also the father of Rosalinda, her fourteen-year-old daughter--pursues her.) 1996.

por Tim LaHaye y Jerry B. Jenkins

leído por Juan Ramírez

3 cassettes

A los tres días del Gran Tribulación, Nicolás Carpatia se proclama el verdadero Cristo. Pero a mucha gente se le considera el gran Satanás. El Comando Tribulación lucha para sobrevivir, mientas Carpatia manda que todo el mundo reciba la Marca--un tatuaje visible y una ficha subcutánea--a no encararse con la guillotina. Sigue a El Poseído (RC 51000). [Three days into the Great Tribulation, Nicolae Carpathia is proclaiming himself the true Christ. Yet many see him as Satan. The Tribulation Force struggles to survive, as Carpathia orders all people to receive the Mark (a visible tattoo and an implanted biochip) or face the guillotine. Sequel to El Poseído (RC 51000).] 2000.

por H.A. Rey

leído por María Pino

1 cassette

Jorge el curioso es un monito bien travieso. Cuando se va a la cuidad con el hombre que lleva un gran sombrero de paja amarillo, tiene muchas aventuras. Para grados K-3.(Curious George is a mischievous monkey. When he goes to the city with the man in the yellow straw hat, Curious George has many adventures. For grades K-3.) 1990.