### Talking Book Topics January-February 2007 Volume 76, Number 1 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Talking Book Topics is published bimonthly in large-print, cassette, and computer diskette formats and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists recorded books and magazines available through a network of cooperating libraries and covers news of developments and activities in library services. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. To order books, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to: Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542 Library of Congress, Washington 2005 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 60-46157 ISSN 0039-9183 Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Cassettes--Nonfiction Cassettes--Fiction Books for Children Cassettes--Nonfiction Cassettes--Fiction Foreign Language Books Spanish Talking Book Magazines ### In Brief January–February 2007 Issue Braille Book Review and Talking Book Topics The following information is reprinted from an issue of NLS Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals. Flash, October 2006, volume 2, issue 11 Functional prototype usability tests successful The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, has completed initial usability testing on functional prototypes for the digital talking-book player and flash memory cartridge. In September, twenty-six patrons from the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, conducted hands-on examinations of the functional prototypes. The tests were designed to evaluate how well the machine meets patron requirements. All participants were pleased with machine performance, providing NLS clearance to advance to the next stage of development. “Our patrons’ positive evaluation is an encouraging validation of the design at this stage. The feedback received from these tests will keep development of the digital player moving in the right direction,” says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. Both blind and physically impaired patrons of various ages and abilities participated in the usability tests. To collect useful and accurate data about machine performance, the testing took place in real-life settings where reading would typically occur. Users evaluated the machine in diverse environments, including their homes, retirement centers, and at the library. Patrons with physical challenges evaluated the machines at the Trace Research and Development Center in Madison, Wisconsin, where they subjected players to tests similar to those conducted by blind users. “Children, teens, adults, and seniors with both advanced and basic skills were all accounted for during testing. Some patrons evaluated functional prototypes for basic players, while others examined the more intricate features of the advanced machine,” notes Connecticut regional librarian Carol Taylor, who recruited participants for the usability tests. Functional design A product’s functionality and its ease-of-use are often affected by its design. To assess how functional the prototype’s design was, participants evaluated a range of player features. The player’s obvious navigation features—for example, the longer you hold the fast-forward button the further you move ahead in the book—added to ease-of-use, as did the tactile buttons and color-coding design features. As patrons usually read on their own, NLS was interested in how easy the players were to operate without outside assistance. For that reason, participants received only braille and large-print instruction cards. If they encountered challenges, users could access audible help through the player’s key identifier function, which narrates the actions of each button as it is pressed. Overall patrons encountered no major problems operating the machine on their own. According to Jeff Witt, the National Federation of the Blind’s program manager for accessibility issues, who directed this round of tests, patrons were ultimately pleased with the functional prototype’s performance and were confident that the machine met their needs. Moving ahead Armed with important patron feedback, NLS will make any necessary refinements to the functional prototype before conducting a second round of usability tests in February 2007. Once NLS is satisfied with the prototype, it will develop a preproduction prototype that will resemble the final digital talking-book machine. Following further tests and refinement to the preproduction prototype, the digital talking-book player and cartridge will head to the final stage of the process—production. Praise profile NLS continues to receive positive, unsolicited feedback on the digital talking-book player and cartridge from both patrons and regional libraries. Here is the latest noteworthy comment NLS would like to share: “The high contrast of the machine and the cartridge and the bright colors of the buttons will be an instant hit with our seniors. We finally have a design that appears to be simple, practical, and easy to use, with all the necessary options but without the confusing complexity created by the options and layout of the C-1.” John D. Hall, Director, Arkansas Regional Library for the Blind. Digital talking book (DTB) milestones Completed --Defined and prioritized DTB features --Coordinated development and publication of Specifications for the Digital Talking Book (ANSI/NISO Z39.86) --Simulated a DTB player using personal computer --Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis (LCC) model for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems --Developed computer software for DTB production and presentation --Developed software to test conformance of players and DTBs with the ANSI/NISO standard --User survey --Player transition study --Distribution flash cartridge study --Player and flash cartridge design contract awarded --Distribution system design contract awarded --Distribution system design contract Phase I, II --Preliminary design review --Player and flash cartridge developed --Designed DTB containers and labels --Web-Magazine pilot concluded --Web-Book pilot launched Start 1/12/04–Finish 10/1/08 The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses. Digital data management system development (11/1/04) Distribution system implementation (10/1/06) Flash cartridge production (3/1/07) Flash cartridge duplication (5/1/07) Manufacture initial lot of DTB containers and labels (8/1/07) Full player production (9/1/07) For information on the NLS digital project contact: Jean M. Moss Digital Projects Coordinator jemo@loc.gov Fax: (202) 707-1690 To view the Strategic Business Plan on the Web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2006.html To view the Flash newsletters on the Web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/newsletters/flash/archive.html ### Collection Development Advisory Group seeks advice The members of the Collection Development Advisory Group wish to thank fellow patrons and librarians for their input concerning the NLS program last year. Ideas and suggestions from readers are key components in the success of the program and are thoroughly discussed in the committee’s deliberations. Please continue to assist NLS by contacting committee members or your cooperating braille or talking-book library with your suggestions. The group will meet again at NLS May 23–25, 2007. Representatives from consumer organizations: American Council of the Blind (ACB) Otis Stephens University of Tennessee College of Law 1505 West Cumberland Avenue Knoxville, TN 37996 ostephen@utk.edu Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Peter Davis 615 South Adams Street Arlington, VA 22204 lottie.pete@verizon.net National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Anil Lewis 315 West Ponce De Leon Avenue, Suite 603 Decatur, GA 30030 alewis@nfbga.org Readers-at-Large: Midlands Region—includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Teresa Haifley 414 South 3rd Avenue Washington, Iowa 52353-1502 teresahaifley@iowatelecom.net Northern Region—includes Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. David Stewart 4000 Tunlaw Road, NW, #525 Washington, DC 20009 or P.O. Box 469 Middleburg, VA 20118 WendyWolff@msn.com Southern Region—includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Virgin Islands. Chet Avery 16 East Linden Street Alexandria, VA 22301 csavery@verizon.net Western Region—includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Fred Riggers 5127 Hertford Way Boise, ID 83714-2399 Tel: (208) 853-1999 or Sue Walker Idaho State Library sue.walker@libaries.idaho.gov Librarians: Midlands Sharon Ruda Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service 401 East Washington Springfield, IL 62701-1207 Tel: (217) 782-9435; fax (217) 558-4723 sruda@ilsos.net Northern Catherine Rubin Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 415 Park Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201-3603 Tel: (410) 230-2424; fax (410) 333-2095 crubin@lbph.lib.md.us Southern Patricia Schubert Manatee Talking Book Library 6081 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 Tel: (941) 742-5914; fax (941) 751-7098 patricia.schubert@co.manatee.fl.us Western Scott Scholz Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service The Atrium 1200 N Street, Suite 120 Lincoln, NE 68508-2023 Tel: (402) 471-6553 sscholz@nlc.state.ne.us Children’s/Young Adult Librarian Sharon Rawlins New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped P.O. Box 501 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0501 Tel: (609) 530-3251; fax (609) 530-6384 srawlins@njstatelib.org ### Magazine of the Month selections for 2007 Two NLS programs offer readers samples of magazines not otherwise available through network libraries. Subscribers to Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the Month receive a different magazine on audiocassette each month. For a free subscription to either program, contact your cooperating talking-book library. Subscribers may expect to receive some of the following: --AudioFile --Civil War Times --Food and Wine --Gardening How-To --Good Old Boat --Homes of Color --Newsweek en Español --Pilates Style --ShopSmart --Sky and Telescope --Strategy and Business --Whole Dog Journal: A Monthly Guide to Natural Dog Care and Training Alternatives: Air and Space; Bed and Breakfast America; Dog World: Active Dogs, Active People; Eating Well; Houseplant Magazine; In-Fisherman: The Journal of Freshwater Fishing; Massage; MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History; Outside; People en Español; Pink; and Sojourners Magazine. Young Adult Magazine of the Month selections for 2007 --All About You --American Cheerleader --American Idol Magazine --Blackgirl Magazine --Crochet Today! --Fantasy Sports --Kun Fu Tai Chi --Paste: Signs of Life in Music, Film, and Culture --Postive Teens --Star Wars Insider --Teen --Vibe Alternatives: Girl’s Life, Guitar, In Knitters, Lost Official Magazine, Metal Maniacs, SG: Surf Snow Skate Girl, Slam, Source, Star Trek Magazine, Swimming World Magazine, Teen Style ### Books for Adults Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Cassettes Nonfiction Discipline the Brazelton Way RC 57871 by T. Berry Brazelton and Joshua D. Sparrow read by Gary Roan 1 cassette Pediatrician Brazelton, author of The Irreducible Needs of Children (RC 52543), and child psychiatrist Sparrow advise parents on setting firm, loving boundaries for children up to age six using discipline as a teaching tool, not punishment. Offers solutions for common behavior problems like biting, cheating, lying, swearing, talking back, and more. 2003. RC 57871 ## The Man Who Found Time: James Hutton and the Discovery of the Earth's Antiquity RC 58844 by Jack Repcheck read by Gillian Green 2 cassettes Historian examines the life and scientific contributions of Scottish natural philosopher James Hutton (1726-1797), whose theory of geologic evolution proved Earth to be incalculably old, a conclusion that conflicted with church teachings. Looks at Hutton's role in the Scottish Enlightenment and his influence on nineteenth-century scientists Lyell and Darwin. 2003. RC 58844 ## Chronicles, Volume 1 RC 59429 by Bob Dylan read by John Lescault 2 cassettes First of a three-volume memoir by music legend Bob Dylan. Describes his intellectual development, folk songs and blues he listened to in the 1960s, and the growth of his artistic conscience. Recalls early days in Greenwich Village, transient loves, lasting friendships, and experiences in New Orleans and Woodstock. Bestseller. 2004. RC 59429 ## Death on the Fourth of July: The Story of a Killing, a Trial, and Hate Crime in America RC 59653 by David A. Neiwert read by Derald Breneman 3 cassettes Award-winning journalist explores the history of hate crimes in America through a fatal July 2000 Washington state incident. Details an Asian American's criminal trial. Argues that the proliferation of intolerance and harassment results from police under investigation and lack of education, and that prosecution is a justifiable deterrent. Some violence. 2004. RC 59653 ## The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 3: 1955-1991 RC 59889 by Norman Sherry read by Dan Bloom 7 cassettes in 2 containers This sequel to The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 2: 1939-1955 (RC 41053) covers the distinguished author's productive career and the final years of his tumultuous life. Sherry discusses Greene's private relationships and explores the people, places, and events that inspired his writing. 2004. RC 59889 ## Diabesity: The Obesity-Diabetes Epidemic That Threatens America-and What We Must Do to Stop It RC 60037 by Francine Ratner Kaufman read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes Pediatric endocrinologist and past president of the American Diabetes Association addresses the rise of diabetes, especially in children, and its impact on individuals, families, and society. Kaufman discusses obesity as a trigger, effects of diabetes on the body, and ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease. 2005. RC 60037 ## John Jay: Founding Father RC 60042 by Walter Stahr read by Dan Bloom 4 cassettes Biography of American diplomat and coauthor of The Federalist Papers (RC 26691). Chronicles Jay's personal and political life that included stints as president of the Continental Congress, chief justice of the Supreme Court, secretary for foreign affairs, governor of New York, and president of the American Bible Society. 2005. RC 60042 ## Shattered Love: A Memoir RC 60046 by Richard Chamberlain read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Stage and screen actor's autobiography centers on "the spiritual themes of God, love, and forgiveness." Addresses his childhood with an alcoholic parent, his sexual orientation, and his drift into acting during college. Discusses his 1960s breakout role as Dr. Kildare and professional relationships with other actors. Some strong language. 2003. RC 60046 ## De Kooning: An American Master RC 60110 by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan read by Annie Wauters 6 cassettes Biography of Dutch-born artist Willem de Kooning (1904-1997), who became a major figure in the mid-twentieth-century New York abstract expressionism scene. Explores de Kooning's bohemian habits, friendship with Gorky, financial backing from Hirshhorn and Fourcade, marriage, and passion for painting. Pulitzer Prize. 2004. RC 60110 ## Controlling Your Drinking: Tools to Make Moderation Work for You RC 60169 by William R. Miller and read by John Polk 3 cassettes Psychologists' techniques for alcohol abusers to change harmful patterns and learn to imbibe in moderation. They explain the use of self-monitoring by keeping track, taking charge, and slowing down, and offer practical advice on handling social situations and substituting other behaviors for drinking. 2005. RC 60169 ## One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for People with Cancer, Survivors, and Their Caregivers RC 60170 by Rebecca Katz read by Carol Dines 2 cassettes Chef and founder of a culinary business that focuses on healthy food presents more than eighty-five appetite-pleasing and immune-boosting recipes. Includes broths and soups, vegetables, protein-building foods, side dishes such as potatoes and pasta, desserts, and portable foods suitable for anytime meals. 2004. RC 60170 ## The Persian Puzzle: The Conflict between Iran and America RC 60252 by Kenneth M. Pollack read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes Author of The Threatening Storm (RC 54856) chronicles the history of Persia (Iran) including its uneasy relationship with the United States since World War II. Pollack, formerly with the CIA, cautions that although Iran's fundamentalist Islamic government is pursuing nuclear options, American intervention would be a mistake. 2004. RC 60252 ## Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution RC 60295 by Laurent Dubois read by Anne Flosnik 3 cassettes Professor analyzes the 1791-1803 revolution in the French Caribbean country of Haiti. Traces the history of Hispaniola and describes how slaves from Africa under Toussaint Louverture defeated France, Britain, and Spain and achieved emancipation at great economic and human cost. Violence. 2004. RC 60295 ## Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life and Times of Benny Goodman RC 60340 by Ross Firestone read by Roy Avers 4 cassettes Biography of jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman (1909-1986) recounts his career as a child prodigy in Chicago, early gigs during the depression era, and success with the "big band" sound. Relates Goodman's role in breaking down racial barriers and describes his relationships with other musicians. 1993. RC 60340 ## Patton and Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century RC 60341 by Dennis Showalter read by Fred Major 4 cassettes Military historian offers a dual biography of American general George Patton (1885-1945) and German general Erwin Rommel (1891-1944), the "Desert Fox." Chronicles the lives, careers, and military campaigns of the World War II leaders, depicting their complex personalities within the contexts of their respective national and military cultures. 2005. RC 60341 ## They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine; Two Centuries of Innovators RC 60342 by Harold Evans read by Barry Bernson 7 cassettes in 2 containers The author of The American Century (RC 47580) profiles seventy American innovators who turned their ideas into commercial realities that benefited the public. Includes such well-known figures as Eli Whitney and Thomas Edison as well as individuals like Ida Rosenthal, who invented the Maidenform bra. 2004. RC 60342 ## Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation, and the World RC 60351 edited by John Y. Cole and Jane Aikin read by Kerry Cundiff 8 cassettes in 2 containers Essays and articles documenting the growth of the Library of Congress from its beginning in 1800 until 2004. Includes information on the Library's various collections and services, and reviews American librarianship in general. 2004. RC 60351 ## When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes RC 60365 by Jay Feldman read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Chronicles a series of catastrophic earthquakes in the Mississippi River Valley from 1811 to 1812 that devastated the New Madrid frontier settlement and temporarily reversed the Mississippi's flow. Links the seismologic activity to the Indian Wars, a slave murder committed by Thomas Jefferson's nephews, and the War of 1812. 2005. RC 60365 ## All Flesh Is Grass: The Pleasures and Promises of Pasture Farming RC 60423 by Gene Logsdon read by Jack Fox 2 cassettes Author of Low-Maintenance House (RC 28227) argues against the grain feeding of livestock and contends grass farming is the solution to economic, environmental, sustainability, and food safety concerns posed by commercial factory agriculture. Offers practical advice on pasturing various animals, selecting and rotating crops, fencing, watering, and more. 2004. RC 60423 ## On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen RC 60425 by Harold McGee read by Kerry Cundiff 10 cassettes in 2 containers The 1984 kitchen classic expanded and updated to broaden the range of ingredients and preparations. Explains the nature, composition, and origins of foods and what happens to them when cooked by various methods. Discusses what gives foods their flavor, and offers tips for selecting the best ingredients. 2004. RC 60425 ## Becoming Justice Blackmun: Harry Blackmun's Supreme Court Journey RC 60427 by Linda Greenhouse read by Butch Hoover 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter uses personal papers, correspondence, and case files to trace the life and career of Supreme Court justice Harry A. Blackmun (1908-1999). Chronicles Blackmun's early years in Minnesota, twenty-four-year tenure on the Supreme Court, childhood friendship with Warren Burger, and prominent cases including Roe v. Wade. 2005. RC 60427 ## Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall RC 60428 by Joseph Horowitz read by Butch Hoover 5 cassettes American music historian and artistic adviser to several orchestras presents a social history of classical music in the United States. Chronicles the rise of the Boston, New York, and Philadelphia orchestras. Horowitz contends that the post-WWI performance-centered approach of American conductors and performers has been disadvantageous to native-born composers. 2005. RC 60428 ## Honor Killing: How the Infamous "Massie Affair" Transformed Hawai'i RC 60430 by David E. Stannard read by John Polk 4 cassettes Professor chronicles two well-publicized criminal trials in Hawaii in 1931 and 1932: the first of naval officer's wife Thalia Massie, who falsely accused five nonwhite islanders of rape; the second of Thalia's mother and husband, who arranged the abduction and murder of one of the suspects. Some strong language. 2005. RC 60430 ## Perfect Soldiers: The Hijackers; Who They Were, Why They Did It RC 60438 by Terry McDermott read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes Prize-winning journalist examines the lives and beliefs of the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Profiles leader Mohamed Atta and the eighteen other airline hijackers. Describes them as young men, mostly from Saudi Arabia, who were recruited to the cause of radical Islam by their hometown clerics. 2005. RC 60438 ## Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era RC 60439 by Boston Women's Health Book Collective read by Madelyn Buzzard 8 cassettes in 2 containers Updated version of Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century (RC 47117). Discusses all aspects of women's health and well-being including nutrition and exercise, sex and relationships, reproduction, and aging. Covers the rearranged food pyramid and provides information on negotiating the complicated health care system. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 60439 ## The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus: The Definitive Collection of Mystical Gospels and Secret Books about Jesus of Nazareth RC 60442 by Marvin Meyer read by Lou Harpenau 4 cassettes Scholar on gnosticism provides translations of all known Gnostic gospels and related texts that were discovered in 1945 in Egypt. Also contains concise introductions and suggested readings for further study. Includes the gospels of Thomas, Mary, and Philip; "The Secret Book of John"; and "The Dialogue of the Savior." 2005. RC 60442 ## The Flooring Handbook: The Complete Guide to Choosing and Installing Floors RC 60444 by Dennis Jeffries read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Industry insider with forty years' experience offers step-by-step instructions for laying ceramic, clay, terracotta, concrete, marble, brick, slate, mosaic, vinyl, linoleum, wood, carpet, and more. Helps readers select appropriate flooring materials based on usage, cost, and maintenance considerations. Provides information on necessary tools and materials, preparation, and subflooring. 2004. RC 60444 ## How to Organize Just about Everything: More than Five Hundred Step-by- Step Instructions for Everything from Organizing Your Closets to Planning a Wedding to Creating a Flawless Filing System RC 60459 by Peter Walsh read by Gary Tipton 6 cassettes Anti-clutter expert and host of television's Clean Sweep offers advice on organizing your entire life from education and career to social life and family affairs. Includes solutions for preparing for the unexpected, simplifying your life, and achieving dreams. 2004. RC 60459 ## Greece: The Modern Sequel, from 1821 to the Present RC 60464 by John S. Koliopoulos and Thanos M. Veremis read by Butch Hoover 4 cassettes Thematic, rather than chronological, exploration of the origins and development of modern Greece. The authors, both professors at Greek universities, discuss the country's institutions, politics, economy, society, ideology, foreign policy, and geography beginning with the 1820s War of Independence from Ottoman rule. 2002. RC 60464 ## Knit Wit: Thirty Easy and Hip Projects; a Hands-Free Step-by-Step Guide RC 60467 by Amy R. Singer read by Jill Fox 1 cassette Knitting web site editor offers a variety of patterns for skirts, sweaters, funky hats and scarves, an ice cream pint cozy, a laptop cover, a yoga mat bag, a water bottle sling, and more, arranged by order of difficulty. Provides information for beginners on equipment, materials, and basic techniques. 2004. RC 60467 ## Sunday Money: Speed! Lust! Madness! Death! A Hot Lap around America with NASCAR RC 60477 by Jeff MacGregor read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes Journalist and his wife follow the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup circuit in a motor home, covering hundreds of races in thirty-five states to document the fastest-growing sport in America. Highlights the drivers, fans, and history of stock-car racing. Investigates the cultural and economic forces behind the phenomenon. Strong language. 2005. RC 60477 ## Objection! How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System RC 60520 by Nancy Grace read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes Legal commentator on Court TV, a former prosecutor, criticizes the criminal justice system including defense attorneys, judges, and juries. Comments on controversial cases involving Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and Scott Peterson and suggests ways to reform the legal process to help victims of crime rather than criminals. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60520 ## A People Adrift: The Crisis of the Roman Catholic Church in America RC 60533 by Peter Steinfels read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes New York Times columnist analyzes the major institutional challenges facing American Catholicism in the twenty-first century. Focuses on Church leadership, priest sex-abuse scandals, contrasting visions, and gender issues. Maintains the Church is at a crossroads, poised "on the verge of . . . irreversible decline . . . or a transformation" and offers recommendations for action. 2003. RC 60533 ## Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class RC 60540 by Ross Gregory Douthat read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes A 2002 graduate of Harvard revisits his college years, revealing a life very different from what he had expected. Author claims the school "was not a refuge of genius and a sanctuary of intellect," but a place rampant with grade inflation, sleepless nights, sex, and status- seeking. Some strong language. 2005. RC 60540 ## The First World War RC 60542 by Hew Strachan read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes British historian analyzes the impact of World War I in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and eastern Europe in addition to the familiar western European arena. Discusses the political backgrounds of the combatant nations, the social consequences of the conflagration, and the roots of twenty-first-century wars. 2003. RC 60542 ## Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger RC 60543 by Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdson read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes New York-based naturalists recount their quest to find a living Tasmanian tiger, a presumed-extinct carnivorous marsupial with a dog- like body and zebra-like stripes, once native to Tasmania, an island off Australia's coast. They describe their wilderness misadventures down under and their run-ins with unusual creatures-and humans. Some strong language. 2005. RC 60543 ## A Modest Proposal and Other Satires RC 60552 by Jonathan Swift read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Letters, tales, and essays by English satirist Jonathan Swift (1667- 1745) assailing such vices and abuses as political corruption, religious intolerance, and England's oppression of Ireland. Includes "A Tale of a Tub" and the title work, which suggests eating children to combat poverty. Introduction by George R. Levine. 1995. RC 60552 ## Acquainted with the Night: Excursions through the World after Dark RC 60553 by Christopher Dewdney read by Lewis Grenville 3 cassettes Prize-winning poet's compendium of the nocturnal realm blending science, art, and literature. Twelve chapters, each corresponding to an hour of darkness from dusk to dawn, explore night's central themes- sunsets, children's bedtime stories, sleep and dreams, evening creatures, festivals, stargazing, and more. 2004. RC 60553 ## Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection RC 60554 by Toby Faber read by Dennis Rooney 2 cassettes Provides a brief biography of Italian stringed-instrument-maker Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737). Recounts the history of five surviving violins and one cello from their creation among more than one thousand to modern ownership by such well-known musicians as Paganini, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, and Yo-Yo Ma. 2004. RC 60554 ## No Place like Home: Staying In, Kicking Back, and Living It Up RC 60557 by Michelle Kehm read by Constance Crawford 1 cassette Journalist's cost-conscious, domestic-arts guide for women looking to make the most of their personal space, be it apartment or house. Offers tips on cleaning and furnishing, growing an indoor herb garden, scrapbooking, starting a book club, hosting parties, indulging in a do- it-yourself spa, and more. 2005. RC 60557 ## Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography RC 60559 by Bruce Chilton read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Religion professor and priest examines Jesus within the social and cultural context of his time. Using literary and archaeological evidence accumulated since World War II, Chilton presents Jesus as "a witty philosopher" and "Mediterranean peasant-savant" of Greco-Roman heritage who did everything "as a Jew, for Jews, and about Jews." 2000. RC 60559 ## Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves RC 60562 by Adam Hochschild read by Constance Crawford 4 cassettes The author of King Leopold's Ghost (RC 48452) chronicles the five- decade campaign that formally ended slavery in the British empire in 1838 and provided a framework for American abolitionists. Recounts the movement launched in 1787 and its personalities, economics, and moral philosophy. Violence. 2005. RC 60562 ## Songs of Life and Hope/Cantos de Vida y Esperanza RC 60594 by Rubén Darío read by Peter Gil 2 cassettes The major works of the Nicaraguan poet considered to be a founder of the Spanish modernist movement. Includes an in-depth introduction to the life and work of Darío in English and his poems in the original Spanish with English translations. (Edición bilingüe de la poesía más importante del famoso poeta nicaragüense, fundador del modernismo español. Incluye una introducción en inglés sobre la vida y obra de Darío tanto como los poemas en español con traducción en inglés.) 2004. RC 60594 ## The Oregon Trail: An American Saga RC 60598 by David Dary read by Michael Russotto 4 cassettes Author of The Santa Fe Trail (RC 53106) chronicles the history of the 2,000-mile route linking Missouri to Oregon used primarily from the 1840s to 1869, when the transcontinental railroad was completed. Recreates experiences of explorers, Indians, fur traders, immigrants, missionaries, mountain men, and pioneers who traversed the trail. 2004. RC 60598 ## Stalin: A Biography RC 60602 by Robert Service read by Mark Ashby 5 cassettes Russian scholar and author of Lenin (RC 52071) uses archival material to unveil the life and regime of Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin (1879-1953). Exposes the contradictory characteristics of the ruler's personality and his involvement in the Communist Party, the October Revolution, World War II, and the Great Terror. 2004. RC 60602 ## De Niro: A Biography RC 60610 by John Baxter read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Movie critic analyzes the various film roles of actor Robert De Niro, born in 1943. Describes his Greenwich Village childhood with a gay father and an artistic mother. Traces the artist's career from his 1976 breakout role in Taxi Driver to later business ventures. Some strong language. 2002. RC 60610 ## Skin Health Information for Teens: Health Tips about Dermatological Concerns and Skin Cancer Risks; Including Facts about Acne, Warts, Hives, and Other Conditions and Lifestyle Choices, Such as Tanning, Tattooing, and Piercing, That Affect the Skin, Nails, Scalp, and Hair RC 60625 edited by Robert Aquinas McNally read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes Skin care advice for teens includes information about acne, cancer, and other disorders. For senior high readers. 2003. RC 60625 ## Apple's America: The Discriminating Traveler's Guide to Forty Great Cities in the United States and Canada RC 60635 by R.W. Apple Jr. read by Michael Scherer 3 cassettes Well-traveled journalist offers background information on forty North American cities. Highlights architecture, museums, ballparks, performing arts centers, and other cultural points of interest. Briefly mentions hotels and restaurants. 2005. RC 60635 ## Oh the Glory of It All RC 60643 by Sean Wilsey read by Erik Sandvold 5 cassettes Editor of McSweeney's quarterly relates growing up in San Francisco with dysfunctional, wealthy parents who divorced and "destroyed" his childhood. Describes his cruel stepmother, the Italian reform school he attended, and the drugs he took while his mother sought world peace. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60643 ## A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose RC 60650 by Eckhart Tolle read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes The author of The Power of Now (RC 55646) implores people to reject a prevailing ego-based state of consciousness and shift to a higher plane to create a more loving world. 2005. RC 60650 ## Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate RC 60680 by Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Practical advice on controlling your own and others' emotions to achieve better results during negotiations conducted in the home and office. Authors discuss five core concerns to consider during interactions, and they analyze specific situations to illustrate the constructive rather than confrontational use of feelings. 2005. RC 60680 ## You: The Owner's Manual; an Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger RC 60685 by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz read by Carol Dines 3 cassettes Layperson's guide to the human body describes the major systems and common diseases. Authors state that "knowing your body gives you the power to change it, maintain it, decorate it, and strengthen it." Includes nutrition advice and recipes. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60685 ## Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger RC 60689 by John L. Allen Jr. read by Lou Harpenau 3 cassettes Biography of the German pope, born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927. Journalist for the National Catholic Reporter traces Ratzinger's rise to prominence as a cardinal during the Second Vatican Council. Uses documents to outline the pope's conservative theological views on controversial subjects. First published as Cardinal Ratzinger. 2000. RC 60689 ## Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook: Slow Cooker Favorites-to Include Everyone! RC 60692 by Phyllis Pellman Good read by Gary Tipton 5 cassettes Joined by the American Diabetes Association, Good presents healthy, easy-to-prepare meals not only for diabetics, but for all those watching their intake of carbs, sugars, calories, sodium, and fat. Recipes include main dishes, soups, desserts, appetizers, breakfast, and more. Provides exchange and nutritional values and menus for a week. 2005. RC 60692 ## The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf RC 60698 by William C. Davis read by Butch Hoover 4 cassettes Account of Pierre and brother Jean Laffite, who fled revolutionary France for the New World. Traces their business and privateer enterprises along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, their exploits assisting American forces during the War of 1812, and their changing allegiance when they later spied for Spain. 2005. RC 60698 ## Ghost Ship: The Mysterious True Story of the Mary Celeste and Her Missing Crew RC 60699 by Brian Hicks read by Mitzi Friedlander 2 cassettes Coauthor of Raising the Hunley (RC 54755) explores the fate of a merchant ship found drifting in 1872 without trace of the captain, his wife and daughter, or seven crewmembers and with no damage or indication of struggle. Chronicles the boat's history and offers possible explanations. 2004. RC 60699 ## A Furnace Afloat: The Wreck of the Hornet and the Harrowing 4,300-Mile Voyage of Its Survivors RC 60700 by Joe Jackson read by John Polk 3 cassettes Recounts the 1866 burning and sinking of an American clipper sailing from New York to San Francisco that left thirty-one men adrift in the Pacific for forty-three days. Describes storms and starvation endured and threats of mutiny and cannibalism. Sources include journals and then-journalist Samuel Langhorne Clemens's unpublished notes. 2003. RC 60700 ## Rebel with a Cause RC 60715 by Franklin Graham read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Franklin Graham (born 1952) recalls growing up in North Carolina as the first son of the Reverend Billy Graham and his wife Ruth. Franklin relates his early "sinful" life, acceptance of Christ, missionary experiences, crusade ministry, and leadership of Samaritan's Purse-an evangelical relief organization. Afterword by his parents. 1995. RC 60715 ## The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism RC 60723 by Megan Marshall read by Martha Harmon Pardee 5 cassettes Draws on personal letters to depict the first four decades of three New England sisters' lives in the nineteenth-century. Describes how the Peabodys' intellectual pursuits inspired the Transcendentalist movement. Relates the marriage of artist Sophia to writer Nathaniel Hawthorne and teacher Mary to educator Horace Mann-men Elizabeth also loved. 2005. RC 60723 ## A Brush with Darkness: Learning to Paint after Losing My Sight RC 60724 by Lisa Fittipaldi read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Author discusses her life after being diagnosed with vasculitis in her forties. Describes her feelings of despair during her first two years of blindness. Relates that a gift from her husband-a child's watercolor set-became the catalyst for her new career as a renowned painter, and for her new outlook. 2004. RC 60724 ## You Can Do the Math: Overcome Your Math Phobia and Make Better Financial Decisions RC 60800 by Ron Lipsman read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Professor offers an introduction to the mathematics of personal finance. Covers buying or leasing a car, owning or renting a home, insurance, credit cards, college and retirement funds, taxes and inflation, stock market investments, compound interest, and more. Companion web site link gives calculations. 2004. RC 60800 ## The New American Plate Cookbook: Recipes for a Healthy Weight and a Healthy Life RC 60801 by American Institute for Cancer Research read by Dan Willems 3 cassettes Team of experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research provides guidelines for healthy meal planning, recommending that each meal contain approximately two-thirds vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and one-third animal protein. Includes hundreds of recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, stews, entrées, vegetables, breads, and desserts. 2005. RC 60801 ## Wrestling Strength: Dare to Excel RC 60803 by Matt Brzycki read by Alec Volz 1 cassette Professional athletic trainer explains basic training for wrestlers including the order of exercise, free weights, weight machines, the number of sets, and recovery time. Discusses nutrition, diets, and fads. Includes resources. For senior high and older readers. 2004. RC 60803 ## To the Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance RC 60808 by Richard J. Ellis read by Jill Fox 3 cassettes Professor of politics looks at the history of the Pledge of Allegiance from its inception in 1892 through the 2004 Supreme Court decision regarding the words "under God." Ellis argues that five anxieties affected the creation, propagation, and amending of the Pledge: immigration, materialism, freedom, radicalism, and Communism. 2005. RC 60808 ## Surviving PC Disasters, Mishaps, and Blunders RC 60809 by Jesse M. Torres and Peter Sideris read by Bruce Huntey 3 cassettes An information technology consultant and a systems engineer offer a wide-ranging guide to solving various personal computer problems using real-world scenarios. Provides instructions for handling hardware, software, and network glitches, safeguarding personal information, protecting against identity theft, avoiding Internet hazards, preventing hard drive crashes, recovering lost data, and more. 2005. RC 60809 ## Living Through Breast Cancer: What a Harvard Doctor and Survivor Wants You to Know about Getting the Best Care while Preserving Your Self- Image RC 60811 by Carolyn M. Kaelin read by Erin Jones 3 cassettes Addresses medical and emotional aspects of coping with breast cancer. Covers understanding your diagnosis, treatment options with surgery and/or drugs, maintaining your physical appearance, and managing menopause. Provides guidance on after-treatment issues, fertility, diet and exercise, and resources. 2005. RC 60811 ## Silent Witness: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo's Death RC 60820 by Mark Fuhrman read by Brian Conn 2 cassettes Former LAPD detective investigates the life and death of Terri Schiavo (1963-2005), a Florida woman who spent fifteen years in a coma and passed away when her husband withheld life support. Explores the possibility that domestic abuse led to Terri's collapse and vegetative state. 2005. RC 60820 ## The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin RC 60821 by Gordon S. Wood read by Roy Avers 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution (RC 36630) traces Benjamin Franklin's conversion from fervent British loyalist to American patriot. Highlights Franklin's decades of living abroad, role as a diplomat, shift in allegiance, and efforts to shed his humble beginnings. 2004. RC 60821 ## The Raging Sea: The Powerful Account of the Worst Tsunami in U.S. History RC 60836 by Dennis M. Powers read by Michael Russotto 3 cassettes Professor describes the tragedy of Good Friday, March 27, 1964, when four waves spawned by an Alaskan earthquake hit Crescent City, California, and devastated the town. Interviews survivors and reveals tales of heroism and grief as eleven people lost their lives and the area was ravaged. 2005. RC 60836 ## Artie Shaw: A Musical Biography and Discography RC 60847 by Vladimir Simosko read by Bob Moore 5 cassettes Music librarian pens a biographical essay about Swing Era clarinetist and bandleader Artie Shaw. Chronicles each phase of Shaw's career from 1924 to 1954, places the musician in the context of the times, and concludes with an extensive discography. Foreword by Artie Shaw. 2000. RC 60847 ## Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human RC 60850 by Michael Chorost read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Science writer recounts his decision to get a cochlear implant, or computer surgically imbedded in the skull, to artificially restore hearing after he became totally deaf in 2001. Describes his physical and mental changes and reflects on the implications of technological advances for the deaf community and for humanity. 2005. RC 60850 ## The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen: The Last Twenty-Five Years of the Broadway Musical RC 60863 by Ethan Mordden read by Mitzi Friedlander 3 cassettes Author continues his chronicle of the Broadway musical that began with the 1920s (RC 50756) with this self-described "rant" on the condition of musical theatre, which he asserts has been "hijacked" by pop culture. Unsparing critique looks at productions from 1978 to 2003, including The Producers (2001). 2004. RC 60863 ## The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right RC 60865 by Daniel Levitas read by Ted Stoddard 4 cassettes Expert on white supremacist and neo-Nazi activities chronicles racist and anti-Semitic right-wing militia groups. Traces evolution of the paramilitary group Posse Comitatus, founded by William Gale in 1971, from its 1950s precursors to the 1990s. Claims constitutional fundamentalism enabled Gale's ideologies to infiltrate mainstream America. Some strong language. 2002. RC 60865 ## Rising '44: The Battle for Warsaw RC 60875 by Norman Davies read by Bill Wallace 6 cassettes Uses archives and interviews to chronicle the two-month rebellion by Polish Resistance against German occupation. Describes the nearby Soviet army's refusal to help and diplomatic disagreements among Poland's western Allies that led to the Poles' failure and Warsaw's destruction. Violence. 2003. RC 60875 ## Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions RC 60876 by Charles Gallenkamp read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Biography of the adventurous American who pioneered explorations of the Mongolian Gobi Desert between 1922 and 1930. Discusses the expeditions' hardships as they traveled by automobile and camel across barren areas, "hampered by war, politics, and bandits." Describes the amazing fossils discovered by Andrews's team and the celebrity he subsequently enjoyed. 2001. RC 60876 ## Anthony Blunt: His Lives RC 60877 by Miranda Carter read by George Holmes 4 cassettes A biography of British art historian Anthony Blunt (1907-1983) who joined the Cambridge spy ring in the 1930s and worked for both British Intelligence and the Soviet Union during World War II. Carter relates Blunt's evolution from student to traitor, homosexual affairs, and eventual public exposure by Margaret Thatcher in 1979. 2001. RC 60877 ## New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer RC 61077 by Bill Maher read by Michael Russotto 1 cassette Television humorist pokes fun at modern culture, politics, and fads as he did in When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden (RC 55341). Targets include advertising, cell phones, Starbucks, homeland security, and the movies. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61077 ## One Hundred People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken Is Number Thirty-seven) RC 61078 by Bernard Goldberg read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes Emmy Award-winning correspondent and author of Bias (RC 53649) identifies celebrities, journalists, radicals, and intellectuals whom he criticizes for denigrating the United States. Examines the erosion of American culture that occurs when selfishness, cynicism, and vulgarity replace old-fashioned civility, respect, and decency. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61078 ## One Hundred Words Every Word Lover Should Know RC 61079 by American Heritage Dictionaries read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette A compilation of words from "aesthetic" to "zenith" that have interesting histories, origins, and meanings. Gives examples of how the words were used by well-known English writers. Provides etymological information on changes in usage over time. 2005. RC 61079 ## Vietnam Today: A Guide to a Nation at a Crossroads RC 61081 by Mark A. Ashwill read by Ted Stoddard 2 cassettes Overview of the southeast Asian country for businessmen and travelers. Explores defining issues in the nation's economy, culture, politics, and history. Highlights the Vietnamese view of Westerners, long history of foreign occupation, and emphasis on maintaining harmony. Offers practical tips for conducting business and developing long-term relationships. 2005. RC 61081 ## Do-Gooders: How Liberals Hurt Those They Claim to Help-and the Rest of Us RC 61085 by Mona Charen read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Columnist and author of Useful Idiots (RC 56776) contends that liberals from the 1960s countercultural movements have led the country astray. Discusses ways the four decades of left-wing political programs aimed at helping the underclass have instead created crime, racial hatred, and homelessness, and have eroded patriotism. Strong language. 2004. RC 61085 ## Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South RC 61088 by Mark Kemp read by Bob Moore 3 cassettes Former journalist for Rolling Stone outlines the history of white southern rock music and the influence on his generation of the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Charlie Daniels. Interviews musicians and fans to illustrate the changes brought by integration and the emergence of a distinctive musical style. Strong language. 2004. RC 61088 ## Two Hundred Fifty Tips for Making Life with Arthritis Easier RC 61090 by Shelley Peterman Schwarz read by Ted Stoddard 1 cassette Practical advice, tips, and techniques on simplifying home lifestyle by organizing, streamlining, and consolidating everyday tasks. Discusses alternating periods of activity and rest, planning ahead, and taking advantage of readily available labor-saving devices. An official publication of the Arthritis Foundation. 1997. RC 61090 ## ATV Projects: Get the Most out of Your All-Terrain Vehicle RC 61091 edited by ATV Magazine and ATV Sport read by Ted Stoddard 1 cassette Articles from ATV Magazine and ATV Sport describe the proper use and maintenance of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) stressing safety factors. Includes choosing motors, changing tires, plowing soil and snow, loading and towing, adding accessories, and going ice fishing, among other topics. 2004. RC 61091 ## If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat RC 61094 by John Ortberg read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Pastor uses the New Testament story of Matthew 14 to help individuals reach their potential outside their comfort zone. Outlines the necessary steps: answering the call, conquering fear, accepting God's reassurance, and making the decision to try-all of which will lead to a changed life. 2001. RC 61094 ## War Stories II: Heroism in the Pacific RC 61098 by Oliver L. North read by Michael Scherer 3 cassettes Former marine Oliver North, author of War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom (RC 57762), presents first-person accounts of heroism during World War II in the Pacific theater. Veterans describe to North their ordeals at Pearl Harbor, on the Bataan Death March, in the Flying Tigers, and during countless battles. Violence. 2004. RC 61098 ## Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder: Savage Solutions RC 61104 by Michael Savage read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes Conservative radio talk-show host and author of The Enemy Within (RC 57750) and The Savage Nation (RC 55527) suggests practical ways to reclaim what he calls American social, political, and cultural integrity from the extreme left wing. Discusses the war in Iraq, illegal immigration, Islam, and the ACLU. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61104 ## A Concise History of China RC 61113 by J.A.G. Roberts read by Mary Kane 3 cassettes British historian summarizes the history of China from ancient times through 1997. Describes key issues by dynastic period including economic, religious, intellectual, and political movements. Includes China's communist rule since 1949. 1999. RC 61113 ## Holy War on the Home Front: The Secret Islamic Terror Network in the United States RC 61117 by Harvey Kushner read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette Terrorism expert contends Americans are no safer today than in the first years following the September 11, 2001, attacks because of government agencies' failure to stop domestic terror suspects. Alleges Muslim extremist infiltration of universities, mosques, and the media by using charities and drug trafficking to fund their operations. 2004. RC 61117 ## An Unnatural Metropolis: Wresting New Orleans from Nature RC 61120 by Craig E. Colten read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Louisiana geography professor describes engineering modifications made to New Orleans from the 1800s to 2002 to transform the swampland at the gateway of the Mississippi River into an inhabitable city. Also studies the social consequences of the environmental manipulation, which he asserts led to adverse consequences for minorities. 2005. RC 61120 ## Doubt: A Parable RC 61127 by John Patrick Shanley read by Martha Harmon Pardee 1 cassette Drama set in Bronx, New York, in 1964. Sister James suspects Father Flynn of misconduct with their Catholic school's first African American student, a twelve-year-old altar boy. She confides her suspicions to Sister Aloysius, who chooses to deal with the matter personally. Pulitzer Prize. 2005. RC 61127 ## Full Throttle: The Life and Fast Times of NASCAR Legend Curtis Turner RC 61129 by Robert Edelstein read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Sportswriter recounts Curtis Turner's stock car racing career in the 1950s and 1960s. Traces the Virginian's life from his teen moonshining days to later success as a timber baron and builder of the Charlotte Motor Speedway before his early death in 1970. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61129 ## The Levant: A Fractured Mosaic RC 61132 by William Harris read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Professor investigates the history of the region of the eastern Mediterranean littoral (coastal region) comprising Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestinian Arabs, and northern Turkey. Analyzes the geopolitics of the Levant from ancient times to the year 2002, with insight into its possible future. 2003. RC 61132 ## Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children RC 61135 by Dorie McCullough Lawson read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Presents parental messages of advice, wisdom, humor, and affection from authors, explorers, presidents, inventors, and soldiers. Includes Carl Sandburg, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, George Patton, Woody Guthrie, Abigail Adams, and Eleanor Roosevelt among others. Grouped by general theme, the selections span four centuries and are introduced with contextual commentary. 2004. RC 61135 ## California: A History RC 61161 by Kevin Starr read by Ted Stoddard 3 cassettes Portrait of California from its sixteenth-century colonization by Spain through 2005. USC historian Starr describes the megastate's growth and eventual distinction as "the fifth-ranked economy on the planet." Relates the role of California's entertainment industry and natural beauty in defining the state's image as a utopia. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61161 ## Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide RC 61165 by Maureen Dowd read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter comments on the state of women's liberation four decades after the sexual revolution. Contends that the sexes are still in combat, women are more focused than ever on their looks, and feminist principles have backfired. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61165 ## Lance Armstrong's War: One Man's Battle against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, and a Few Other Rivals on the Road to the Tour de France RC 61196 by Daniel Coyle read by Jonathan Davis 3 cassettes Journalist chronicles living in cyclist Lance Armstrong's training camp in Spain for months before Armstrong's sixth Tour de France win in 2004. Describes the intense physical schedule and managerial skills employed to orchestrate a victory in biking's major sporting event. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61196 ## 1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus RC 61198 by Charles C. Mann read by Robert Blumenfeld 3 cassettes Offers conclusions from anthropological and archaeological research about the western hemisphere before European exploration. Examines the evidence of a large indigenous population and the ecological impact the people had on the environment through crop modification, landscaping, and farming the rainforest. Discusses the rise and fall of Indian empires. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61198 ## From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens RC 61202 by 50 Cent read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes Rap star describes the ghetto environment he was brought up in and his experience of dealing drugs when he was eleven. Details his life on the streets of 1980s Queens before hard work and determination helped him achieve fame and money. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61202 ## Against Depression RC 61205 by Peter D. Kramer read by Peter Johnson 3 cassettes Author of Listening to Prozac (RC 37014) argues "that depression is a disease, one that we would do well to oppose wholeheartedly." Describes Western culture's long history of romanticizing and trivializing the disorder. Discusses the need to accept depression as a pathology and to find an effective treatment. 2005. RC 61205 ## Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man? RC 61213 by Charles Barkley read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes Former NBA star and author of I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It (RC 55571) interviews thirteen prominent Americans about the subject of race. Includes insights and reform suggestions from Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, and others. Introduction by Michael Wilbon. Strong language. 2005. RC 61213 ## Somerset Maugham: A Life RC 61215 by Jeffrey Meyers read by Gordon Gould 3 cassettes Prolific biographer documents the life of a bestselling twentieth- century British writer, author of Of Human Bondage (RC 24363). Recounts Maugham's lonely childhood with a debilitating stammer, lifelong exile, and literary successes and friendships. Also chronicles his medical education, work as a secret agent, only marriage, and bisexuality. 2004. RC 61215 ## When Will I Stop Hurting? Teens, Loss, and Grief RC 61216 by Edward Myers read by Judith Gantly 1 cassette An overview of coping with the death of a loved one and handling the bereavement process. Combines personal accounts from teens with practical advice. Describes warning signs of psychological complications and suggests other sources of information. For junior and senior high readers. 2004. RC 61216 ## The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: Ronald Reagan, D-Day, and the U.S. Army 2nd Ranger Battalion RC 61223 by Douglas Brinkley read by Richard Davidson 2 cassettes The author contends that when President Reagan honored the fortieth anniversary of D-Day-the Normandy invasion of Europe-on June 6, 1984, he energized the nation and inspired a "New Patriotism." Recalls the way army Rangers scaled the French cliffs to defeat the Nazis and discusses Reagan's American legacy. 2005. RC 61223 ## What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers RC 61233 by Richard Nelson Bolles read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes Revised and updated edition of the popular guide for determining job objectives and career goals. This 2005 version assesses the impact of global outsourcing on job growth as compared to actual job vacancies, which are the product of constant employment turnover. Offers advice for finding a niche. Includes resources. 2005. RC 61233 ## What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love RC 61248 by Carole Radziwill read by Constance Crawford 2 cassettes ABC reporter recounts meeting and marrying coworker Anthony Radziwill, the nephew of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Carole describes the relationship and friendship she and her husband had with Anthony's cousin John Kennedy, Jr. Relates the heartbreak of Anthony's recurring cancer and the 1999 accidental death of John. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61248 ## Teacher Man: A Memoir RC 61267 by Frank McCourt read by Alexander Strain 2 cassettes Author of Angela's Ashes (RC 42805) recalls thirty years working in New York City high schools. Relates his experiences as an Irishman teaching English to Americans and beguiling students with stories from his past. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61267 ## The Good, the Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage RC 61356 by Eli Wallach read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Acclaimed Tony Award-winning actor of stage and screen recounts his childhood in Brooklyn, college days in Texas, long marriage, and varied career. Discusses his experiences with Method acting, the Actors Studio, directors, and fellow performers. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61356 ## American Gunfight: The Plot to Kill Harry Truman-and the Shoot-Out That Stopped It RC 61362 by Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge Jr. read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Reconstructs the 1950 assassination attempt on President Harry Truman's life by two Puerto Rican nationalists. Describes how Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola opened fire on Truman on a Washington, D.C., street, shooting two guards before being stopped. Analyzes Puerto Rico's home rule movement and its relevance to this crime. 2005. RC 61362 ## High School's Not Forever RC 61364 by Jane Bluestein and Eric Katz read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Bluestein, of Creating Emotionally Safe Schools (RC 53731), and Katz offer advice to adolescents on navigating through school. Includes anecdotes from thousands of interviews with students about their senior high experience. Discusses race, religion, cliques, dating, violence, body image, and ways to achieve success. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61364 ## Chasing the Rodeo: On Wild Rides and Big Dreams, Broken Hearts and Broken Bones, and One Man's Search for the West RC 61369 by W.K. Stratton read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Journalist follows the 2003 season of professional rodeo and bull riding tours. Reminisces over boyhood experiences with this quintessential western pastime as he explores rodeo's disputed history, the culture of cowboys and cowgirls, animals and audiences, and the event's growing popularity. Strong language. 2005. RC 61369 ## Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero RC 61380 by Ashley Smith read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Author recounts her seven-hour ordeal in 2005 with armed fugitive Brian Nichols, who held her captive in her apartment following his escape from an Atlanta courthouse. She describes convincing Nichols to surrender by telling him about her husband's murder, her trouble with drugs, her five-year-old daughter, and finding God. 2005. RC 61380 ## Can You Stand to Be Blessed? RC 61385 by T.D. Jakes read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette Bishop Jakes offers biblical insight into understanding God's plan. Expresses belief that through prayer individuals can survive the peaks and valleys of life and gain the patience needed to be prepared to serve God. 1994. RC 61385 ## The Truth (with Jokes) RC 61420 by Al Franken read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Political satirist and author of Lies: and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (RC 56939) continues to condemn conservative politicians. Criticizes President George W. Bush and his administration on matters such as the 2004 election, Social Security, and Iraq. Proposes solutions to America's problems. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61420 ## Seven Hundred Sundays RC 61437 by Billy Crystal read by Derald Breneman 1 cassette Comedian's autobiography-the basis of a Broadway play-describes his happy Long Island childhood. Reminisces about his hardworking father, Jack, who could spend only Sundays with his family. Celebrates his mother's courage after Jack's early death from a heart attack. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61437 ## The Education of a Coach RC 61496 by David Halberstam read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning author scrutinizes New England Patriots' football coach Bill Belichick. Credits Bill's Super Bowl success to advice from his father, Steve, who was a U.S. Naval Academy coach and scout for thirty-three years. Traces the Belichick family's immigrant journey from steel mill to gridiron. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61496 ## Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man RC 61511 by Hank Bordowitz read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Music journalist traces the life and career of Grammy Award-winning songwriter/pianist Billy Joel (born 1949). Highlights Joel's coming-of- age in Long Island after his father abandoned the family, and Joel's three marriages, alcohol problems, and adversarial relationship with the press. Analyzes the artist's long-lasting career and versatility. Strong language. 2005. RC 61511 ## Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story RC 61527 by Timothy B. Tyson read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Author returns to Oxford, North Carolina, where he lived in 1970. Chronicles the social unrest that followed after African American Henry Marrow was murdered there by three white men who were later acquitted. Examines the consequences for the people involved, including Tyson's minister father. Violence and strong language. 2004. RC 61527 ## No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life RC 61528 by Kyle Maynard read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Autobiography of a wrestler born without the lower portions of his arms and legs. Recalls his childhood, his illustrious high school athletic career culminating with the Georgia state tournament, and the support of his family and coach that helped him succeed. Includes his diet and exercise regimen. 2005. RC 61528 ## Staying Safe: A Teen's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases RC 61530 by Miranda Hunter and William Hunter read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette Describes the characteristics of the major sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, and HIV/AIDS, with brief information on a few others. Includes accounts of teenagers who engaged in unsafe sexual practices. Features advice on the prevention of STDs and corrects misconceptions. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 61530 ## Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog RC 61561 by John Grogan read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes A columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer reminisces about the untrainable Labrador retriever that he and his wife acquired as Florida newlyweds. Recalls Marley's hilarious escapades and his capacity for love as the Grogans become the parents of three kids. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61561 ## A Guide to High School Success for Students with Disabilities RC 61627 edited by Cynthia Ann Bowman and Paul T. Jaeger read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Essays and personal narratives provide guidance and encouragement to students with special needs on achieving a positive high school experience. Highlights self-advocacy, main-streaming, dating, extracurricular activities, and life after graduation. Includes resources about adaptive technology. Foreword by Chris Crutcher. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2004. RC 61627 ## ### Books for Adults Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Cassettes Fiction Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories RC 58223 by Truman Capote read by Gary Roan 1 cassette (Reissue) The popular tale of Holly Golightly, the former Texas child bride whose intoxicating personality takes the story's narrator and Manhattan itself by storm. Also includes short stories "House of Flowers," "A Diamond Guitar," and "A Christmas Memory." Some strong language. 1950. RC 58223 ## The Au Pairs RC 59221 by Melissa de la Cruz read by Victoria Wei Gordon 2 cassettes The Hamptons. Three teenagers baby-sit for a wealthy family and enjoy the summer social scene. Mara falls for the family's eldest son; Brazilian Jacqui hopes to reunite with her American crush; Eliza finds romance with a gardener. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. For senior high readers. 2004. RC 59221 ## The Masqueraders RC 59222 by Georgette Heyer read by Jennifer Mendenhall 2 cassettes Temporarily abandoned by their reckless father, Prudence and her brother Robin each disguise themselves as the opposite sex to avoid capture by their political enemies. Dangerous entanglements develop when Prue falls in love with Sir Anthony and Robin is smitten by a lovely heiress. Foreword by Anne Stuart. 1928. RC 59222 ## Ida B. RC 59223 by Karen E. Quinones Miller read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley 2 cassettes Brenda, Rosa, and Sharif met as children when they moved into Harlem's Ida B. Wells-Barnett Tower apartments. Twenty years later, as a local mother commits suicide and her child is murdered, the neighbors band together to find the killer. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004. RC 59223 ## Black Hornet: A Lew Griffin Novel RC 59326 by James Sallis read by Chuck Young 1 cassette New Orleans, 1960s. Freelance African American investigator Lew Griffin met white newspaper columnist Esmé Dupuy just before she was gunned down by a racially motivated sniper. Lew hunts for the shooter with help from his lover LaVerne and an aging mercenary. Strong language and some violence. 1994. RC 59326 ## Murder Runs in the Family: A Southern Sisters Mystery RC 59449 by Anne George read by Cyn Delafield 2 cassettes Amateur-sleuth sisters Patricia Anne and Mary Alice attend a family wedding where genealogist Meg Bryan is also a guest, on the groom's side. Within days Meg is dead, an apparent suicide. But the sisters suspect foul play when they learn the subject of Meg's research. 1997. RC 59449 ## Sugar Cookie Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery RC 59854 by Joanne Fluke read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Bakery owner Hannah Swensen compiles a local holiday cookbook for the townspeople of Lake Eden, Minnesota. After the community Christmas party, someone uses Hannah's mother's prized cake knife to murder Martin Dubinski's new wife, a Las Vegas showgirl. Hannah helps detective Mike Kingston investigate. Includes recipes. 2004. RC 59854 ## Beyond Infinity RC 60038 by Gregory Benford read by Gabra Zackman 3 cassettes Ur-human Cley, an Original among Supras, realizes that the destiny of human life depends on her actions. Transdimensional lifeforms obliterate her worksite, the Library of Life, so she and procyon Seeker set off to confront the world-demolishing entity known as the Malign. Descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 60038 ## Wolves Eat Dogs: An Arkady Renko Mystery RC 60199 by Martin Cruz Smith read by David Hartley-Margolin 2 cassettes Russian detective Arkady Renko investigates the death of billionaire businessman Pasha Ivanov, who jumped- or was pushed-from his balcony. When Ivanov's successor is murdered in radioactive Chernobyl, Renko visits the "Zone." There he meets the strange residents of the deadly, contaminated site. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 60199 ## Paths of Darkness: The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World, Servant of the Shard, Sea of Swords; Forgotten Realms, Paths of Darkness RC 60200 by R.A. Salvatore read by Erik Sandvold 10 cassettes in 2 containers Complete books of the author's Forgotten Realms, Paths of Darkness series. In The Silent Blade, elf Drizzt Do'Urden, human woman Catti- brie, halfling Regis, and dwarf Bruenor cope with the aftermath of their barbarian friend Wulfgar's rescue from the demon Errtu. Some violence. 2004. RC 60200 ## Beautiful as the Moon, Radiant as the Stars: Jewish Women in Yiddish Stories; an Anthology RC 60207 edited by Sandra Bark read by Suzanne Toren 3 cassettes Twenty-two short stories about Jewish heroines in Europe, Israel, and the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The compilation portrays both very ordinary and also utterly exceptional women. Includes works by Dvora Baron, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Sholom Aleichem, and David Bergelson. Introduction by Francine Prose. 2003. RC 60207 ## Villages RC 60264 by John Updike read by Michael Kramer 2 cassettes Owen Mackenzie, seventy, remembers the past-the three small northeastern towns he has called home and the women in his life, especially his mother and his two wives. Owen recalls many love affairs and his successes throughout fifty years in the computer industry. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 60264 ## The Sachem: The White Indian Series, Book 4 RC 60363 by Donald Clayton Porter read by Roy Avers 3 cassettes 1702. White Seneca Renno is elected war sachem. Meanwhile father Ghonka and wife Betsy journey to England to plead the Indian cause. In their absence Renno faces challenges as enemy French and Spanish, with traitorous native allies, plot against his people. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1981. RC 60363 ## Drama City RC 60407 by George Pelecanos read by Chuck Young 2 cassettes Lorenzo Brown, having served time for a drug conviction, now works at the D.C. Humane Society investigating animal abuse. His parole officer, alcoholic Rachel Lopez, tries to keep her offenders straight. Both end up in a drug dealers' feud. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 60407 ## New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, 2005 RC 60424 edited by Shannon Ravenel read by Erin Jones 2 cassettes Twentieth annual collection of southern short stories. Features Dennis Lehane's "Until Gwen," Robert Olen Butler's "Severance," as well as work by Elizabeth Spencer, Allan Gurganus, James Lee Burke, and others. Includes author biographies and a preface by Jill McCorkle. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 60424 ## The Captain's Vengeance: An Alan Lewrie Naval Adventure RC 60432 by Dewey Lambdin read by Bruce Huntey 3 cassettes Bemoaning the disappearance of a prize French ship and six crewmates, Captain Alan Lewrie of HMS Proteus undertakes a dangerous new mission: infiltrate New Orleans in Spanish-controlled Louisiana and spy on pirate revolutionaries. Sequel to Havoc's Sword (RC 58385). Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004. RC 60432 ## The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens: First Annual Collection RC 60435 edited by Jane Yolen and Patrick Nielsen Hayden read by Madelyn Buzzard 2 cassettes Ten tales about dragons, faeries, historical and urban fantasy, and war culled from books and magazines published in 2004 plus a ghost story, "They," written by Rudyard Kipling in 1904. Includes Garth Nix's "Endings," Delia Sherman's "CATNYP," and recommendations for similar works. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 60435 ## Extraordinary Powers RC 60449 by Joseph Finder read by Fred Major 3 cassettes CIA director Harrison Sinclair dies in a car accident. His son-in-law, lawyer Ben Ellison-a former Agency operative-hears rumors of Sinclair's involvement with the KGB and a missing Soviet fortune. Ellison reenters the clandestine world, becomes a mind reader, and heads to Europe for answers. Strong language and some violence. 1993. RC 60449 ## Hissy Fit RC 60470 by Mary Kay Andrews read by Sharon Murray 3 cassettes When interior designer Keeley Murdock discovers her fiancé embracing her maid of honor at the rehearsal dinner, she throws a tantrum and calls off the wedding. That same night she meets Will Mahoney, a newcomer in town who needs a decorator. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 60470 ## Termination Dust: An Alaska Mystery RC 60472 by Sue Henry read by Gary Tipton 2 cassettes Alaska-Canada border. Exploring Yukon gold-rush territory, canoeist Jim Hampton discovers a prospector's bones and diary from the 1800s. Meanwhile Alaska state trooper Alex Jensen and his Canadian counterpart investigate a robbery and murder that lead straight to Jim, but Alex doubts he's guilty. Some violence and some strong language. 1995. RC 60472 ## Assault and Pepper: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery with Recipes RC 60494 by Tamar Myers read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Members of the Beechy Grove Mennonite Church are sitting down to their annual chili cook-off meal when the Reverend Mr. Schrock topples face- forward into a pot of chili and dies. Naturally Magdalena Yoder investigates and discovers that the minister, not liked by everyone, had a checkered past. 2005. RC 60494 ## Star Wars: The New Jedi Order; Force Heretic III, Reunion RC 60496 by Sean Williams and Shane Dix read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Sequel to Force Heretic II, Refugee (RC 60227). Han and Leia Solo and daughter Jaina nurse comatose Jedi knight Tahiri, whose internal struggles drain her life force. Meanwhile Luke and Mara Skywalker and Jacen Solo reach the sentient planet Zonama Sekot, but it refuses to join the Alliance. 2003. RC 60496 ## The Interruption of Everything RC 60512 by Terry McMillan read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Bored African American forty-something Marilyn Grimes deals with a husband's midlife crisis, kids in college, a live-in mother-in-law, and her own mother showing signs of dementia. Marilyn, with the help and support of her friends, faces decisions about her future, including a possible pregnancy. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60512 ## Signs and Wonders: A Harmony Novel RC 60560 by Philip Gulley read by Derald Breneman 2 cassettes In the quiet town of Harmony, Quaker pastor Sam Gardner's wife, Barbara, wins a trip to the Caribbean and debates going without him. The women's circle gives matchmaking help to attractive, single Deena Morrison, and Dale Hinshaw hatches an implausible scheme to save sinners. 2003. RC 60560 ## When She's Bad RC 60613 by Leanne Banks read by Victoria Gordon 2 cassettes Houston spa director Delilah Montague promised her late benefactor she would look after his grown daughter, Lilly, but she never expected to be blackmailed or saddled with his infant son. Delilah seeks help from neighboring attorney Benjamin Huntington III, while Lilly pursues Benjamin's brother. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003. RC 60613 ## Out of Season: A Posadas County Mystery RC 60614 by Steven F. Havill read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes New Mexico. Sheriff Martin Holman and his brother-in-law, pilot Philip Camp, are killed when their plane crashes near the Mexican border. When Undersheriff Bill Gastner learns Philip was shot, he and Detective Estelle Reyes-Guzman investigate clues left on a roll of film. Some violence and some strong language. 1999. RC 60614 ## Blood on the Vine: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery RC 60615 by Donald Bain read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes Maine mystery writer Jessica Fletcher visits California's Napa Valley wine country, where a waiter at a vineyard owned by ex-Hollywood producer William Ladington has been murdered. Ladington, a notorious carouser and womanizer, is questioned, then dies. Jessica and her friend, Scotland Yard detective George Sutherland, investigate further. 2001. RC 60615 ## Finding Miracles RC 60632 by Julia Alvarez read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Fifteen-year-old Milly befriends a new classmate, Pablo, a political refugee from the same Latin American country from which Milly herself was adopted. Inspired to track down her birth family, Milly accompanies Pablo to his homeland, where she finds clues to her heritage. For senior high readers. 2004. RC 60632 ## Predator: A Dr. Kay Scarpetta Mystery RC 60637 by Patricia Cornwell read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Dr. Kay Scarpetta, last seen in Trace (RC 59172), now freelances for Florida's National Forensic Academy. In this case she enlists the help of Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and Lucy Farinelli to track a killer up and down the East Coast. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60637 ## Me and Emma RC 60639 by Elizabeth Flock read by Gabriella Cavallero 2 cassettes Eight-year-old Carrie and her younger sister Emma live in North Carolina with their mother and drunken, abusive stepfather, the exact opposite of their beloved dead father. Carrie makes plans to run away with Emma. But when the plan unravels, a shocking truth is revealed. 2004. RC 60639 ## Nightmare in Shining Armor: A Den of Antiquity Mystery RC 60648 by Tamar Myers read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes After a fire disrupts her costume party, Charlotte, North Carolina, antiques shop owner Abigail Timberlake shoos away the guests. The next morning she discovers her ex-husband's current wife dead in a suit of armor under the bed. Abigail and her policeman fiancé investigate. Some strong language. 2001. RC 60648 ## The Widow of the South RC 60662 by Robert Hicks read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes 1864. Carrie McGavock's Tennessee plantation becomes a Confederate hospital. Caring for wounded sergeant Zachariah Cashwell rejuvenates Carrie, who is mourning her children's deaths. Decades later, before 1,500 graves can be plowed for farmland, Carrie has the soldiers reburied in her backyard-then Zachariah returns. Some strong language. 2005. RC 60662 ## The Secret History of the Pink Carnation RC 60668 by Lauren Willig read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes London. Eloise Kelly conducts research for her dissertation on the true identity of a British spy in Napoleonic France. But after elderly Arabella Selwick-Alderly opens her family archives, her nephew Colin Selwick objects. Eloise prevails and learns of a 1803 love story between spies. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 60668 ## The Wild Baron: The Baron Novels, Book 1 RC 60670 by Catherine Coulter read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes London, 1811. Baron Rohan Carrington marries his late brother George's widow, Susannah. George, a cartographer, hid a treasure map that could endanger Susannah and her young daughter. The newlyweds gradually fall in love while investigating George's secret past. Some descriptions of sex. 1997. RC 60670 ## Tooth and Claw RC 60674 by T. Coraghessan Boyle read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Fourteen short stories explore natural instincts and the tension between civilization and wildness. In the title piece, a guy wins an African wildcat in a barroom bet, making both cat and man miserable in his confining, crummy apartment. Strong language. 2005. RC 60674 ## Cross Bones: A Dr. Temperance Brennan Mystery RC 60684 by Kathy Reichs read by Erin Jones 2 cassettes During an Orthodox Jewish businessman's autopsy in Quebec, Dr. Temperance Brennan receives a photograph of an ancient skeleton. She soon heads to Israel with her detective/lover Andrew Ryan and biblical archaeologist Dr. Jacob Drum to find the connection-and ends up at Masada. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60684 ## Sanctuary: Dragon Jousters, Book 3 RC 60690 by Mercedes Lackey read by Richard Hauenstein 2 cassettes Dragon tamer Kiron has retreated to the hidden desert city of Sanctuary to elude the evil Magi who are draining the magic of others. As refugees from rival regions Alta and Tia pour in, Kiron and the dragon jousters prepare to battle the Magi. Sequel to Alta (RC 58428). 2005. RC 60690 ## Prophecy and Change: Star Trek; Deep Space Nine RC 60696 edited by Marco Palmieri read by Erin Jones 3 cassettes Anthology of stories based on the popular television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine featuring the familiar characters Commander Sisko, Major Kira, Doctor Bashir, Quark, Jake, Nog, and Odo aboard the intergalactic space station. Contributing authors are Christopher L. Bennett, Terri Osborne, Jeffrey Lang, Andrew J. Robinson, and others. 2003. RC 60696 ## Hot Target RC 60709 by Suzanne Brockmann read by Geoffrey Centlivre 4 cassettes Hollywood producer Jane Chadwick has received death threats in connection with her film about homosexual WWII soldiers. Navy SEAL chief Cosmo Richter, working for Troubleshooters Incorporated, arrives to protect Jane. Meanwhile, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy falls for Jane's half brother. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 60709 ## The Historian RC 60713 by Elizabeth Kostova read by Anne Hancock 5 cassettes 1972. A young American woman living with her father in Amsterdam discovers an ancient book and a cache of faded letters in his library. Pursuing family mysteries leads her to seek the truth behind the Dracula legend of Vlad the Impaler. Some violence. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60713 ## Eleven Minutes RC 60714 by Paulo Coelho read by Gabriella Cavallero 2 cassettes Disappointed by a first love, Maria moves from Brazil to Geneva, Switzerland, and begins a sexual odyssey working as a prostitute. A chance encounter with a young painter leads her to the discovery of the sacred nature of sex in the context of a loving relationship. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2003. RC 60714 ## Devil's Corner RC 60717 by Lisa Scottoline read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Philadelphia. A routine meeting with an informant turns deadly when gunmen open fire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Allegretti escapes, but her partner dies. The search for the killers leads to a rough neighborhood, called Devil's Corner-and an unlikely ally. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 60717 ## The Assassini RC 60720 by Thomas Gifford read by John Haag 5 cassettes Eight people close to the Church are killed-among them outspoken Sister Valentine. Val's brother, Ben Driskill, a lawyer and one-time Jesuit seminarian, investigates her murder and uncovers secrets about the Church, World War II, and an ages-old brotherhood of killers called the assassini. Some violence and some strong language. 1990. RC 60720 ## Polar Shift: A Novel from the NUMA Files RC 60747 by Clive Cussler read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Sixty years after an eccentric Hungarian scientist discovered how to artificially disrupt the planet and cause earthquakes and volcanoes, an antiglobalization outfit learns about his method and plans to try it. Kurt Austin and his team at NUMA work frantically to prevent a polar shift. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60747 ## A Sterkarm Kiss RC 60774 by Susan Price read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Andrea Mitchell from The Sterkarm Handshake (RC 51934) returns to sixteenth-century Great Britain in the Time Tube. Her lover Per marries into a rival clan, rekindling a civil war. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2003. RC 60774 ## Trace Evidence: An Evelyn James Mystery RC 60782 by Elizabeth Becka read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Cleveland forensic scientist Evelyn James links the murder of the mayor's child to that of another teenage girl. Detective David Milaski takes over the case while Evelyn worries about her own daughter, Angel. Suspects include a male nurse, a mobster, and a friend of the mayor. Some strong language. 2005. RC 60782 ## Tom Clancy's Op-Center: War of Eagles RC 60783 by Jeff Rovin read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Op-Center director Paul Hood is removed from office after a freighter carrying illegal Chinese workers explodes in Charleston harbor. As other explosions occur worldwide, Paul's replacement, female three-star army general Morgan Carrie, attributes the crises to warring factions in the Chinese government. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 60783 ## Seneca: The White Indian Series, Book 9 RC 60797 by Donald Clayton Porter read by Roy Avers 2 cassettes 1770s. As the American Revolution begins, war chief Ghonkaba, grandson of white Indian Renno, breaks the Seneca alliance with the English and joins General Washington's troops. Ghonkaba helps orchestrate a daring plan to cross the Delaware and attack at Trenton, New Jersey. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1984. RC 60797 ## The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Second Annual Collection RC 60810 edited by Gardner Dozois read by Madelyn Buzzard 8 cassettes in 2 containers Reviews the science fiction genre in 2004 and presents twenty-eight of the year's best tales. Includes Stephen Baxter's "Mayflower II," Nancy Kress's "Shiva in Shadow," and work by Vernor Vinge, Peter F. Hamilton, Robert Reed, and others. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Locus Award. 2005. RC 60810 ## Hannah Massey RC 60816 by Catherine Cookson read by Sharon Murray 2 cassettes (Reissue) Twenty-three-year-old Rosie Massey moves home from London to her family, which includes nine brothers, a spiteful niece, and her overbearing mother, Hannah, who's desperate to join high society. Hiding a painful secret, Rosie finds support and affection with childhood friend Hughie, a cobbler-a match Hannah vehemently opposes. 1964. RC 60816 ## The Way West RC 60818 by A.B. Guthrie Jr. read by Jack Fox 2 cassettes (Reissue) 1840s. Dick Summers has been to Oregon before, but now that his wife has died he decides to return. He will guide a group of men and women from Missouri on the difficult journey along the Oregon Trail. Sequel to The Big Sky (RC 37502). Pulitzer Prize. 1949. RC 60818 ## Cherokee: The White Indian Series, Book 10 RC 60822 by Donald Clayton Porter read by Roy Avers 2 cassettes 1780s. As punishment for breaking the Seneca alliance with the British and fighting for the colonists, Ghonkaba, grandson of white Indian Renno, is banished. Leading his family to Cherokee territory, Ghonkaba also conducts a special mission to stop a ruthless secret agent. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1984. RC 60822 ## Southern Fire RC 60843 by Juliet E. McKenna read by Corrie James 4 cassettes Terrorized islanders from the southernmost reaches of the Aldabreshin Archipelago flee the magic of unknown invaders. Warlord Daish Kheda- reader of portents, giver of laws, healer, and protector of his domain- sets sail to defend his realm and stop the spread of evil. Some violence and some strong language. 2003. RC 60843 ## The Easter Parade RC 60853 by Richard Yates read by Megan Burnett 2 cassettes (Reissue) Sisters Emily and Sarah Grimes, children of divorced parents, take quite different paths in moving from childhood to middle age. Sarah settles into an abusive marriage quite early and starts a family, while Emily divorces and keeps searching for success and the right man. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1976. RC 60853 ## World Enough and Time: A Romantic Novel RC 60856 by Robert Penn Warren read by Barry Bernson 4 cassettes (Reissue) 1826. Reconstructs a famous nineteenth-century murder case, the Kentucky Tragedy. Brilliant young lawyer Jeremiah Beaumont stands trial for the murder of his benefactor, politician Cassius Fort, after Fort wrongs Rachel Jordan, the object of Beaumont's passion. 1950. RC 60856 ## Westerns of the 40's: Classics from the Great Pulps RC 60857 edited by Damon Knight read by John Polk 3 cassettes (Reissue) Compilation of sixteen short western stories from magazines of the 1940s. Includes works by John D. MacDonald, Tom Roan, Roy M. O'Mara, James Shaffer, Cliff Farrell, and others. Contains tales of revenge, range wars, roving saddle bums, and ladies of the night. Some violence. 1977. RC 60857 ## The Short Novels of Jack Schaefer RC 60858 by Jack Schaefer read by Jack Fox 4 cassettes (Reissue) Five works depicting life on the western frontier from the Civil War to the twentieth century. Homesteaders, Native Americans, and drifters find courage, tragedy, and romance in First Blood, The Canyon, Company of Cowards, The Kean Land, and the classic Shane. Introduction by Dorothy M. Johnson. 1949. RC 60858 ## The West of Owen Wister: Selected Short Stories RC 60860 by Owen Wister read by Ray Foushee 2 cassettes (Reissue) Six stories by author of The Virginian (RC 36421) depicting cowboys, soldiers, Indians, and priests in various geographic settings. Includes Wister's first published western, "Hank's Woman" (1892), as well as "Little Big Horn Medicine," "The Second Missouri Compromise," and "Padre Ignazio." 1972 introduction by Robert L. Hough. 1892. RC 60860 ## Conan the Liberator RC 60861 by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter read by John Polk 2 cassettes Aquilonia, once the proudest kingdom of the Hyborian world, suffers under the tyrannical rule of mad King Numedides. Conan the barbarian, commander of a rebel army determined to liberate the people, soon discovers that their greatest foe is not Numedides but Thulandra Thuu, the evil sorcerer. Violence. 1979. RC 60861 ## Coyote: A Novel of Interstellar Exploration RC 60862 by Allen M. Steele read by Alec Volz 3 cassettes Earth, 2070. Just before the Alabama launches, Captain Robert E. Lee hijacks the spaceship with over one hundred men, women, and children aboard. After 230 years in biostasis, passengers and crew awaken at a distant moon named Coyote and start a new colony. Some violence and some strong language. 2002. RC 60862 ## The Portrait RC 60866 by Iain Pears read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Small island near Brittany, early 1900s. When famous British art critic William Naysmith visits Scottish artist Henry MacAlpine to sit for a portrait, he becomes captive to the artist's diatribe. The artist indicts the critic's ruthless use of power and gradually reveals a plan of vengeance. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005. RC 60866 ## My Cousin Rachel RC 60867 by Daphne Du Maurier read by David Cutler 3 cassettes (Reissue) After his uncle Ambrose's death, Philip Ashley travels to the funeral in Italy and meets Ambrose's alluring widow, Rachel. She later joins the young heir in England, where their budding passionate relationship is tainted by Philip's suspicion that Rachel may have played a role in Ambrose's demise. 1951. RC 60867 ## Stand on Zanzibar RC 60870 by John Brunner read by Mark Ashby 4 cassettes (Reissue) Manhattan, 2010. Roommates Norman House and Donald Hogan must find their way in an overpopulated world of megabrain computers, mass-market psychedelics, and eugenics. One is a junior vice president, the other a mild-mannered student and programmed assassin. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Hugo Award. 1968. RC 60870 ## Two-Dollar Bill: A Stone Barrington Mystery RC 60871 by Stuart Woods read by David Hartley-Margolin 2 cassettes Stone Barrington, from Reckless Abandon (RC 57959), accepts a large retainer from new client Billy Bob Barnstormer. When a dead prostitute is discovered in Stone's house and Billy Bob takes off, Stone investigates with the help of colleagues. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005. RC 60871 ## The Innocent RC 60873 by Harlan Coben read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Paralegal Matt Hunter, who served time for manslaughter, receives a video of his pregnant wife in a hotel with another man. Meanwhile New Jersey homicide investigator Loren Muse finds evidence tying Matt to the murder of a nun. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. RC 60873 ## Every Breath You Take RC 60932 by Judith McNaught read by Susan Denaker 3 cassettes Chicago. When wealthy eighty-year-old Cecil Wyatt's grandson William disappears, suspicion falls on William's older half-brother Mitchell. As the suspect net widens, police also investigate Kate Donovan, who had a romantic tryst with Mitchell on a tropical vacation. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005. RC 60932 ## Always Time to Die RC 61082 by Elizabeth Lowell read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes New Mexico. Senator Quintrell, father of presidential hopeful Governor Josh Quintrell, is murdered. Genealogist Carolina "Carrly" May is hired to research the family's history. Aided by the senator's illegitimate son Daniel Duran, Carly uncovers blackmail, incest, and murder. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 61082 ## The Queen's Fool RC 61084 by Philippa Gregory read by Corrie James 4 cassettes London, 1550s. When young lord Robert Dudley discovers that thirteen- year-old Hannah Green, a Jewish escapee from the Spanish Inquisition, foresees the future, he enlists her as a royal fool. Hannah becomes infatuated with Lord Robert while Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth become bitter rivals. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 61084 ## Open and Shut: An Andy Carpenter Mystery RC 61089 by David Rosenfelt read by Christopher Walker 2 cassettes New York City defense attorney Andy Carpenter undertakes the appeal of a convicted killer whom his father prosecuted. When his father unexpectedly dies, Andy discovers the estate is worth twenty-two million. Andy searches for connections, while coping with a love triangle. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002. RC 61089 ## Demon Rumm RC 61099 by Sandra Brown read by Victoria Gordon 1 cassette Kirsten Rumm is writing a book about her late aeronautical daredevil husband, Demon. Rylan North, set to star in the film version, moves into Kirsten's house to absorb Demon's lifestyle. As Rylan falls for Kirsten, he discovers she is holding back part of the story. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1987. RC 61099 ## Annie, between the States RC 61102 by L.M. Elliott read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes When the Civil War comes to Virginia, teenager Annie finds herself nursing soldiers, hiding valuables, and running the family farm as battles rage around her. While tending to a wounded Union officer, Annie sees both sides of the conflict and falls in love. For senior high and older readers. 2004. RC 61102 ## A Stroke of Midnight RC 61106 by Laurell K. Hamilton read by Annie Wauters 3 cassettes Princess Meredith, Los Angeles PI and heir to the faerie court, finds bodies of a fey and a reporter during a press conference. She convinces Queen Andais to allow humans to investigate. Sequel to Seduced by Moonlight (RC 59265). Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 61106 ## A Deadly Judgment: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery RC 61107 by Donald Bain read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes Famed mystery writer Jessica Fletcher travels to Boston to act as jury consultant for her eccentric lawyer friend, Malcolm McLoon. McLoon is defending baked bean tycoon Billy Brannigan against charges of murdering his own brother. When Billy's girlfriend-his only alibi-turns up dead, Jessica investigates. 1996. RC 61107 ## Slow Kill: A Kevin Kerney Novel RC 61112 by Michael McGarrity read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes Visiting a California horse ranch, Santa Fe police chief Kevin Kerney discovers hotel magnate Clifford Spalding dead. When Kerney is suspected, he launches an investigation that leads to Spalding's ex- wife, who believes her son, a soldier killed in Vietnam, still alive. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2004. RC 61112 ## To Catch an Heiress RC 61126 by Julia Quinn read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes England, 1814. Agent Blake Ravens-croft apprehends heiress Caroline Trent, mistaking her for Carlotta De Leon, one of Napoleon's spies. Caroline, who is avoiding her conniving guardian until she turns twenty-one and can collect her inheritance, plays along. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998. RC 61126 ## Ramage's Signal: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 11 RC 61131 by Dudley Pope read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes The Calypso and her captain, Lord Nicholas Ramage, venture farther into the Mediterranean's French-dominated waters on a mission to sink, burn, and destroy enemy ships. Ramage and his men soon find themselves isolated and outnumbered as they face Napoleon's fleet. Sequel to The Ramage Touch (RC 61149). Some violence. 1980. RC 61131 ## The Judgment of Caesar: A Roma Sub Rosa Mystery RC 61137 by Steven Saylor read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes 48 B.C. Gordianus the Finder of Rome brings his sick wife to her native Alexandria for a Nile cure. Caesar has vanquished Pompey at sea, and Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra are vying for the Egyptian throne. Now Gordianus's adopted son is accused of murder. 2004. RC 61137 ## Dragonsblood: The Dragonriders of Pern RC 61138 by Todd McCaffrey read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Telepathic dragonrider Lorana seeks a cure for the dragon illness that could bring down Pern's defense against the coming Threadfall. Lorana finds clues in a 450-year-old song's lyrics and reaches back in time, where another woman confronts the same mysterious plague. Sequel to Dragon's Kin (RC 57368). 2005. RC 61138 ## The Ides of March RC 61139 by Thornton Wilder read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and playwright's epistolary novel set in the months preceding Julius Caesar's assassination. Reconstructs the key figures and events of the waning Roman Republic entirely through invented documents-private letters, journal entries, and reports of Caesar's secret police. 2003 foreword by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 1948. RC 61139 ## The Beauty Bride: The Jewels of Kinfairlie, Book 1 RC 61140 by Claire Delacroix read by Gabriella Cavallero 2 cassettes Scotland, 1421. Alexander, now the Laird of Kinfairlie, is responsible for his younger sisters. To save the family estates, Alexander decides to marry off Madeline, the oldest "jewel." He arranges an auction where the high bidder unfortunately is Rhys FitzHenry, a notorious outlaw. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61140 ## The Real Mother RC 61141 by Judith Michael read by Jill Ferris 4 cassettes Sara Elliott gives up her education to care for her half-siblings after their mother has a stroke. Working as Chicago "city greeter" Sara gradually falls in love with one of her clients. Then a dangerous family member returns. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005. RC 61141 ## Lyon's Gate: A Sherbrooke Bride Book RC 61146 by Catherine Coulter read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes England, 1835. Jason, from The Sherbrooke Twins (RC 57945), returns home after five years of self-imposed exile in Maryland. He decides to start a stud farm near Northcliffe Hall. Unfortunately feisty Miss Hallie Carrick also wants to buy the estate to raise horses. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61146 ## The Ramage Touch: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 10 RC 61149 by Dudley Pope read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Prowling the Tuscan coast, Captain Ramage and his crew encounter a daunting French invasion fleet. Far from English aid, Ramage must decide how to thwart the French with only his frigate Calypso and a clumsy pair of bomb ketches. Sequel to Ramage and the Rebels (RC 60777). 1979. RC 61149 ## Hate Crime: A Ben Kincaid Mystery RC 61154 by William Bernhardt read by Paul Boehmer 3 cassettes Tulsa lawyer Ben Kincaid hesitates to defend bigoted frat boy Johnny Christensen, who stands accused of murdering a gay man. Instead Kincaid's partner Christina McCall travels to Chicago to take on the case. Complications arise involving Kincaid's past. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2004. RC 61154 ## 50 Harbor Street: Cedar Cove, Book 5 RC 61163 by Debbie Macomber read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes Cedar Cove, Washington. Following 44 Cranberry Point (RC 59237), the mystery behind the anonymous postcards being sent to private investigator Roy McAfee is solved. Cliff Harding renews his relationship with Grace Sherman, several residents become pregnant, and an arsonist strikes. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61163 ## Back to the Bedroom RC 61164 by Janet Evanovich read by Colleen Delany 1 cassette Washington, D.C., neighbors Kate and Dave unexpectedly fall in love. Kate's a professional musician while Dave, a former photographer, lives off his lottery winnings. They contend with major household mishaps, disapproving parents, and a hostage-taker before marrying. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 1989. RC 61164 ## Blue Smoke RC 61166 by Nora Roberts read by Annie Wauters 3 cassettes Baltimore arson investigator Reena Hale has finally found love with carpenter Bowen Goodnight when her past comes back to haunt her. A pyromaniac stalker out for revenge taunts her with chilling phone calls and a string of horrifying crimes. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005. RC 61166 ## Otherwise Engaged RC 61185 by Eileen Goudge read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes Thirty-five-year-old Manhattan freelance journalist Jessie Holland has an idea for a feature story: swap lives with her married friend, Erin D'Amico, an innkeeper in their small Arizona hometown. With both their romances at a crossroads, the women explore newfound options. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005. RC 61185 ## The Space Merchants RC 61192 by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes (Reissue) Satirical science fiction about the future of consumerism and corporate America. Advertising executive Mitch Courtenay's most recent project is to convince people to emigrate to inhospitable Venus. Mitch faces dangerous opposition from a colleague, underground conservationists, and his wife, who plans to leave him. Some strong language. 1952. RC 61192 ## Conan the Rebel RC 61193 by Poul Anderson read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes Conan the barbarian and his beautiful lover, Bêlit, corsair queen of the Black Coast, lead a band of savage pirates to free Bêlit's brother Jehanan and her people from an evil reptile god and its cruel minions. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 1980. RC 61193 ## The Princess of Cleves RC 61194 by Madame de Lafayette read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes Classic seventeenth-century romance set in the court of King Henry II of France. The Duc de Nemours and the Princess of Cleves fall in love, but she is married to Nemours's good friend and wants to remain virtuous. Lost letters and rumors contribute to misunderstandings. 1951 translation and introduction by Nancy Mitford. 1678. RC 61194 ## Memories of My Melancholy Whores RC 61195 by Gabriel García Márquez read by Lewis Grenville 1 cassette A confirmed bachelor requests a teenaged virgin from a brothel owner to celebrate his ninetieth birthday but winds up watching her sleep. As he reflects on past loveless encounters and his years as a journalist, he falls desperately in love with the young girl. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61195 ## On Beauty RC 61204 by Zadie Smith read by Frank Coffee 4 cassettes Philandering liberal Englishman Howard Belsey teaches art at a New England college. When Howard's biracial son Jerome falls in love with the daughter of the conservative Trinidadian Monty Kipps, Howard is dismayed. But Howard's and Monty's wives become friends. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61204 ## Acqua Alta: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery RC 61206 by Donna Leon read by Peter Ganim 2 cassettes During the annual Venetian winter flooding, detective Guido Brunetti investigates the beating of gay American art historian Brett Lynch in the villa she shares with diva Flavia Petrelli. After a museum curator is murdered, Brunetti and Lynch discover that Chinese antiques have been faked. Some violence. 1996. RC 61206 ## Mourn Not Your Dead: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery RC 61211 by Deborah Crombie read by Patricia Kilgarriff 2 cassettes Police division commander Alastair Gilbert is found bludgeoned to death in his kitchen. As Scotland Yard's superintendent Duncan Kincaid and sergeant Gemma James investigate, the list of suspects lengthens- especially in light of Gilbert's arrogance and social enmity-and the Kincaid/James relationship intensifies. 1996. RC 61211 ## Can I Get an Amen RC 61218 by Janice Sims and Nathasha Brooks-Harris read by Melissa Maxwell 3 cassettes Four stories in which Mother Maybelle helps the women at Red Oaks Christian Fellowship understand love. In "A Love Supreme," a sworn bachelor falls for his landscaper. In "Love under New Management," a gifted singer finds the courage to sing and to love again. 2005. RC 61218 ## Whose Body? A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery RC 61221 by Dorothy L. Sayers read by Graeme Malcolm 1 cassette (Reissue) Lord Peter Wimsey derives considerable amusement from outwitting Scotland Yard. When a nude corpse, wearing only a golden pince-nez, is found in a timid architect's bathtub, Lord Peter cleverly untangles the mystery with the help of a friend. 1923. RC 61221 ## Interview with the Vampire RC 61222 by Anne Rice read by Nick Sullivan 3 cassettes (Reissue) Frightening world of vampires as told to a young boy who tapes the story on cassette. Follows the fortunes of Louis, a gentle vampire; Lestat, a vengeful and bloodthirsty vampire; and Claudia, a little demon with the face of a doll. 1976. RC 61222 ## The Bell RC 61230 by Iris Murdoch read by Lisette Lecat 3 cassettes An oddly assorted group explores religious and secular concepts at a lay community near an abbey in the English countryside. An unfaithful wife returns to her sanctimonious, scholarly husband; a homosexual man faces a former lover; and an abbess tries to guide her enclosed order of nuns. 1958. RC 61230 ## Some People, Some Other Place RC 61231 by J. California Cooper read by Gail Nelson 3 cassettes Multigenerational tale of residents of Dream Street in a town called Place. During the Depression, fifteen-year-old African American Eula heads for Chicago but after being raped is taken in by a brothel owner and brought to Dream Street. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004. RC 61231 ## Plain Brown Wrapper: An Alex Powell Novel RC 61235 by Karen Grigsby Bates read by Lizan Mitchell 3 cassettes African American reporter Alex Powell investigates the murder of prominent black publisher Everett Carson during a national conference. Alex uncovers Everett's sordid personal life and his professional rivals. At the same time she falls in love with fellow journalist Paul Butler. Some violence and some strong language. 2001. RC 61235 ## It's in His Kiss: A Bridgerton Novel RC 61236 by Julia Quinn read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes England, 1825. Gareth St. Clair receives an old family diary found among his late brother's belongings, but it's written in Italian. Gareth's grandmother, Lady Danbury, reintroduces him to Hyacinth Bridgerton, who can translate. Together they discover past secrets and the key to their future. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61236 ## Slow Burn RC 61245 by Julie Garwood read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes After surviving an explosion, fragrance company owner Kate MacKenna has a one-night stand with her girlfriend's brother Dylan. Kate weathers another mishap that Dylan believes is coincidental-until he learns about Kate's inheritance and the people who want her dead. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61245 ## Final Scream RC 61247 by Lisa Jackson read by Constance Crawford 3 cassettes Two decades after a mill fire kills pregnant, teenaged Angie Buchanan, another family business is set ablaze. Reporter Cassidy Buchanan McKenzie's husband Chase and another man are injured. Cassidy fears that Brig McKenzie, her first love, might be the culprit. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61247 ## Gabriel's Angel RC 61250 by Nora Roberts read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Laura Malone is pregnant and on the run. Gabriel Bradley is hiding in a Colorado cabin to think, to work, and to heal. When Gabe rescues Laura in a snowstorm, the two begin to share their secrets and their passion. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 1989. RC 61250 ## Statue of Limitations: A Den of Antiquity Mystery RC 61263 by Tamar Myers read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Charleston antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake Washburn helps her friend Wynnell Crawford when Wynnell is accused of murdering a client who owned a bed-and-breakfast. Suspects include the happy widower and guests at the inn. Some strong language. 2004. RC 61263 ## Gone: An Alex Delaware Novel RC 61319 by Jonathan Kellerman read by John Rubinstein 3 cassettes An investigation reveals the abduction of two art students to be a fake, but the murder that follows requires the police to seek the assistance of psychologist Alex Delaware. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61319 ## The Skin Gods RC 61322 by Richard Montanari read by Scott Brick 3 cassettes Philadelphia homicide detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano return from the case of The Rosary Girls (RC 59662) to catch a serial killer who splices recordings of his crimes onto rental videos. While worrying about their daughters, the cops investigate a filmmaker and the porn industry. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 61322 ## The House RC 61324 by Danielle Steel read by Erik Singer 2 cassettes San Francisco. A client has left workaholic lawyer Sarah Anderson an unexpected inheritance with the caveat to have fun with the money. Sarah decides to renovate a mansion and becomes absorbed in its history. Soon she finds herself falling in love with architect Jeff Parker. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61324 ## The Alchemist's Daughter RC 61329 by Katharine McMahon read by various narrators 3 cassettes Early eighteenth century in Buckinghamshire. Secluded in his manor house, John Selden raises his motherless daughter Emilie to aid him in his scientific experiments. When Emilie is eighteen, two visitors interrupt the Seldens' work, and first love overwhelms Emilie with far- reaching consequences. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. RC 61329 ## Queen of the Underworld RC 61341 by Gail Godwin read by Carrington MacDuffie 3 cassettes Miami, 1959. North Carolinian Emma Gant moves to Florida to work as a reporter and to be close to her married lover Paul. Emma's new neighbors include Cuban exiles, who fled Fidel Castro's regime, and Ginevra Brown, a former madame with ties to the mob. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2006. RC 61341 ## The Rebels of Ireland: The Dublin Saga, Book 2 RC 61342 by Edward Rutherfurd read by Richard Matthews 6 cassettes Sixteenth to twentieth centuries. Continues the saga begun in The Princes of Ireland (RC 58000). Follows several families through the French aggression, the potato famine, migration to the United States, and the golden age of Irish literature. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006. RC 61342 ## Love and Other Impossible Pursuits RC 61348 by Ayelet Waldman read by Susan Denaker 2 cassettes Attorney Emelia mourns the death of her infant daughter and barely copes with her husband Jack's five-year-old son William. William's mother Carolyn aggravates Emelia's life, increasing tension in the awkward family dynamics. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006. RC 61348 ## Ramage and the Renegades: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 12 RC 61350 by Dudley Pope read by Erik Sandvold 3 cassettes As England and France formulate a tentative peace, Lord Ramage receives secret orders to claim Trinidade, a small island off the Brazilian coast, for England. There Ramage and his crew battle to free captive merchant ships-and a beautiful woman-from blood-thirsty pirates. Sequel to Ramage's Signal (RC 61131). Some violence. 1981. RC 61350 ## Under a Wild Sky: Wild Series, Book 1 RC 61352 by Sasha Lord read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Ronin McTaver, lone survivor of an assault on his family, flees into the forbidding Loch Nidean forest with a sacred tapestry. When forest dwellers attack him, Ronin takes a young boy hostage, unaware that the boy is actually a woman. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2004. RC 61352 ## Hancock Park: A Kate Delafield Mystery RC 61353 by Katherine V. Forrest read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Gay L.A. police detective Kate Delafield investigates the murder of Victoria Talbot. Although the victim's abusive ex-husband is the main suspect, Kate believes there are other forces in play. Meanwhile, Kate's lover leaves and her transgender niece runs away. Strong language. 2004. RC 61353 ## Immortal in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery RC 61354 by J.D. Robb read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes New York City, 2058. Homicide detective lieutenant Eve Dallas's friend Mavis introduces Eve to her new fashion designer lover, Leonardo. Leonardo, however, is also involved with model Pandora, later found dead. Eve investigates the murder to clear Mavis's name. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996. RC 61354 ## The Solace of Leaving Early RC 61359 by Haven Kimmel read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Langston Braverman abruptly abandons her PhD program and returns to her Indiana hometown. Shortly after Langston's arrival, her childhood friend Alice Baker-Maloney dies tragically, leaving behind two young daughters. Langston and disillusioned pastor Amos Townsend, who counseled Alice, become the girls' caretakers and gradually fall in love. 2002. RC 61359 ## Everyone Worth Knowing RC 61368 by Lauren Weisberger read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Twenty-seven-year-old New Yorker Bette Robinson impulsively quits her banking job and goes to work at a celebrity PR firm. Style-challenged and naive Bette is drawn into partying and dating until she realizes it's not for her and falls for a decent guy. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2005. RC 61368 ## The World Below RC 61370 by Sue Miller read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes San Francisco schoolteacher and twice-divorced mother-of-three Catherine Hubbard inherits her late grandmother Georgia's Vermont home. While searching through the attic, Cath finds Georgia's diaries, which reveal her stay in a sanatorium to recover from tuberculosis and a doomed romance. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001. RC 61370 ## Sleeping Bones: A Kate Delafield Mystery RC 61371 by Katherine V. Forrest read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes LAPD detective Kate Delafield investigates the La Brea Tar Pits murder of Herman Layton, an ex-marine who tried to save ancient human remains during World War II. Coincidentally, Herman's sexy paleoanthropologist daughter, Peri, visits and a mysterious fossil surfaces. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1999. RC 61371 ## Murder at the Washington Tribune: A Capital Crimes Mystery RC 61374 by Margaret Truman read by David Hartley-Margolin 2 cassettes Washington Tribune crime reporter Joe Wilcox is pressured to compete with TV and tabloid news counterparts, including his daughter Roberta, a broadcast journalist. After a reporter is murdered in the newsroom, Joe investigates and Roberta hunts for a suspect. Meanwhile Joe's ex- con brother returns to town. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61374 ## This Dame for Hire: A Faye Quick Mystery RC 61376 by Sandra Scoppettone read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Manhattan, 1943. Twenty-six-year-old feisty secretary Faye Quick takes over her boss Woody Mason's detective agency when he's drafted. After finding the body of a missing student, Faye is hired by the victim's parents to find the killer. Faye uses a psychic and police officers for help. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61376 ## Vampire Kisses: Vampire Kisses, Book 1 RC 61381 by Ellen Schreiber read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Outcast goth teen Raven copes with her hippie-turned-corporate parents, nerdy brother, and the school bully in small town Dullsville. Then she falls in love with the new boy, Alexander, who moves into the town's haunted mansion and is rumored to be a real vampire. For senior high readers. 2003. RC 61381 ## My Life as Emperor RC 61384 by Su Tong read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Fourteen-year-old Chinese prince Duanbai assumes the throne after his father's death. Amid assassination attempts, military campaigns, and court intrigues, Duanbai subjects officials and servants to his cruel whims until a half brother's ambition brings about Duanbai's downfall. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 1992. RC 61384 ## Vengeance Valley RC 61386 by Richard S. Wheeler read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Colorado. Will "Hard Luck" Yancey discovers telluride gold under a hospital managed by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. When a ruthless syndicate run by Alfred Noble-the same man who swindled Yancey out of his own mining fortune-plots to steal the sisters' claim, Yancey vows to help. Spur Award. 2004. RC 61386 ## Eyeless in Gaza RC 61400 by Aldous Huxley read by George Holmes 4 cassettes The author of Brave New World (RC 47108) depicts thirty years in the life of Englishman Anthony Beavis. At school Beavis befriends Brian Foxe; Hugh Ledwidge, whose wife, Helen, becomes Beavis's lover; and Mark Staithes, a Marxist with whom Beavis goes to Mexico to fight in a revolution. 1936. RC 61400 ## Good Hair RC 61402 by Benilde Little read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona 2 cassettes African American Manhattan reporter Alice Andrews meets Jack, a handsome doctor, at the airport and begins to fall in love. Their relationship is tested, however, by differing values, Alice's increasing disillusionment, and a family tragedy that reveals Alice's painful secret. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1996. RC 61402 ## The Colorado Kid RC 61403 by Stephen King read by Jeremy Gage 1 cassette Vince Teague and Dave Bowie, elderly editors of a small Maine island's newspaper, relate a twenty-five-year-old murder case to their young intern Stephanie McCann. It is 1980; a man discovered dead on the local beach remains unknown until the men track his identity back to Colorado. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61403 ## South Beach Sizzle RC 61411 by Suzanne Weyn and Diana Gonzalez read by Gabra Zackman 1 cassette Lula Cruz and her best friend Jeff Terrio leave New York City for Miami the summer before Lula starts college there. Unable to stay with relatives as planned, Lula and Jeff find restaurant jobs and a place to live, and Lula falls in love. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61411 ## Rituals of the Season: A Deborah Knott Mystery RC 61424 by Margaret Maron read by Barbara Caruso 2 cassettes Judge Deborah Knott and her fiancé, deputy sheriff Dwight Bryant, investigate the murder of assistant DA Tracy Johnson. Deborah also looks into the conviction of a female death-row prisoner and uncovers corruption in Colleton County, North Carolina. Meanwhile Deborah's family finishes the Christmas wedding plans. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61424 ## Baroque and Desperate: A Den of Antiquity Mystery RC 61500 by Tamar Myers read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes After Abigail Timberlake's antique store in Charlotte, North Carolina, is robbed, she agrees to help Tradd Burton identify the most valuable item in his family's mansion and split the proceeds. The rest of the family is hostile to Abigail-especially when someone murders the Burtons' maid. Some strong language. 1999. RC 61500 ## Kissing Coffins: Vampire Kisses, Book 2 RC 61506 by Ellen Schreiber read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Sixteen-year-old goth Raven searches for her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, from Vampire Kisses (RC 61381), after he disappears from their small town of Dullsville. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61506 ## Racing Fear RC 61515 by Jacqueline Guest read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette The friendship of Trent and Adam, two eighteen-year-old auto racing buddies, changes after Adam causes an accident that leaves Trent disfigured. When Adam discovers that Trent has been selling his ADHD medicine, Adam helps steer Trent back on the right path. A high- interest, low-vocabulary book. For senior high readers. 2004. RC 61515 ## Monet Talks: A Den of Antiquity Mystery RC 61526 by Tamar Myers read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Charleston antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake Washburn acquires a jeweled birdcage with an annoying talking bird that her customers like. When the bird is taken and a ransom demanded, Abigail ignores the thieves-until her mother becomes the next kidnapping victim. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61526 ## The Trouble with Valentine's Day RC 61559 by Rachel Gibson read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes En route to visit her grandfather in Gospel, Idaho, ex-PI Kate Hamilton overnights at a ski lodge where she unsuccessfully propositions a handsome stranger. Humiliated, Kate arrives in Gospel only to be formally introduced to her rejecter, ex-hockey player Rob Sutter. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61559 ## Beautiful Lies RC 61604 by Lisa Unger read by Ann Marie Lee 3 cassettes New York freelance journalist Ridley Jones receives a photo that makes her doubt her parentage. New neighbor Jake joins Ridley in a search for the truth and helps reveal tangled family deceptions. Meanwhile, the couple falls in love. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006. RC 61604 ## Black Swan Green RC 61605 by David Mitchell read by Kirby Heyborne 3 cassettes In a backwater English town in 1982, thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor endures bullying at school because of his stammer. At home he copes with his parents' bickering and his nasty older sister but still manages to have adventures. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 61605 ## Cage of Stars RC 61732 by Jacquelyn Mitchard read by Kathe Mazur 2 cassettes Scott Early murders Veronica Swan's two younger sisters when she is twelve. Although her Mormon parents forgive Scott, Veronica is not so compassionate. Years later she disguises herself and seeks revenge. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 61732 ## The Husband RC 61736 by Dean Koontz read by Holter Graham 2 cassettes When Mitchell Rafferty's wife is kidnapped, he must come up with two million dollars in ransom money in order to get her back. Mitchell, an ordinary working stiff, is frantic and will do anything to obtain the sum. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2006. RC 61736 ## Two Little Girls in Blue RC 61910 by Mary Higgins Clark read by Isabel Keating 2 cassettes A kidnapper takes three-year-old identical twins Kelly and Kathy Frawley from their Connecticut home. After a ransom payment, only one child returns, with a note claiming the other is dead. But Kelly telepathically hears her sister calling her and gives their parents hope that Kathy is still alive. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61910 ## ### Books for Children Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Cassettes Nonfiction Using the Internet Safely RC 57860 by Donna Loughran read by Mimi Bederman 1 cassette Describes the Internet and how to use it correctly. Covers e-mail and provides useful sites. Warns of potential dangers from strangers. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 57860 ## Flying over the USA: Airplanes in American Life RC 58847 by Martin W. Sandler read by Gary Roan 1 cassette Chronicles the development of aeronautics in the United States from eighteenth-century experiments to the Wright brothers' first manned flight in 1903. Discusses other major uses and achievements of airplanes as well as security concerns after September 11, 2001. For grades 4-7. 2004. RC 58847 ## Little Hands Create! Art and Activities for Kids Ages Three to Six RC 60146 by Mary Doerfler Dall read by Erin Jones 1 cassette Kindergarten teacher outlines instructions for dozens of crafts designed to encourage children's creativity. Projects such as grocery mesh-bag stitchery, egg carton boat, and newspaper sit-upon mat recycle on-hand materials. Others, including tissue twists and shapes, soap sculpture, and cotton-ball critters, make use of common household supplies. For preschool-grade 2. 2004. RC 60146 ## Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury/Un Tesoro de Rimas Infantiles RC 60627 by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy read by Jacinda Bronaugh 1 cassette A sampler of traditional Spanish lullabies, finger plays, nursery and jump-rope rhymes, riddles, and songs. Includes an introduction in English and the poems in Spanish and English. For preschool-grade 2. (Presentan canciones, nanas, juegos con los dedos, advinanzas y otros versos para niños. Incluye una introducción en inglés y los versos en español e inglés. Para niños preescolares hasta segundo grado.) 2004. RC 60627 ## Meet Mindy: A Native Girl from the Southwest RC 60719 by Susan Secakuku read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Fourteen-year-old Mindy describes her relatives and the Hopi and Tewa customs that she and her family still follow in Arizona as part of daily life. Blending traditional ceremonies and modern schooling, Mindy calls herself "a regular American kid." For grades 6-9. 2003. RC 60719 ## Remember D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories RC 60729 by Ronald J. Drez read by Frank Coffee 1 cassette Overview of the Allied strategy for military operations on the beaches of Normandy in France on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day. Describes the largest amphibious invasion ever, Operation Doublecross, the tremendous loss of life, and the day's historical significance. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 60729 ## Wild about Weather: Fifty Wet, Windy, and Wonderful Activities RC 60799 by Ed Brotak read by Sharon Murray 1 cassette Dr. Ed discusses Earth's atmosphere, the seasons, wind, humidity, clouds, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, weather forecasting, and the history of weather observation. Includes activities to explore these topics, step-by-step experiments, and projects such as making a barometer, thermometer, wind vane, or weather log. For grades 4-7. 2004. RC 60799 ## The Kids' Building Workshop: Fifteen Woodworking Projects for Kids and Parents to Build Together RC 60805 by J. Craig Robertson and Barbara Robertson read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Provides information and tips for using basic carpentry tools-hammer, handsaw, drill, block plane, and measuring devices. Offers complete step-by-step instructions for simple items like a checkerboard and string art or a more complex house-shaped bookcase and puppet theater. For grades 4-7. 2004. RC 60805 ## Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow RC 60814 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti read by Megan Burnett 1 cassette Traces the Hitler Youth movement's development during the period 1926 to 1945, when it indoctrinated German children and teens in Nazi ideology and loyalty to Hitler. Features personal accounts of members such as Elisabeth Vetter, who betrayed her own parents for objecting to Hitler. Violence. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 60814 ## A Look at Mars RC 61095 by Ray Spangenburg and Kit Moser read by Bob Moore 1 cassette Discusses the history of human ideas about Mars, its geology and moons, missions to the red planet, and the possibility of life there. For grades 5-8. 2000. RC 61095 ## One Thousand and One Arabian Nights RC 61096 by Geraldine McCaughrean read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes In a desert kingdom King Shahryar, accustomed to killing a new bride every day, marries the storyteller Shahrazad. Each night she tells the king about Sinbad the Sailor or Ali Baba, and he postpones her execution to hear another tale the next evening. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1982. RC 61096 ## Nature's Art Box: From T-Shirts to Twig Baskets, Sixty-Five Cool Projects for Crafty Kids to Make with Natural Materials You Can Find Anywhere RC 61103 by Laura C. Martin read by Barbara Pinolini 1 cassette Sixty-five craft projects are grouped by the materials for making them: vines, twigs, cones, and moss; gourds, pods, husks, and seeds; clay, stones, sand, and shells; flowers and leaves. Includes collecting tips and instructions for making dyes, potato stamps, paste, glue, and clay. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2003. RC 61103 ## Sholom's Treasure: How Sholom Aleichem Became a Writer RC 61118 by Erica Silverman read by Christopher Walker 1 cassette Describes events from the childhood of Sholom Aleichem (1859-1916) showing his love for his father and his desire from an early age to write stories and make people laugh. For grades 2-4. 2005. RC 61118 ## We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success RC 61182 by Sampson Davis and Rameck Hunt read by Bob Moore 1 cassette Personal accounts of three childhood friends in Newark, New Jersey, who made a pact to finish high school, go to college, and attend medical school. Describes the power of their mutual support to help them overcome poverty and community violence and become role models for others. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61182 ## Understanding the Holy Land: Answering Questions about the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict RC 61214 by Mitch Frank read by Ken Kliban 1 cassette Examines both sides of this long-standing conflict. Reviews competing historical claims to the same land as well as ethnic and religious aspects of the dispute. Discusses the PLO, intifada, the Oslo peace proccess, world reactions to ArabIsraeli problems, and reasons peace is so hard to achieve. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61214 ## Walking the Bible: An Illustrated Journey for Kids through the Greatest Stories Ever Told RC 61225 by Bruce Feiler read by Lewis Grenville 1 cassette In this children's version of his bestselling book, the author takes the reader to locations mentioned in the Old Testament. As he tours the Middle East, Bruce Feiler recalls biblical stories relevant to each place visited. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004. RC 61225 ## Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine RC 61255 by Leslie Dendy and Mel Boring read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Ten case studies of "guinea pig scientists," people who have experimented on their own bodies to contribute to scientific knowledge. Describes their research conducted in a superheated room, in a lonely cave, inside a pressure chamber, and on a rocket-propelled sled. Discusses the experiments' significance. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 61255 ## Before Columbus: The Leif Eriksson Expedition RC 61261 by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel read by Don Feldheim 1 cassette Biography of Leif Eriksson, son of Norseman Erik the Red. Describes his boyhood in Greenland, his year in King Olaf's court in Norway, and his expedition-five hundred years before Christopher Columbus's famous journey-during which he led a group of Vikings to the shores of North America. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 61261 ## Life under the Taliban RC 61398 by Gail B. Stewart read by Ken Kliban 1 cassette Describes Afghanistan's history, the late-1980s post-Soviet rise of the Taliban-a student group trained in military arts and rigid Islamic fundamentalism-and conditions under its rule. Examines U.S. retaliation against the Taliban for harboring masterminds of the September 11, 2001, terrorism, and the regime's fall. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2005. RC 61398 ## Rain RC 61474 by Marion Dane Bauer read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette Explains water's cloud-to-rain-to-cloud cycle and the use of rain by birds, plants, and people. Features a list of facts about rain. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 61474 ## Once upon a Poem: Favorite Poems That Tell Stories RC 61689 read by Gordon Gould 1 cassette Fifteen story-poems including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride," Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky," Alfred Noyes's "The Highwayman," Roald Dahl's "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," and Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Features biographical notes on the poets and the writers who introduce them. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004. RC 61689 ## Mitzvah Magic: What Kids Can Do to Change the World RC 61698 by Danny Siegel read by Lewis Grenville 1 cassette Accounts of young people whose good deeds improved life for someone else, their community, and the world. Each chapter ends with suggested projects that can make similar differences. Based on the traditional Jewish concept of "mitzvah," performing personal acts of kindness. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2002. RC 61698 ## ### Books for Children Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Cassettes Fiction The Warriors RC 58848 by Joseph Bruchac read by Gary Roan 1 cassette Jake Forrest reluctantly leaves an Iroquois reservation to join his mother in Maryland. He attends a boys' prep school where he excels in lacrosse but feels like an outsider until a tragedy enables him to teach the spirituality behind the sport. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2003. RC 58848 ## Dragon Rider RC 59464 by Cornelia Funke read by Steve Douglas-Craig 2 cassettes Brave young dragon Firedrake, his brownie companion Sorrel, and human boy Ben are on a quest to find the Rim of the World, where magical creatures live peacefully and safely. Their journey toward the Himalayas abounds with adventures as an enemy pursues them. For grades 4-7. 2004. RC 59464 ## Millions RC 60063 by Frank Cottrell Boyce read by Michael Russotto 1 cassette Anthony yearns to be rich. When his brother, Damian, finds a big bag stuffed with money, Anthony wants to spend it before England switches currency. Damian, enamored with Catholic saints, prefers to give it to the poor. Neither realizes robbers are pursuing the loot. For grades 4- 7. 2004. RC 60063 ## No Time like Show Time: A Hermux Tantamoq Adventure RC 60261 by Michael Hoeye read by Bruce Nelson 2 cassettes Watchmaker mouse Hermux Tantamoq enters the exciting and somewhat shady world of show business to investigate a mysterious blackmailer at the Varmint Theater. Sequel to The Sands of Time (RC 56171). For grades 6- 9. 2004. RC 60261 ## Sister to the Wolf RC 60448 by Maxine Trottier read by Madelyn Buzzard 2 cassettes Québec, 1700s. Teenager Cécile's fate becomes linked to Lesharo's when she purchases the Pawnee slave to offer him freedom. Their bond strengthens as they travel west with her woodsman father to Fort Détroit, where Cécile risks her own life to rescue Lesharo. For grades 6-9. 2004. RC 60448 ## Bound RC 60565 by Donna Jo Napoli read by Victoria Gordon 1 cassette Since her father's death, Xing Xing is treated like a servant by her stepmother and pitiable half sister, who undergoes painful foot binding to be more marriageable. Xing Xing's trip to help her sister changes her own fate. Based on Chinese Cinderella stories. For grades 6-9. 2004. RC 60565 ## A Week in the Woods RC 60652 by Andrew Clements read by Nick Sullivan 1 cassette Fifth-grader Mark Robert Chelmsley, a spoiled rich kid, is not interested in fitting in at his new school in New Hampshire. When the science class camping trip to a national park with antagonistic teacher Mr. Maxwell takes a bad turn, all of Mark's survival skills are tested. For grades 4-7. 2002. RC 60652 ## Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid RC 60667 by Megan McDonald read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette The second-grade class is preparing to celebrate Presidents' Day. The smallest boy in the room, James Moody, learns all about the shortest United States president, James Madison. James Moody, known as Stink, is also the brother of Judy Moody (RC 59948). For grades 2-4. 2005. RC 60667 ## The Scarecrow and His Servant RC 60731 by Philip Pullman read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette A brought-to-life scarecrow and his boy servant Jack set off to stake a claim to valuable Spring Valley. On their pilgrimage they confront actors, brigands, soldiers, birds, a broom, and a mystic as they try to outwit the crooked Buffaloni family. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 60731 ## A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray RC 60787 by Ann M. Martin read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Squirrel, a stray puppy, tells her life story. After being orphaned, she and her brother Bone faced humans both gentle and brutal, other animals, changing seasons, and busy highways. Now separated from Bone, Squirrel must fend for herself. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 60787 ## The Book without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic RC 60813 by Avi read by Brian Conn 1 cassette England, 1046. The Book without Words appears to have blank pages, but to a green-eyed reader it reveals dark magic of alchemy and immortality. When a green-eyed eighty-six-year-old man dies trying out the formulas, the fates of his thirteen-year-old servant girl and talking raven change dramatically. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 60813 ## When the Circus Came to Town RC 60844 by Laurence Yep read by Victoria Gordon 1 cassette Montana stagecoach station, about 1900. Ten-year-old Ursula catches smallpox that leaves her face so badly scarred she hides away. Ah Sam, the cook, and a Chinese New Year celebration help Ursula to regain her confidence. For grades 3-6. 2002. RC 60844 ## The Game of Silence RC 61109 by Louise Erdrich read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette In this continuation of Omakayas's story from The Birchbark House (RC 48991), she is nine years old. The rhythms of her Ojibwe life are interrupted when the white people insist that the Ojibwe leave their Lake Superior island home and move west. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61109 ## The Marvelous Land of Oz RC 61110 by L. Frank Baum read by Colleen Delany 1 cassette In this sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (RC 51047), the Scarecrow is driven from the throne of Oz. Glinda the Good Witch reveals that the true heir to the throne is Princess Ozma, now under the spell of the evil sorceress, Mombi. For grades 4-7. 1904. RC 61110 ## The Big Nothing RC 61111 by Adrian Fogelin read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Justin Riggs feels abandoned by his friends, his parents, and his older brother Duane. He also struggles with his weight. At the height of his discouragement, Justin discovers the piano and his dream girl Jemmie teaches him to read music. Companion to Crossing Jordan (RC 54577). For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 61111 ## The Artsy Smartsy Club: A Hoboken Chicken Story RC 61114 by Daniel Pinkwater read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette While taking a walk one summer day in Hobokken, three bored friends tossmarshmallows to their giant chicken, Henrietta. A colorful chalk drawing of Henrietta they see on the sidewalk inspires them to discover the art world. Sequel to Looking for Bobowicz (RC 59252). For grades 3- 6. 2005. RC 61114 ## Gentle's Holler RC 61144 by Kerry Madden read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina; 1960s. Livy Two worries that love and music cannot feed a family of ten, especially since her father has no steady job, her sister Gentle is probably blind, and her mother keeps having babies. Then her bossy grandmother pays a visit. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 61144 ## Our Secret, Siri Aang RC 61145 by Cristina Kessler read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette While gathering wood for her Maasai family, Namelok observes a black rhinoceros giving birth and names the baby Siri Aang-Our Secret. Protecting the rhinos from poachers takes priority for Namelok over her coming-of-age ceremony and leads to a confrontation with her father. For grades 6-9. 2004. RC 61145 ## The Vacation RC 61172 by Polly Horvath read by Michael Russotto 1 cassette When his parents go to Africa to work as missionaries, twelve-year-old Henry spends the summer with his eccentric aunts. They embark on a car trip with no fixed destination but plenty of haphazard adventures that change Henry's perception of life. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61172 ## Permanent Rose RC 61209 by Hilary McKay read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette At the end of a steamy English summer, Rose, the youngest member of the artistic Casson family, still longs to locate her American friend Tom. Other problems-Caddy's half-hearted engagement and David's new friendliness-vie for her attention. Sequel to Indigo's Star (RC 59536). For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61209 ## Wizard's Holiday RC 61210 by Diane Duane read by Barbara Caruso 3 cassettes Hoping for a vacation, teenage wizards Nita and Kit travel to a distant planet on an exchange program. They encounter their nemesis, the evil unpredictable Lone Power. Meanwhile Nita's sister and their father host three young alien wizards on Earth. Sequel to Wizard Alone (RC 56616). For grades 5-8. 2003. RC 61210 ## Meet the Gecko: Shredderman, Book 3 RC 61239 by Wendelin Van Draanen read by Michael Russotto 1 cassette On Nolan Byrd's eleventh birthday, his father takes him to meet his favorite young television star Chase Morton, the Gecko. Nolan helps his new friend by using his Shredderman web site to expose a sleazy photographer who makes Chase's life miserable. For grades 3-6. 2005. RC 61239 ## Gooney Bird and the Room Mother RC 61256 by Lois Lowry read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette In November, Gooney Bird's second-grade class begins work on their Thanksgiving pageant, but they still don't have a room mother to provide refreshments. Sequel to Gooney Bird Greene (RC 60725). For grades 2-4. 2005. RC 61256 ## Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors: Children of the Red King, Book 4 RC 61262 by Jenny Nimmo read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Following Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy (RC 59425) Charlie and his friends and enemies return to Bloor's Academy, where many students and teachers have magical abilities. An evil couple adopts Billy Raven, so Charlie tries to save Billy while searching for his own father. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 61262 ## Molly Moon Stops the World RC 61292 by Georgia Byng read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes Believing that they are going to Los Angeles to stop an evil plot by billionaire Primo Cell, Molly Moon and her friend Rocky, orphans with unusual hypnotic powers, find themselves in danger from an unsuspected source. Sequel to Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (RC 60584). For grades 4-7. 2003. RC 61292 ## After the Rain: Virginia's Civil War Diary, Book 2 RC 61351 by Mary Pope Osborne read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Ten-year-old Virginia writes in her diary about her family's experiences while they live in Washington, D.C., from 1864 to 1865. During this time the Civil War ends and President Lincoln is assassinated. For grades 3-6. 2001. RC 61351 ## Shadows on the Sea RC 61358 by Joan Hiatt Harlow read by Jill Ferris 1 cassette Fourteen-year-old Jill Winters spends the summer of 1942 with her grandmother on the coast of Maine. Rumors and gossip abound in their small town and Jill doesn't know whom to trust. She discovers that World War II is closer than she thought. For grades 6-9. 2003. RC 61358 ## Hoggee RC 61365 by Anna Myers read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette New York State, 1800s. Teenager Howard Gardner is a hoggee, or mule- driver, on the Erie Canal, but he wants to be more. When he helps a deaf girl learn sign language and teaches her sister to read, he renews his own determination to obtain more schooling. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 61365 ## Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery RC 61373 by Peter Abrahams read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Going to soccer practice, thirteen-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill encounters local oddball "Cracked-Up Katie." Later that evening someone kills Katie. Observing details, just as Ingrid's hero Sherlock Holmes does, helps her investigate the murder case in her hometown of Echo Falls. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61373 ## Abner and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure RC 61382 by Dan Gutman read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette Joe uses baseball cards to travel through time. To ask Abner Doubleday whether he invented baseball, Joe and his mother go back to 1863. They find themselves in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg, helping out in a field hospital. Some violence. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 61382 ## No Small Thing RC 61383 by Natale Ghent read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette An ad for a free pony brightens prospects for twelve-year-old Nat, his fourteen-year-old sister Cid, and eight-year-old Queenie. The joy they take in caring for Smokey helps the children cope with the hardships they and their mother have faced since their father abandoned them. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 61383 ## Wolf Brother: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Book 1 RC 61419 by Michelle Paver read by Nick Sullivan 2 cassettes Six thousand years ago, twelve-year-old Torak and his guide, a wolf cub, go on a dangerous journey to fulfill an oath the boy made to his dying father-to travel to the Mountain of the World Spirit and destroy a demon-possessed bear that threatens all the clans. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 61419 ## A Time to Dance: Virginia's Civil War Diary, Book 3 RC 61501 by Mary Pope Osborne and Will Osborne read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette 1865. Virginia records daily events in her family's new life in New York City after the Civil War. She describes her musician father's difficulty in finding a job and her own happiness in discovering the theater world. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 61501 ## Whittington RC 61516 by Alan Armstrong read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette In this tale of talking barnyard animals, a feline descendent of Dick Whittington's cat relates his ancestor's legend. He further endears himself to the group by ridding the barn of rats. Meanwhile the animals encourage Abby to teach her dyslexic brother, Ben, to read. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61516 ## The Liberation of Gabriel King RC 61537 by K.L. Going read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette Georgia, 1976. Gabe is afraid of everything, especially moving up to fifth grade with middle school bullies Duke and Frankie. His best friend Frita's summer plan is to list and conquer fears-her biggest one is the Ku Klux Klan-but they'll start with spiders. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61537 ## ### Foreign Language Books The following titles are available in the languages designated. Spanish Cantos de Viday Esperanza/Songs of Life and Hope RC 60594 por Rubén Darío leRdo por Peter Gil 2 cassettes Edición bilingüe de la poesía más importante del famoso poeta nicaragüen se, fundador del modernismo español. Incluye una introducción en inglés sobre la vida y obra de Darío tanto como los poemas en español con traducción en inglés. (The major works of the Nicaraguan poet considered to be a founder of the Spanish modernist movement. Includes an in-depth introduction to the life and work of Darío in English and his poems in the original Spanish with English translations.) 2004. RC 60594 ## Un Tesoro de Rimas Infantiles/Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury RC 60627 por Alma Flor Ada y F. Isabel Campoy leRdo por Jacinda Bronaugh 1 cassette Presentan canciones, nanas, juegos con los dedos, advinanzas y otros versos para niños. Incluye una introducción en inglés y los versos en español e inglés. Para niños preescolares hasta segundo grado. (A sampler of traditional Spanish lullabies, finger plays, nursery and jump-rope rhymes, riddles, and songs. For preschool-grade 2.) 2004. RC 60627 ## Historia Viva (Living History) RC 60983 por Hillary Rodham Clinton leRdo por Maria Pino 6 cassettes La primera dama de la Casa Blanca durante la presidencia de Bill Clinton, presenta sus memorias de esos ochos años. Admite que esa epoca era para ella una prueba para sus creencias, para su matrimonio, y para la nación. Habla de cómo ella y su esposo tenían que disputar la oposición política, soportar los reclamos legales, sufrir tragedias personales, y al fin enfrentarse con los escándalos que culminaron en el caso de Monica Lewinsky. (Former first lady's memoir of eight years in the White House that, she says, "tested my faith and political beliefs, my marriage and our nation's Constitution." Discusses how she and President Clinton faced political opposition, legal challenges, personal tragedies, and the scandal of the Monica Lewinsky case.). 2003. RC 60983 ## Los Años con Laura Díaz (The Years with Laura Díaz) por Carlos Fuentes RC 60987 leRdo por Luis Alfonso Omana 5 cassettes Nacida en 1898, Laura crece con el nuevo siglo, mezclándose su vida personal con la historia turbulento de México. Entre sus amigos se cuentan Frida Kahlo y el famoso muralista Diego Rivera quien retrata la imagen de Laura como símbolo de la historia mexicana del siglo XX. Lenguaje injurioso y descripciones de índole sexual. (Born in 1898, Laura grows up with the new century, her personal story intermingled with the turbulent history of Mexico. Among her friends she numbers Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, who paints her image into one of his murals. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.) 1999. RC 60987 ## La Amigdalitis de Tarzán (Tarzan's Tonsilitis) RC 60989 por Alfredo Bryce Echenique leRdo por Juan Ramirez 2 cassettes Los amantes Juan Manuel y Fernanda María se encuentran separados por los avatares de la vida. Pero, através de los océanos y continentes que los separan, desarrollan un amor intenso por las cartas que se escriben durante muchos años. Hasta que, un día, Fernanda pierda todas las cartas de Juan. Contiene lenguaje injurioso. (Circumstances conspire to keep Juan Manuel and Fernanda María apart across oceans and continents, but the two lovers develop an intense relationship through the letters they write to each other over many years. Then one day Fernanda loses all of Juan's letters. Some strong language.) 1999. RC 60989 ## Pedro Páramo y El Llano en Llamas (Pedro Páramo and The Burning Plains) RC 60990 por Juan Rulfo leRdo por Peter Pereya 2 cassettes Presenta la obra fundamental del famoso autor mexicano. Incluye Pedro Páramo, novela surealista acerca de Comala, un pueblo atormentado por los espíritus de los muertos, y El Llano en Llamas, una colección de diecisiete cuentos que pintan el mundo violento y primitivo del campesino mexicano. (The classic fiction of the Mexican author. Includes Pedro Páramo, a surrealistic novella about a town populated by tormented spirits of the dead, and El Llano en Llamas, a collection of seventeen short stories set in the stark, primitive world of the Mexican peasant.) 1953. RC 60990 ## Desesperada (Unsettling) RC 60991 por Lynda Sandoval leRdo por Maria Pino 3 cassettes Por fin, Lucy Olivera se casa. Pero queda muy preocupada por la superstición familiar que predice que su matrimonio está predestinado a fracasar. Sus tres amigas están decididas que Lucy llegue al altar y disfrute de un matrimonio duradero, pero lo que encuentran todas no es lo que se esperaban. (At last Denver drug cop Lucy Olivera is getting married. But she fears the family curse that dooms her marriage to end in divorce. Her three closest friends are determined to help her find marital bliss, but they all get more than they bargained for.) 2005. RC 60991 ## Esperanza (The House on Hope Street) RC 61000 por Danielle Steel leRdo por Maria Pino 2 cassettes Liz y Jack Sutherland gozan de bastante éxito como abogados de divorcio y viven cerca de San Francisco en un hogar feliz con cinco hijos. Pero Jack es asesinado por el marido despechado de una clienta en proceso de divorcio. Y poco a poco la familia Sutherland aprende a soportar la trágica pérdida, hasta que un día un accidente casi fatal trae a otro hombre en la vida de la familia. Algunas descripciones de violencia. (California divorce lawyers Liz and Jack Sutherland have five children and an idyllic marriage. But after Jack is killed by the deranged husband of a client, the family gradually learns to cope without him. Then an accident brings a new person into their lives. Some strong language.) 2005. RC 61000 ## Diana o la Cazadora Solitaria (Diana: The Goddess Who Hunts Alone) RC 61004 por Carlos Fuentes leRdo por Juan Ramirez 2 cassettes Novela que se basa en el amor entre una actriz norteamericana y un escritor mexicano que vivían la pasión e idealismo de la nueva generación de los años sesenta. Pero es una época de trastornos políticos y sociales, y al fin el amor entre los dos acaba trágicamente cuando el gobierno ataca la fama de la mujer. Lenguaje injurioso y descripciones de índole sexual. (A fictionalized account of a Mexican writer's love affair with an American film actress in 1970, a time of social and political turmoil. Their passionate interlude ends tragically with the woman's suicide when her reputation is ruined by government slander. Descriptions of sex and strong language.) 1994. RC 61004 ## La Caverna (The Cave) RC 61005 por José Saramago leRdo por Maria Pino 3 cassettes Un gran centro comercial ya no necesita las ollas de una pequeña alfarería, y ahora el viejo alfarero, Cipriano Algor, trata de vender figurinas cerámicas. Aunque le soportan su hija, un nuevo amor, y un perro vagabundo, Cipriano ve la inminente extinción de su modo de vivir-hasta que descubren una caverna debajo del centro comercial que les transformará la vida. El autor es ganador del Premio Nobel de 1998. (A commercial center no longer needs the pottery jugs of elderly widower Cipriano Algor, who now creates figurines instead. His daughter, a new love, and a stray dog help him cope with imminent retirement-until a haunting underground discovery is made. By winner of 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature.) 2000. RC 61005 ## El Capitán Alatriste: Las Aventuras del Capitán Alatriste, Volumen 1 (Captain Alatriste: The Adventures of Captain Alatriste, Volume 1) RC 61006 por Arturo Pérez-Reverte y Carlota Pérez-Reverte leRdo por Peter Gil 2 cassettes Madrid, España; la segunda década del siglo XVII. El espadachín a sueldo Diego Alatriste es empleado para robar a dos viajeros ingleses a medianoche. Pero ahora el Padre Bocanegra de la Inquisición le manda a Alatriste que mate a los dos. Sin embargo, los viajeros son hidalgos importantes y Alatriste se halla enredado en una peligrosa intriga política. Lenguaje injurioso y algunas descripciones de violencia. (Madrid, Spain; 1620s. Swordsman Diego Alatriste is hired to stage a midnight robbery of two Englishmen. But Father Bocanegra of the Spanish Inquisition tells him to kill the gentlemen. Because these aren't ordinary travelers, Alatriste becomes involved in a maze of intrigue. Strong language and some violence.) 1996. RC 61006 ## Cabo Trafalgar: Un Relato Naval (Cape Trafalgar: A Naval Story) RC 61007 por Arturo Pérez-Reverte leRdo por Maria Pino 2 cassettes Novela histórica de la famosa batalla naval que se libró a principios del siglo XIX. Sigue la acción desde el punto de vista de los marineros franceses y españoles que lucharon contra la flota británica de Lord Nelson. Basada minuciosamente en los incidentes reales, pinta la sangrienta orden de batalla y la relación de los barcos y los hombres que lucharon. Contiene lenguaje injurioso. (Historical novel of the early-nineteenth-century naval battle of Trafalgar from the point of view of the French and Spanish sailors who fought against Lord Nelson's British fleet. Depicts the bloody order of battle and the ships and men involved. Strong language.) 2004. RC 61007 ## ### Talking Book Magazines Cassette For a free subscription to these magazines, contact your cooperating library. American Heritage (8 issues) Analog Science Fiction and Fact (11 issues) Asimov's Science Fiction (11 issues) The Atlantic Monthly (11 issues; combined issue July- August) Das Beste aus Reader's Digest (German; 12 issues) Bon Appétit (monthly) Buenhogar (Spanish; monthly) Choice Magazine Listening (on loan from cooperating libraries, bimonthly) Consumer Reports (monthly) Contemporary Sound Track: A Review of Pop, Jazz, Rock, and Country (bimonthly) Cricket (for children, on one cassette with National Geographic Kids, monthly) Diabetes Forecast (monthly) Discover (monthly) Ebony (monthly) Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (11 issues) Foreign Affairs (6 issues) Good Housekeeping (monthly plus special issues) Health and Nutrition Newsletters (includes Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter--Health after Fifty, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and Nutrition Action Healthletter, monthly) Horticulture (6 issues) Journal Français (French; monthly) Magazine of the Month (monthly) Money (monthly plus special issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) The Nation (47 issues) National Geographic (monthly) National Geographic Kids (for children and teens, on one cassette with Cricket, monthly) National Review (25 issues) The New York Times Book Review (weekly) Outdoor Life (10 issues; combined issues June-July, December-January) People Weekly (weekly plus special issues) QST (monthly) Quarterly Music Magazine (quarterly) Selecciones del Reader's Digest (Spanish; monthly) Sélections du Reader's Digest (French; monthly) Smart Computing (monthly) Sound & Vision (10 issues) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Sports Illustrated (weekly plus special issues) Sports Illustrated for Kids (monthly) Talking Book Topics (bimonthly, also contains selections from NLS News irregularly) Travel & Leisure (monthly) True West (monthly) U.S. News and World Report (weekly) The Writer (12 issues) Young Adult Magazine of the Month (monthly)