Freelance
Shelf Life

FICTION

‘The Missing’

By Tim Gautreaux (Knopf, $25.95)

When Sam Simoneaux returns home from World War I, he settles in New Orleans where he finds a job as a floor walker in one of the city’s largest department stores. When a little girl disappears from the store on his shift, he loses his job but finds a new one on a steamboat. This is a story of redemption and loss set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River during the 1920s. Colorful characters, unexpected plot twists and intriguing locales make this perfect summer reading.

‘The 7th Victim’

By Alan Jacobson (Vanguard Press, $25.95)

FBI Special Agent Karen Vail, the first female ever promoted to the profiling unit, tries to track down the Dead Eyes Killer. As the killer becomes bolder, Vail discovers the seventh victim holds the key to his capture and as she gets closer to cracking the case it becomes apparent that she might just get murdered in the process. Vail is smart, tough and a character who holds the reader in her grip until the last terrifying page.

‘Don’t Cry: Stories’

By Mary Gaitskill (Pantheon, $23.95)

Gaitskill’s stories are brilliantly executed. In her latest collection, she presents such indelible situations as the raw grief of a widow, the struggles of a depressed woman, the confusion of a man returning from war, and young people adrift in a college town in 1980. As in her previous work, her writing in “Don’t Cry” is fierce, vibrant and brilliant.

‘The Secret Keeper’

By Paul Harris (Dutton, $25.95)

In this debut novel by Harris – a journalist who has covered the conflict in Sierra Leone for Reuters and the Associated Press – the story pivots on the experiences of a fictional British journalist and his two visits to the war-torn area in 2000 and 2004. When he falls in love with an American aid worker running an orphanage for ex-child soldiers, he can’t shake the feeling that she is hiding something from him. Fully dimensional characters and a crisp narrative combine to make this an exciting story of the consequences of truth.

‘The Way We Were’

By Marcia Willett (St. Martin’s Press, $25.95)

In her 10th novel published in the United States, Willett’s richly crafted story of two friends unfolds over a period of 30 years. The past and present are intertwined and set against the lush backdrop of the English countryside in this beautifully written tale. Joy, infidelities, an unexpected pregnancy and past loves that trigger new temptations are all components of this well-honed story.

‘Admission’

By Jean Hanff Korelitz (Grand Central Publishing, $24.99)

The author, a New Jersey-based writer, provides readers with a fascinating look at the complex college admission process and what can happen when ghosts from the past pop up to turn a life upside down. At the core of the story is 38-year-old Portia Nathan, a Princeton admissions officer. Her reluctance to confront reality is suddenly tested when a life-altering decision resurfaces and she is faced with an extraordinary test.

‘The Man in the Window: A Thriller’

By K.O. Dahl (Minotaur Books, $25.95)

When an antiques dealer in Oslo is found murdered, sitting naked in an armchair in the display window of his shop, Inspector Frolich and Chief Inspector Gunnarstranda are called in to track down clues. These include missing war objects and a series of strange numbers written in ink on the body. This is the second installment in the Oslo police mystery series by Dahl, one of Norway’s award-winning crime writers.

NONFICTION

‘How God Changes Your Brain’

By Andrew Newberg, M.D., and Mark Robert Waldman (Ballantine, $27)

The authors are convinced that not only do prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress, anxiety and depression, but just 12 minutes of meditation each day improves memory and may even slow the aging process itself. In their new book, they explain the best way to “exercise” the brain as they guide readers through specific drills derived from a wide variety of Eastern and Western spiritual practices. Newberg is director at the Center for Spirituality and Mind at the University of Pennsylvania, and his co-author, Waldman, is an associate fellow at the same school,

‘The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919′

By Mark Thompson (Basic Books, $30)

In this stunning account of a forgotten aspect of WW I, Mark Thompson re-examines the fierce fighting that was staged on the stony plateaus and snow peaks where Italy first attached the Austro-Hungarian Empire and how it helped shape Italy’s 20th century history. Meticulously researched and brilliantly written, this book, is war reporting at its very best and does full justice to one of the most tragic and previously untold stories.

‘When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win: Reflections on Looking in the Mirror’

By Carol Leifer (Villard, $24)

This laugh-out-loud book, by one of our more accomplished stand-up comedians, has a simple premise: When you deny your age, you deny yourself, and when you lie about your age, you become your inauthentic twin. But most important, when you lie about your age, they win, and by they, the author means the terrorists. Her observations include that you should never refer to a woman as “ma’am,” even if she’s 90 years old, because nobody likes it; if you put your lover’s name on your body, leave room in front for a possible “I Hate” down the road; and be cautious with collagen because your lips are not supposed to be the flotation devices for your face in case it capsizes.

‘The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power, and the Future of the World’

By Michelle Goldberg (Penguin Group, $25.95)

Investigative journalist Goldberg builds a strong case that the emancipation of women has become the key human rights struggle of the 21st century. She examines the backlash against modernization and globalization that is occurring around the world. From HIV/AIDS to overpopulation, sex ratio imbalances and infant mortality, the health of entire societies are tied to women’s reproductive freedoms. Yet the condition of women has increasingly been sidelined, with disastrous and underreported consequences. This essential, thought-provoking book is nothing less than a call to arms to all who are concerned about the health of our planet.

‘The Hourglass Solution: A Boomer’s Guide to the Rest of Your Life’

By Jeff Johnson and Paula Forman (Da Capo, $25)

With 75 million baby boomers in the United States, many are just discovering that their lives are no longer as happy and fulfilled as they once were. The authors have written a pragmatic guide that evaluates the life narrative through an hourglass: Adulthood is at the top of the glass when it is possible to make choices from many options. In the neck, however, is middle age when many feel constrained by earlier choices made. If we redefine the future and reassess our options, Johnson and Forman believe that the years after 50 can be every bit as exciting as those that came before.

‘Invisible Sisters: A Memoir’

By Jessica Handler (PublicAffairs, $24.95)

Handler’s baby sister was born with Kostmann’s Syndrome, a congenital blood disorder so rare it appears in one in every two million births. When a younger sister was diagnosed with leukemia, Jessica’s world and that of her family began to unravel. By the time she was 9, Jessica had begun introducing herself as the “well sibling” as she pondered the very real possibility that she might soon become the only one left. This is a true story of love, loss and coping with family tragedy.

‘Mainly on Directing: “Gypsy,” “West Side Story,” and Other Musicals’

By Arthur Laurents (Knopf, $25)

Laurents’ latest book is brutally honest, bitchy, insightful and incredibly opinionated. Laurents, a gifted playwright, screenwriter and director, helped create two of the biggest Broadway hits: “West Side Story” and “Gypsy.” In his notable new book, he writes frankly about the two loves in his life, theater and his partner of 52 years, Tom Hatcher. Hatcher, a hunk originally from Tulsa, Okla., was, Laurents claims, his inspiration. Moving, exhilarating and provocative, this crisply written narrative is as exciting as an opening night. Dim the house lights, settle back and enjoy.

‘A Different Life: Growing Up Learning Disabled and Other Adventures: A Memoir’

By Quinn Bradlee with Jeff Himmelman (PublicAffairs, $24.95)

Quinn Bradlee is the son of longtime Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee and columnist and best-selling author Sally Quinn. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a hole in his heart. His condition was eventually diagnosed as Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS), a widespread but little understood disorder that is expressed through a range of physical ailments and learning disabilities. In his new book, he reveals how he coped with his condition and how he came of age. This is an unforgettable memoir that is touching as well as inspirational.

‘Joseph P. Kennedy Presents: His Hollywood Years’

By Cari Beauchamp (Knopf, $35)

Joseph P. Kennedy was 31 years old in 1919 when he became one of the first investors to see movie making as a gold mine. This highly readable, remarkable book primarily documents a four-year period, from 1926-30, when Kennedy established himself as a major mover and shaker in the Hollywood business community. How he kept several businesses going, maintained a wife and family in Massachusetts, and a mistress – Gloria Swanson – in Hollywood, is the extraordinary true story of this driven man and how he made his West Coast fortune and in the process changed the way movies are made.

PAPERBACKS

‘Cheer! Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders’

By Kate Torgovnick (Touchstone, $15)

In recent years, cheerleading has evolved into something close to an extreme sport. For example, today’s cheerleaders often build human pyramids where a single slip can bring 10 people crashing to the mat. Torgovnick, a regular contributor to such publications as The New York Times and Newsweek, takes readers behind the scene of the ultra-competitive universe of college cheerleading.

‘Girl on the Couch: Life, Love, and Confessions of a Normal Neurotic’

By Lorna Martin (Ballantine, $14)

Martin found herself approaching her mid-30s without a partner, a mortgage or even a cat. When she decides to try therapy, she connects with “Dr. J.” After a year on the couch, she changes her life for the better and learns how to live a truly happy and contented life. Witty, self-deprecating, and insightful, this book is an unexpected pleasure.

‘Spymaster: My Thirty-Two Years in Intelligence and Espionage Against the West’

By Oleg Kalugin (Basic Books, $18.95)

The author spent more than three decades as an agent for the KGB, living a double life in the United States, matching wits against the CIA, eventually becoming one of the agency’s youngest generals. This is both a fascinating personal memoir as well as a detailed portrait of Cold War history. Unflinchingly honest, this paperback edition has been revised and updated since first published in 1994 in the U.S. as “The First Directorate.”

‘The Eye of Jade: A Mei Wang Mystery’

By Diane Wei Liang (Simon & Schuster, $15)

Beijing is the setting for this spellbinding novel in the Mei Wang series. Wang, the first ever female private detective in China’s teeming capital, is surprised when an old family friend comes to her office to ask her help in finding the whereabouts of a rare piece of white jade. This is classic detective fiction that is as fast paced as a runaway bullet train.

Freelance
Shopping

This column would be almost impossible to write without a good library of reference books. These are the ones that I have found especially helpful. Most are available at www.amazon.com.

Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay

By Lois Lehner (Collector Books, $24.95)

Want to find out more about a teacup marked Monmouth Pottery Company or learn more about Coors porcelain? If so, this is the book for you because it includes almost every mark found on American pottery, porcelain and clay pieces. The research is first rate and the format user-friendly.

Collecting Toys

Edited by Karen O’Brien (Krause, $24.99)

More than 18,000 toys are featured, from banks and erector sets to soldiers and vehicles. The up-to-date pricing covers three condition grades. This is one of the more respected guides for pre-World War II toys.

The Blue Book of Dolls and Values

By Jan Foulke (Hobby House Press, $55.88)

There is not a more trusted guide to dolls than this one. Now in its 16th edition, it covers both antique and modern dolls with up-to-date prices and manufacturer’s information. Fully illustrated in color, this reference is comprehensive and essential.

‘The Official Price Guide to Collecting Books’

By Marie Tedford and Pat Goudey (House of Collectibles, $18)

Although there are dozens of price guides for books, this is the one I’ve found the most useful. Revised and updated on a regular basis, the books are listed by author, making it user-friendly. In addition to values, there are practical tips on buying, selling, and preserving books, as well as a complete glossary of book-collecting terms.

Comics Values Annual

By Alex G. Malloy (Krause, $19.99)

This book features current prices and expanded listings for more than 94,000 comics issued from the Golden Age through the present. Black-and-white comics, titles from independent and underground publishers, Golden Age favorites, and extensive listings for perennial powerhouses Marvel and DC Comics are all covered.

Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles

By Ted Hake (House of Collectibles, $29.95)

Every time I get a question about a Mickey Mouse watch or a Donald Duck figurine, I grab this excellent book, which lists more than 28,000 items in some 125 sections.

Warman’s Political Collectibles

By Enoch L. Nappen (Krause, $24.99)

Almost everyone has a small collection of political buttons. If you’re curious about how much they might be worth, this handy guide features color photographs of more than 1,100 political items from Lincoln to Bush, including pins, posters and signs, medals, bumper stickers, clothing, magazines and much more.

The Official Stamp Collector’s Bible

By Stephen R. Datz (House of Collectibles, $22)

This is the ultimate compendium for all things philatelic. It is jammed with practical advice on every aspect of collecting and trading. Novices will learn such valuable information as how dealers price stamps and the best way to develop Internet auction strategies.

The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards

Edited by Don Fluckinger (Krause, $39.99)

This comprehensive guide stands alone in depth of coverage, ease of use and accurate information in the buying, selling and trading of baseball cards. Referencing more than 15,000 sets issued between the mid-1800s and 2008, more than 1 million cards and collectibles are listed in its 1,848 pages.

Warman’s Antiques & Collectibles 2009 Price Guide

By Ellen T. Schroy and edited by Tracy L. Schmidt (Krause, $24.99)

More than 2,000 color images and an easy-to-use friendly color-coded format make this one of the better general guides for both antiques and collectibles. In addition to current values, the guide contains must-have information such as history, fakes, reproduction alerts and manufacturers’ marks.

The Standard Catalogue of American Records: 1950-1975

By Tim Neely (Krause, $34.99)

The 150,000 listings include updated prices for pop, rock, country, soul, rhythm & blues, and virtually all other genres of music released in America from 1950-75. No other book comes close to providing the sheer volume of information that is found in this landmark Goldmine reference.

The U.S. Coin Digest: The Complete Guide to Current Market Values

Edited by David C. Harper (Krause, $14.99)

This affordable guide covers thousands of coins and features hundreds of high-quality color images, prices for 11 grades of condition, current values, and U.S. error coins, and everything you need to know to keep your coin up to date.

CLARIFICATION

Karen Grim, one of the owners of Tumbling Tumbleweed, 2319 N. Country Club Road, spoke to me this week about one of my recent columns. She said her shop does, indeed, sell large iron crosses but only ones that have been recycled from cemeteries in France. According to Grim, crosses are often replaced after about a century and many of these are then shipped to the U.S., where they are brokered and resold through a company in San Francisco. Grim points out that crosses sold by Tumbling Tumbleweed are legally acquired and fully documented as salvage.

LARRY COX

Freelance
OUR FAVORITE COOKBOOKS

‘Country Cooking: 2,151 Recipes from the Readers of Harrowsmith Magazine’

(Firefly, $35)

Harrowsmith Magazine is issued six times a year and is one of Canada’s most popular publications.

A typical issue generally contains such items as how a shepherd processes wool from his sheep, tips on buying wood-fueled stoves, a peek or two inside vintage and unique homes, and numerous other features that are geared toward a mostly rural readership. Even though the articles are interesting, it’s the recipes that are the main draw.

“Country Cooking: 2,151 Recipes from the Readers of Harrowsmith Magazine” was originally published in three volumes during the 1980s. A decade later, the collection was combined and issued between one cover but available only in Canada. With this 2009 edition, American cooks can now sample authentic Canadian country cooking.

This marvelous cookbook, about the size of a metro phone book, is divided into several chapters: Breakfasts & Snacks; Eggs & Cheese; Soups & Chowders; Salads & Vegetables; Beans & Grains; Fish & Seafood; Poultry & Game; Meat; Baking; Preserves; Desserts; Beverages; and Holiday. In addition to the recipes, there are sample menus. For example, if you are planning an after- theater party, Tiropetes (a delicate Greek cheese puff), Mulligatawny Soup, Flaky Biscuits, Ruth’s Full Vegetable Vinaigrette and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are recommended.

The charm of this collection is its authenticity. One doesn’t have to stretch the imagination much to envision a Canadian farm house supper of Baked Lamb and Summer Squash Casserole or ending a summer day with a bracing Burgundy Berry Pie.

Three recipes were tested from this collection: A tasty Hot Spinach Salad made with bacon, mushrooms, spinach and onions, a fluffy Zucchini Custard, and since rum is a food group in my home, a Rum Squash that was surprisingly good. The custard, my favorite, was as light as a soufflé.

This excellent collection is certain to become a culinary classic, one that will be used over and over again by cooks throughout North America. Country cooking is big on both taste and freshness, two things that make this cookbook especially rewarding.

Tucsonan Larry Cox’s “Shelf Life” reviews of fiction and nonfiction books and his “Treasures and Trends” antiques column run Thursdays in Calendar Plus. For more, go to tucsoncitizen.com/ calendar. E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com

Zucchini Custard

2 pounds zucchini, coarsely grated

1 onion, minced

1 clove garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup minced parsley (I used fresh)

1/8 teaspoon thyme

1/8 teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

5 eggs

1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Stir fry zucchini,onion and garlic in a large heavy skillet over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Mix in parsley, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Beat eggs until frothy, then mix in flour and Parmesan cheese. Stir zucchini mixture into eggs, spoon into greased 1 1/2-quart casserole dish and bake, uncovered, at 300 degrees for 1 hour or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

LARRY COX

Freelance
Shopping

During the 1980s, I lived in a small mountain community in Colorado. As a a member of the local historical society, I was soon involved with historic walking tours of the quaint cemetery that was just outside town.

After my first season, I documented the cemetery with my camera and published a self-conducted tour for the tourists who visited the area. The cemetery, which was founded shortly after the first gold strike in the district in 1859, was an eclectic cross-section of graves that included merchants, miners, community leaders, a scoundrel or two, at least one madam, and even an empty grave that honored a passenger who was aboard the Titanic when it sank in 1912.

In addition to victims of mining accidents, the graveyard was the final resting place for people who succumbed to typhoid fever, pneumonia, and lead poisoning contracted from a revolver.

Especially sad were the small markers on the graves of infants and young children. It was often said that the high country of Colorado during the Victorian era was not an easy place for women, children,and horses, which brings me to my point. Even after burial, the country cemetery isn’t necessarily a restful place as you might imagine. As I conducted more and more walking tours, I began noticing that monuments and iron fencing were vanishing throughout the site. The rickety gate was no deterrent to thieves. I began to wonder what kind of people would loot a cemetery.

Fast forward 10 years. Shortly after moving to Tucson, I walked into an antique shop near Country Club and Grant Road and I immediately saw three large iron crosses and several marble lambs and angels. As I looked closer, I realized that the crosses and statuary were pieces of cemetery art. When a clerk was asked about the items, she got extremely agitated and I was ordered out of the shop.

Since last autumn, I have received several letters asking about marble statuary. One reader claimed she had found a small carved lamb in “an abandoned cemetery” in Utah and had brought it back to Tucson because she had a perfect place for it in her cacti garden. Another letter writer revealed that while he or she was “salvaging an angel,” the statue broke off at the base. I was asked who in Tucson could repair the damage.

The time has come for a come-to-Jesus chat. Although this seems like a given, perhaps it should be repeated in print: It is never right to steal from a cemetery. Even though a cemetery might appear to be abandoned, it isn’t. Despite weeds and neglect, burial sites remain sacred ground. People who heist statues, Victorian fencing, urns and other items are thieves. If you have taken such an item, return it. It isn’t yours to keep. When a grave marker is taken, especially in older rural graveyards, it often becomes impossible for friends and family members to locate the burial spots.

You can also discourage this practice. The next time you see an angel, a lamb or an obvious piece of cemetery art at a flea market or in a shop, ask about it. Let the seller know that you disapprove of cemetery thievery. Perhaps, by working together we can reverse this vile trend.

Send questions to Larry Cox at contactlarrycox@aol.com. They may or may not be answered, depending on how much longer the Tucson Citizen is in business.

BUY OF THE WEEK

What is spring without a saucy straw hat? This wonderful vintage hat is $22 at the Paris Flea Market, 2855 E. Grant Road.

Freelance
Shelf Life

FICTION

‘Bruno: Chief of Police’

By Martin Walker (Knopf, $24.95)

Bruno Courreges is the only police officer on the force in a small French village, but he is known nevertheless as the chief of police throughout the region. He has a gun but never wears it and has the power to arrest but never uses it. A murder changes everything and when a young investigator is dispatched from Paris to help him solve the case, the situation becomes even more complicated. This wonderfully crafted novel is as satisfying as a French pastry but with none of the guilt or calories.

‘Wrongful Death’

By Robert Dugoni (Touchstone, $25)

Attorney David Sloan agrees to help a widow in her case against the government even though he knows that the cards are clearly stacked against him. A decades-old military doctrine might make the case impossible to win but being a former soldier himself, he agrees to accept the challenge. As he begins to dig deeper into his investigation, his wife and son become the target of a relentless killer. A quantum leap in both terror and suspense, this novel crackles with high-velocity thrills.

‘Just Take My Heart’

By Mary Higgins Clark (Simon & Schuster, $25.95)

A mysterious, but medically documented phenomenon associated with heart transplants, namely the transference of memories and personality traits from donor to recipient, is at the center of Higgins Clark’s latest thriller. Emily Wallace, an assistant prosecutor, is assigned a case that involves a prominent theatrical agent who is charged with the murder of his estranged wife, a Broadway star. Clever plot twists, a crisp narrative, and fully developed characters make this must-reading for mystery enthusiasts.

‘The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund’

By Jill Kargman (Dutton, $25.95)

Holly Talbott is married to the founder of a huge New York hedge fund. Tired of her lifestyle that includes pointless lunches, botox, and a husband who has other interests, she finds that she is forced to choose between compromising her integrity or living honestly. She begins by shedding her husband and many of her old friends. Hilarious dialogue, unforgettable characters and an exhilarating plot make this sardonic tale perfect escapism.

‘Natural Elements’

By Richard Mason (Knopf, $25.95)

Set in present day London, this brutally honest novel begins when a mother and daughter set out to choose an assisted-living facility. As the story unfolds, it addresses such issues as the relationships of mothers and daughters, aging and death, memory and longing, history and narrative, and even the cost of truthfully facing life itself. Mason is enormously gifted and his latest book is nothing less than a literary feast.

‘A Mercy’

By Toni Morrison (Knopf, $23.95)

Why is it when I read Morrison’s latest novel, I had the feeling that she is resting on her laurels and simply coasting on her literary reputation? Despite the praises of other critics, I did not find this story “magical and mystical,” but rather predictable and as forced as a winter tulip.

NONFICTION

‘The Cracker Queen: A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life’

By Lauretta Hannon (Gotham Books, $24)

A Cracker Queen is a strong, authentic Southern woman who is the anti-Southern belle. She holds her head and cigarette high, has an earthy sense of humor and can open up a can of whup-ass as needed. As the author points out, you don’t have to be toothless to enjoy her new book, just human. Set in rural Georgia, her stories include the escapades of her Crazy Aunt Carrie, The Goat Man and even her mama smuggling cigarettes to chain gangs. Based on her NRP commentaries for “All Things Considered” and her one-woman show, this wonderfully written book is the perfect anecdote for our present hard times.

‘One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food’

By Michael Schaffer (Henry Holt, $24)

Former editor and reporter Schaffer is convinced that dogs have become “fur babies” in almost every American household. After adopting a mistreated St. Bernard puppy in rural Pennsylvania, the author found himself being drawn into the very epicenter of our pet culture. In his new book, he introduces readers to such people as those who will spend their life savings on medical treatments for their pets and breeders who put potential owners through intensive screenings before finalizing an adoption. He also exposes the darker side of the pet industry by going undercover to puppy mills, interviewing those touched by the tainted pet food scandal, and exploring legal battles that are often triggered by a pet’s mistreatment or untimely death.

‘Boss of Bosses: A Journey Into the Heart of the Sicilian Underworld’

By Clare Longrigg (Thomas Dunne Books, $25.95)

Bernardo Provenzano was born in the small Sicilian town of Corleone in 1933, and dropped out of school when he was 8 years old. He later joined the criminal syndicate in Corleone, eventually becoming the head of the Sicilian Mafia, a deadly empire of corruption so large in scope, the full sweep of its dark reach has yet to be fully accounted. Acclaimed London-based crime writer Longrigg draws on her experience, contacts, and unprecedented access and interviews with prosecutors and law enforcement officials to take readers into the belly of the beast.

‘Healing Through Exercise: Scientifically-Proved Way to Prevent and Overcome Illness – and Lengthen Your Life’

By Jorg Blech (Da Capo, $26)

Blech, a Massachusetts-based science writer, claims that 60 percent of the world’s population is described as sedentary, and treatment for sedentary citizens in the United States burns through more than $75 billion dollars a year. With a health care system in crisis and deaths from cancer and heath disease on the rise, exercise might be one of the solutions. Blech points to new research in neuroscience that links exercise to brain cell growth, Alzheimer’s prevention and even the treatment of psychological mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and ADHD.

‘Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found’

By Allegra Huston (Simon & Schuster, $26.95)

Huston, daughter of the brilliant, eccentric and notoriously womanizing filmmaker John Huston, was 4 and living in London when her mother was killed in an automobile accident. From that day until her late adolescence, she became an involuntary nomad, shuttled across a continent and a country, often as a temporary guest in other people’s homes. Lonely and haunted by the death of her mother, Allegra eventually discovers the wealth of family and accepts it as a hard-won blessing of her mother’s legacy to her. Skillfully written and rich with personal detail, this is a tumultuous story of loss, healing and redemption.

‘Joker One: A Marine Platoon’s Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood’

By Donovan Campbell (Random House, $26)

If you’ve been waiting for a great book to be written about the Iraq war experience, this could be it. Campbell graduated with honors from Princeton and Harvard Business School. He finished first in his class at the Marines’ Basic Officer Course and served three combat deployments, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. His book is the story of his platoon, known by its radio call sign “Joker One.” This platoon, which included country boys, small-town jocks, a few Hispanics, and a single black, was assigned to one of Iraq’s worse hot spots: the city of Ramadi. His intense account is an emotional literary gut-punch that will linger long after the last page has been read.

‘The Foie Gras Wars: How a 5,000-Year-Old Delicacy Inspired the World’s Fiercest Food Fight’

By Mark Caro (Simon & Schuster, $25)

It all began when superstar chef Charlie Trotter announced he thought foie gras harvesting cruel and removed it from the menu in his world-renowned Chicago restaurant. It became international news and triggered one of the most heated food fights in decades. Caro, an entertainment reporter for the Chicago Tribute and the first to report on the Trotter story, serves up a meticulously researched, downright stupefying story that is certain to leave many readers with a slight case of literary indigestion.

‘The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire & the Birth of an Obsession’

By Andrea Wulf (Knopf, $35)

In 1733, an American farmer dispatched two boxes of plants and seeds to a London cloth merchant. Most of the plants he sent had never before been grown in British soil but in time many – including trees, evergreens and shrubs – transformed the English landscape and garden forever. This highly readable and fascinating account documents the personalities and events that help germinate gardening as we know it today. Peppered with colorful characters and resplendent in historic detail, this brilliantly executed book is a horticultural delight.

‘The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq’

By Helen Benedict (Beacon Press, $25.95)

Since March 2003, more than 160,500 women have served in the war in Iraq. More women have fought and died in this war than in any other since WWII, yet they account for only 1 in 10 soldiers. This disturbing new book centers on the stories of five courageous and diverse women who returned from war at very different stages in their lives. Weaving together poignant and often grueling accounts, Benedict offers an intimate look into the lives of women in the military, before, during and after the war.

PAPERBACKS

‘Mama Makes Up Her Mind and Other Dangers of Southern Living’

By Bailey White (Da Capo, $14)

White has become a fixture on National Public Radio. Her indelible vignettes of Southern eccentricity have attracted listeners throughout the country. In this collection of essays, another group of “characters” are trotted out for our amusement. Included are Uncle Jimbuddy, who keeps losing pieces of himself, and Aunt Belle, who has an alligator she has taught to bellow on command. Pass the corn pone and enjoy.

‘Mistress of the Sun’

By Sandra Gulland (Touchstone, $16)

Historical novelist Gulland presents the legendary horsewoman, Louise de la Valliere, an eccentric woman of humble background and – against all odds – the mistress of King Louis XIV, as the focal point of her novel, first published in 2008. A 17th-century love story wrapped in a mystery, this is a carefully crafted, historically accurate, irresistible tale.

‘On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You’re Not’

By Robert A. Burton (St. Martin’s Press, $14.95)

This is a fascinating view of how we construct our own realities, and the passion with which we will stand by them once created – no matter their veracity. This highly readable book is written with a scholarly grace by a California-based neurologist.

‘How to WOW: Proven Strategies for Selling Your (Brilliant) Self in Any Situation’

By Frances Cole Jones (Ballantine Books, $15)

With unemployment inching toward double digits, American workers need all of the help they can get. This dandy little guide is based on the simple premise that every encounter is a presentation or interview. The author, a corporate coach who has helped numerous CEOs, celebrities, and public personalities present their best selves on camera and onstage, in boardrooms, and in person, shares her tips and secrets for success.

BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

‘Kitty Kit: Enjoying Your New Cat’

By Peter Neville (St. Martin’s Press, $19.95)

This fun, user-friendly kit is everything you need to welcome a new kitty into the family home. In addition to a food dish, a toy ball and mouse, there is a Kitty Care book that includes essential advice on such topics as choosing a kitten, preparing for its arrival, healthful diet, behavior and play, which will help the new arrival get off on the right paw.

‘Little Goose’

By David Mraz with illustrations by Margot Apple (Tricycle Press, $15.99)

Round things like pebbles and marbles and bubbles remind Little Goose of something, but what? In this delightful book by Mraz, a reading instructor for the Albuquerque, N.M., Public Schools, and illustrated by Margot Apple, a Massachusetts-based artist, young readers discover the singular bond that exists between mother and child. (Ages 3 to 5)

Freelance

With temperatures inching toward 90 degrees in the Old Pueblo, these five cookbooks, all available at online dealers, will make the warm weather more tolerable.

‘Viva Margarita’

By W. Park Kerr with the photography of Leigh Beisch (Chronicle Books, $15.95)

As someone once said, margaritas are nothing short of fiestas in a glass. W. Park Kerr presents 60 tequila-kissed recipes that celebrate everyone’s favorite cocktail. In addition to seven South-of-the-Border classics, there are dozens of innovative new twists such as the Pear o’ Snake Eyes made with pear brandy, the Blue Agave, a salute to the tropics and the urban East by Southwest featuring a pea-sized dab of hot green Japanese horseradish paste. Kerr, a ninth-generation Texan, is the founder of the El Paso Chile Company.

‘Delicious Dips’

By Diane Morgan with the photography of Joyce Oudkerk Pool (Chronicle Books, $16.95)

Hot summer nights with friends become even more fun when dips and chips are added to the mix. Diane Morgan, the diva of dips and champion of chips, created more than 50 recipes for her collection. In addition to an ingredient glossary, dip tips, and deep-frying techniques for chips, the recipes are divided into five categories: Vegetable and Herb Dips; Salsas and Guacamoles; Cheese, Bean, Legume and Tofu Dips; Meat and Seafood Dips, and Dessert Dips. The Double-Chocolate Chunk Brownie Chips recipe is decadent and tasty.

‘Salsa’

By Susan Curtis and Kathi Long with the photography of Lois Ellen Frank (Gibbs-Smith, $12.95)

This title in the Santa Fe School of Cooking Series features salsa recipes that stretch the culinary possibilities of an almost perfect food. Since salsa is the Spanish word for sauce, it can also refer to a variety of items. For example, salsas can be fresh (raw) or cooked, thick of thin, chunky or smooth, hot or mild, or sweet or tart. Most of the salsas in this collection have chiles in them and all of the recipes are rated according to the heat. Some of the standouts are the Grilled Nopal and Poblano Chile Salsa, a smoky-tasting New Mexico Red Chile Salsa made with chipotles, and a zesty Grapefruit-Orange Salsa.

‘Chicken Salad’

By Barbara Lauterbach with the photography of Sheri Giblin (Chronicle Books, $18.95)

The 50 recipes in this book underscore that chicken salad isn’t necessarily just chicken salad. With a little imagination the basic recipe can be combined with everything from pasta to potatoes, pineapples to papaya. Regardless of how it is prepared, chicken salad is the perfect choice for warm-weather cooking. The 50 featured recipes are easy to prepare and a fun, new take on an old favorite. Two personal favorites are the Avocado Chicken Salad that used the shells as small serving cups, and the Camelback Pulled Chicken Salad, a Scottsdale favorite.

‘Dressed to Grill: Savvy Recipes for Girls Who Play with Fire’

By Karen Brooks, Diane Morgan, and Reed Darmon with illustrations by Beth Adams (Chronicle Books, $16.95)

This sizzling book proves that the grill game isn’t just the domain of guys. With such recipes as Waistland Salad, Chauvinist Pig, Grilled Corn with Hot Lips Chili Butter and How Can I be Sarong, this collection serves up a whole new take on patio food fun.

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OUR FAVORITE COOKBOOKS

“Blend It!”

By the editors of Good Housekeeping (Sterling Publishing. $14.95)

Each spring, many Tucson cooks move their blenders to the top of their kitchen counters because during the warmer weather months it becomes not just an appliance but THE appliance.

In recent years, a series of cookbooks have proved that the blender isn’t just for making smoothies. With a little imagination and guidance, it can also help whip up delicious soups, sauces, pancakes and even chicken liver pâté.

In this Good Housekeeping collection, the 150 recipes have been triple-tested and are divided into six main chapters: Smoothies & Blender Breakfasts; Soda Fountain & Coffee Bar Favorites; Fizzes, Slushes & Frozen Cocktails; Sensational Soups; Dips, Sauces & Salad Dressings; and Pancakes, Popovers & Waffles. In addition to the recipes, there is the latest buzz on blenders. For example, safety tips, how to get the most out of your utensil, and what to look for when purchasing a new one.

The recipes are fairly straight forward. Most of the smoothies and slushes are old family favorites. The surprises are in the chapter on soups. Three are especially interesting: a Butternut-Apple Soup that features squash and fresh apples, a delicious Cream of Asparagus Soup that is a snap to make, and a Creamy Buttermilk-Beet Soup (it’s better than you think).

Two recipes were prepared from this collection. On a hot afternoon, I made a bracing Strawberry Margarita. For supper later that same day, I made the Creamy Buttermilk-Beet Soup, which required just four ingredients. Both the cocktail and soup were prepared in less than 10 minutes.

Tucsonan Larry Cox’s “Shelf Life” reviews of fiction and nonfiction books and his “Treasures and Trends” antiques column run Thursdays in Calendar Plus. For more, go to tucsoncitizen.com/ calendar. E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com

Creamy Buttermilk-Beet Soup

Makes 4 cups

2 cups buttermilk

1 can (14 1/2 to 15 ounces) beets, drained

1/2 teaspoon salt (I used sea salt)

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill, with additional dill sprigs for garnish

In blender, combine buttermilk, beets, and salt. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a large bowl; stir in minced dill. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Garnish will sprigs. Serve with homemade bread.

LARRY COX

contactlarrycox@aol.com

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LARRY COX

contactlarrycox@aol.com

‘Maisy Bakes a Cake: A Maisy First Science Book’

By Lucy Cousins (Candlestick Press, $12.99

Maisy decides to bake a cake and after carefully weighing and measuring the ingredients, she mixes everything in a large bowl and then places the batter in a cake pan and bakes it in the oven. Young readers will be fascinated by the tabs scattered throughout the book that when pulled make the illustrations spring to life. (Ages 2-5)

‘Maisy Goes to the Hospital: A Maisy First Experiences Book’

By Lucy Cousins (Candlestick Press, $6.99)

One day while jumping on a trampoline, Maisy falls and injures her leg. At the hospital, she has an X-ray and discovers that her leg has been broken and requires a cast. This informative little story takes much of the mystery and fear out of the hospital experience. (Ages 2-6)

‘Alex and Lulu: Two of a Kind’

By Lorena Siminovich (Templar, $14.99)

Alex and Lulu are best friends even though Alex is a dog and Lulu is a cat. Even though they have different interests, does this mean they can be best pals? Not necessarily, according to this wonderfully illustrated book that reaffirms the joy of friendship, even the friendships of creatures that are different. (Ages 2-7)

‘The Wind in the Willows’

By Kenneth Grahame with illustrations by Inga Moore (Candlestick Press, $19.99)

In one of the most beloved stories for children ever, this classic first published in 1908 introduces young readers to such colorful characters as an amiable mole, his hearty friend Water Rat, Mr. Badger and Mr. Toad who resides at Toad Hall. Inga Moore’s sensitive illustrations capture all of the magic and charm of the English countryside. This book is a joy to behold and a pleasure to read, and recommended even for adults who need a little escape especially during difficult times like the present. (Ages 5 and up)

‘The Roman News,’ ‘The Egyptian News,’ ‘The Greek News’ and ‘The Aztec News’

By Philip Steele and others (Candlewick Press, $6.99 or $7.99)

These four titles explore such events as the death of Caesar, the sudden death of Tutankhamen in Egypt, the saga of Alexander the Great, and the Aztecs who establish new cities and struggle to survive. Told in a newspaper format, each story is historically accurate and richly illustrated. (Ages 9-14)

‘Flip, Flap, Fly!’

By Phyllis Root with illustrations by David Walker (Candlewick Press, $14.99)

This dandy little tale is about baby animals that fly, swim, wiggle and slide, all with the help of their mamas. With clever rhymes by Phyllis Root and the cheerful illustrations of David Walker, this is an irresistible page-turner for babies and toddlers alike. (Ages 2-5)

‘The Pop-Up House of Inventions: Hundreds of Facts About Your Home’

By Robert Crowther (Candlewick Press, $17.99)

This remarkable book has pop-up pages that allows young readers to step inside, open cupboards, peek inside closets, and discover all the fascinating inventions, great and small, that are in our homes. The pages feature the family kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, the bedroom and the garage, in addition to an overview of inventions that changed the way we live. (Ages 3 and up)

Tucsonan Larry Cox’s “Shelf Life” reviews of fiction and nonfiction books and his “Treasures and Trends” antiques column run Thursdays in Calendar Plus. For more, go to tucsoncitizen.com/calendar. E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com

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Shopping

(Editor’s note: This column was written before Gannett announced that it would not close the Citizen on March 21 as planned.)

This is the second installment of a list of sources that have been requested most often by our readers.

PAINTINGS AND ART WORK

Wayne Kielsmeier, owner of The Covington Art Gallery is one of the more knowledgeable dealers in the region when it comes to American and European paintings and other artwork. His contact info is 298-7878, 6530 E. Tanque Verde Road, No. 140, and covingtongallery@comcast.net.

POSTCARDS

The Tucson Post Card Exchange is one of the region’s premier organizations for postcard collectors. Joan Gentry is one of the club’s organizers. You can reach her at 297-0980 and 820 Via Lucitas, Tucson 85718.

RADIO AND TELEVISION REPAIR

If your Zenith is on the fritz or your Victrola needs a new spring, Dave Vaughn is your man. The owner of Dave’s Antiques, 449 W. 29th St., 790-2618, Vaughn buys, sells and repairs vintage radios and television sets. He is one of the few sources in town for steel needles for older phonographs.

SHABBY CHIC

The Grey House is housed in a small cottage that is filled to the rafters with antiques and vintage home accessories. Several months ago, the shop moved to a new location at 2301 N. Country Club Road, 325-0400.

SILVER

One of my favorite Tucson shops is Darlene Morris Antiques, 2940 N. Swan Road, 322-9050. In addition to specializing in estate silver, porcelain and Victorian-era “smallies,” she also appraises. She is one of the region’s better dealers.

SILVER MATCHING SERVICE

For those trying to complete a retired pattern of flatware, the Silver Queen is a godsend. The company, which has hundreds of retired patterns in its impressive inventory, is at 1350 W. Bay Drive, Largo, FL 33770. The toll-free number is 800-262-3134.

STOVES AND REFRIGERATORS

One of the more impressive inventories of vintage stoves and refrigerators in the American West is at Antique Vintage Appliances, 5020 E. Speedway Blvd., 326-8849. Appliances that have not been restored are available as well as ones that are ready for service. If you’re looking for a stove to accent a 1940s kitchen, this is the place.

THIMBLES

The Cactus Thimblers is one of the area’s newer clubs for collectors. The contact person is Merry Lewis, merrysl@aol.com.

TOYS

Bernie Resnick is a former dealer who is one of the nation’s recognized authorities when it comes to older toys. His expertise and his collection are impressive. Contact him at 885-6307 and bernresn@aol.com.

Some final words . . .

In October 2002, I was hired to write two weekly columns for the Tucson Citizen. “Treasures and Trends,” a column name that I incidentally hated, was driven by antique and collectible questions from our readers. “Shelf Life” featured my reviews of new books. No contract was ever signed. In fact, my agreement with Michael Chihak, the paper’s editor and publisher, was verbal and sealed with a handshake.

My columns would continue for only as long as my editors were pleased with my work and it remained fun for me. Although I can’t speak for my editors, I can honestly say that the last eight years have been one of the most fun, productive periods of my life, ironic since I considered myself retired when I moved to Arizona in 1996.

During the years I have written this column, I have answered more than 1,000 questions, found approximately 500 “best buys” in shops and malls, and worked with some of the finest newspaper people on the planet.

I was able to answer every single question submitted to me except for one. A reader, the daughter of a former Tucson dentist, inherited a collection of 300 pairs of false teeth from her dad. She contacted me to see if I could find a collector or club so she could dispose of them. Even though my column is ending, I still have her letter from 2004 on my desk and I will continue to search – just in case.

Goodbye and thank you for your interest in this column. My final hope is that you found our weekly visits both informative and fun.

LARRY COX

Freelance
Shelf Life

FICTION

‘Loser’s Town: A David Spandau Novel’

By Daniel Depp (Simon & Schuster, $25)

P.I. David Spandau, an ex-stuntman who is familiar with all of the ins and outs of Tinsel Town, is hired by Bobby Dye, an actor who is about to become a superstar. His latest movie has triggered Oscar buzz and the future looks bright except for one thing: Someone is threatening to kill him. Glittering temptations and the grimey back alleys of Hollywood set the tone for this well-crafted, gruesomely addictive debut thriller.

‘The Temptation of the Night Jasmine’

By Lauren Willig (Dutton, $25.95)

In the latest installment of Willig’s acclaimed series, Eloise Kelly, a Harvard graduate student, continues her pursuit of the elusive spy, The Pink Carnation. Sifting through a collection of old letters and official documents, Eloise and Colin Selwick, her boyfriend and partner-in-crime, uncover information that involves deceit, secrets, a passionate romance and possibly the identity of the spy. This is a crisply written novel that is an intriguing mix of history, suspense and surprises.

‘True Detectives’

By Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine, $27)

Moses Reed and Aaron Fox, originally introduced in the Kellerman best-seller, “Bones,” return in a suspenseful story involving the disappearance of Caitlin Frostig, a straight-arrow, straight-A student from Malibu. As Reed and Fox search for the young woman, they find themselves up to their necks in the sinister, seamy side of Los Angeles after dark. Dramatic, action-packed and filled with gripping psychological detail, this is literary tour-de-force that will excite readers from its opening pages to the shocking finale.

‘At the Breakers’

By Mary Ann Taylor-Hall (University Press of Kentucky, $24.95)

After escaping from an abusive relationship, Jo Sinclair, a single mother of four, finds herself in Sea Cove, N.J., in front of The Breakers, a salty old hotel undergoing renovation. In this imaginative story filled with diverse and colorful characters, Jo gets a second chance to create a full life for both herself and her children. This is a tale of reconciliation, forgiveness, hope and love written by one of Kentucky’s most intriguing writers.

‘Cape Disappointment’

By Earl Emerson (Ballantine Books, $25)

Seattle detective Thomas Black is involved in a U.S. Senate campaign. While he works for James Maddox, his wife, Kathy, supports his opponent, Jane Sheffield, a liberal incumbent. When Sheffield’s plane explodes with Kathy aboard, Black is shocked. Later, when a bomb detonates in a high school gymnasium after a speech by Maddox, Black barely escapes with his life. After recovering from his injuries, he is released from the hospital and faced with the reality that his wife is gone for good. Or is she? This perfectly executed story is satisfying on many levels.

‘A Mad Desire to Dance’

By Elie Wiesel (Knopf, $25)

This profound novel by a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize is the provocative story of a man’s life haunted by some of the grisliest horrors of the 20th century and his attempt to reclaim happiness. Doriel, a European expatriate living in New York, has a limited knowledge of the Holocaust because he was born during World War II. Nevertheless, he is surrounded by the ghosts of the past. He eventually turns to Dr. Therese Goldschmidt, a psychoanalyst, and as his search takes him deeper and deeper into unchartered waters, he must confront the secrets of his family before achieving true happiness.

‘Jack London in Paradise’

By Paul Malmont (Simon & Schuster, $25)

Hobert Bosworth, an aging matinee idol and filmmaker, is convinced that one more Jack London picture might save his sagging career. In 1916, he sets out to track down the legendary writer and get one final story out of him. Based loosely on an actual friendship between London and Bosworth, this inventive tale is a tip of the literary hat to the best of pulp fiction and is filled with high energy, a well-crafted plot and characters that both delight and amaze.

NONFICTION

‘The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit: How to Bounce Back from Life’s Hardest Hits’

By Azim Khamisa and Jillian Quinn (Ballantine, $25)

With the economy in free fall, the stock market on life support and unemployment soaring above 8 percent, this little survival guide couldn’t be more timely. The authors show how to take life’s heartbreaking hits and come out on top. They also map out a practical plan so that readers can prepare for future bumps in the road and be more emotionally resilient.

‘The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University’

By Kevin Roose (Grand Central, $24.99)

This is the true story of Brown University sophomore Kevin Roose’s semester as an undercover student at Liberty University, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell’s “Bible Boot Camp” for young evangelical Christians where the rules include no drinking, no smoking, no cursing, no dancing, and no R-rated movies. At the Lynchburg, Va., institution, the curriculum includes such classes as Creationist Biology and Evangelism 101, with guest speakers Sean Hannity, Karl Rove and more of their ilk. Roose’s experiences at the school are hilarious and heartwarming, respectful and thought-provoking.

‘The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century’

By George Friedman (Doubleday, $25.95)

Friedman, founder and CEO of STRATFOR, the world’s leading intelligence and forecasting company, rubs his crystal ball and predicts how this new century will play out. Some of Friedman’s more provocative predictions are that China will undergo a major extended internal crisis, Mexico will emerge as an important world power, technology will focus on space, and the United States will experience a golden age in the second half of the century. This is an excellent book that documents where we are now and reveals the remarkable changes that could be in store for us.

‘The Dynamite Club: How a Bombing in Fin-de-Siecle Paris Ignited the Age of Modern Terror’

By John Merriman (Houghton Mifflin, $26)

On the evening of Feb. 12, 1894, Emile Henry, armed with a bomb in his coat pocket, entered the Café Terminus in Paris, ordered a drink and then tossed his explosive toward the orchestra as he exited. Award-winning historian Merriman documents the personal history of Henry through personal journals, legal documents and period newspapers to reveal an event that changed the face of modern history forever, ordinary people becoming targets of terror. Brilliantly researched and rich with historic details, this dramatic story illuminates a period of both social and political change.

‘The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty’

By Peter Singer (Random House, $22)

Since the 1975 publication of his seminal book, “Animal Liberation,” Singer, professor of bioethics at Princeton University’s Center for Human Values, has stood at the forefront of ethical debates on such issues as abortion, euthanasia and global ethics. In his new book, Singer uses ethical arguments, provocative thought experiments, examples and case studies of charity-giving to show that eradicating world poverty and the suffering it brings are within our reach.

‘A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx’

By Elaine Showalter (Knopf, $30)

This is one of the most comprehensive histories of American women writers, from 1650-2000, and certainly the most accessible and readable. Brimming with wit and insight, this incredible work showcases 250 female writers. What makes this blend of biography, history and criticism so interesting is it doesn’t just include the usual suspects such as Willa Cather and Toni Morrison. It also features forgotten and obscure writers including the likes of both Catherine Sedgwick, an early novelist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Susan Glaspell. This monumental book will greatly enrich our understanding of American literary history and our culture.

‘Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas’

By Benson Bobrick (Simon & Schuster, $28)

George H. Thomas was born in Virginia, trained at West Point, served in the Mexican War and became a major general during the War Between the States. Given the command of the Cumberland, he led his army in a stunning Union victory at the battle of Chattanooga, supported Sherman in his march through Georgia, and later oversaw the battle of Nashville. During the Civil War, Thomas was the only Union general who never lost a battle. This stunning new biography has been crafted with impeccable research and the peerless storytelling skills of a celebrated historian who is at the top of his game.

‘Down at the Docks’

By Rory Nugent (Pantheon, $24.95)

Nugent, a travel writer, accomplished mariner and foreign correspondent, serves up an unvarnished view of New Bedford, Mass., a city that was once the world center for shipping, whaling and textile mills. As its relic fishing industry struggles to survive, the community discovers that the old ways of doing things have collided with such modern problems as drug-smuggling, illegal immigration, disorganized crime, and crippling government regulations. This is a timely look at an industrial city in an increasingly digital world.

PAPERBACKS

“Variety’s ‘The Movie That Changed by Life’ ”

Edited by Robert Hofler (Da Capo, $15.95)

In this fascinating book, 120 celebrities pick the films that made a difference and changed their lives. Contributors include Donald Trump on “Citizen Kane,” George Clooney on “All the President’s Men,” Tim Gunn on “Blowup,” and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Hofler is a senior editor of Variety.

‘The House Always Wins: Create the Home You Love – Without Busting Your Budget’

By Marni Jameson (Da Capo, $15.95)

Expanded and updated, this book is filled with advice for those who need to spruce up their homes but do not have an unlimited budget. There are simple strategies to get started, practical pointers to make every step easier, expert advice on everything from new tax laws to custom flooring, and tips to help survive almost any home remodel project.

‘The Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild’

By Craig Childs (Back Bay Books, $14.99)

Childs, a naturalist, adventurer and frequent contributor to NPR’s “Morning Edition,” interweaves species characteristics, ancient mythology and evolutionary biology with accounts of his own adventures. Along the way, readers will thrill to Childs’ life-and-death standoff with a mountain lion, his interactions with common wildlife and an unexpected run-in with the most mysterious of all beasts: man.

BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

‘The Adventures of Salt & Soap at Grand Canyon’

By Lori April Rome with illustrations by Tanja Bauerle (Grand Canyon Association, $9.95)

This is the true story of two puppies on the adventure of a lifetime. It involves a dizzying helicopter ride, rapids, friendly park rangers, desert animals and their search for a home. For children of all ages, this delightful book is a rare treat.

‘Higher! Higher!’

By Leslie Patricelli (Candlewick Books, $15.99)

As a little girl swings, she has a simple request: higher! Higher! With dad pushing she goes up, up, up, up, even higher than a giraffe, an airplane and a space creature.

‘Pizza, Cat and Mouse, Picnic, and It’s Super Mouse’

Four stories by Phyllis Root with illustrations by James Croft (Candlewick Press, $24.99)

These four mouse stories are geared to help children learn to read. The large, oversized pages, colorful illustrations and witty text are certain to please young children, especially those 4-7. Root is a Minneapolis-based author and Croft lives in London.

Freelance

‘Coffee Love’

By Daniel Young (Wiley, $17.95)

Daniel Young, a food writer and critic whose work has appeared in publications ranging from The New York Times to Gourmet magazine, is convinced that nothing unites and divides us quite like coffee, the world’s second favorite beverage after water. He points out that the aroma of coffee in the morning is as universal a signal of daybreak as the rooster’s crow, but a far better reason to get out of bed.

In his new book, Young takes readers on a globe-trotting adventure through cafes and coffee houses, from Seattle to Florence to Budapest and everywhere in between. In a breezy narrative, he serves up a review of coffee basics covering the essentials of bean selection, storage, roasting, grindings and brewing.

Beautiful full-color photography, intriguing profiles of international coffee cultures and 50 easy-to-follow recipes make this collection a must, especially for those of us who consider coffee a gift from the gods.

‘Ready, Steady, Spaghetti: Cooking for Kids and with Kids’

By Lucy Broadhurst (Andrews McMeel, $19.99)

In this kid-friendly collection, Lucy Broadhurst, a food stylist from Australia, provides great tips on getting the youngsters in the family to do more in the kitchen than watch and lick an occasional spoon. In addition to information about nutrition, hygiene and safety, there are delicious “hands-on” recipes divided into six main chapters: Little Food; Dinnertime; Eat Your Greens; Sticky Treats: Cookies, Cakes and Sweets; and Let’s Party.

Some of the better recipes include a tasty Chicken Noodle Omelet, an easy-to-prepare Sausage Pie, and a mouth-watering Pear and Raspberry Crumble.

Whether looking for new recipes or getting the kids more involved in meal preparation, this is a cookbook that brings both learning and entertainment into the family kitchen.

‘The Complete Book of Raw Food: Healthy, Delicious Vegetarian Cuisine Made with Living Food’

Edited by Julie Rodwell (Random House, $30)

As consumers become aware of the benefits of adding raw foods to their diets, this book will become essential for many of us. The first part of the book is devoted to vital information about ingredients, tools, juicers and juicing, sprouting and greening, dehydrating and advice from the pros. The 375 recipes, contributed from the world’s top raw food chefs, are divided into chapters that include Salads & Dressings, Soups; Snacks & Sides; Smoothies, Shakes, & Juices; Bread, Crackers & Chips; Raw Milk & Cheese Substitutes; Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Entrees; Spreads, Sauces & Dips; Cookies & Other Sweets; Pies & Cakes; and Ice Cream and Puddings.

There is also a raw food glossary and a list of services, supplies and resources in addition to biographical information about the contributors.

This is an excellent collection that is comprehensive and definitive. The easy-to-follow directions make simple, healthy and delicious meals almost effortless to prepare.

‘International Cuisine from The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institute’

Compiled by Michael F. Nenes (Wiley, $45)

Many American cooks, feeling adventurous, are attempting more international dishes than ever before. It is not all that unusual to find dishes from Mexico, Spain, France or Italy on the family supper table.

This exciting new collection explores the different cultures and cuisines of the world through more than 400 recipes. The chapters include foods and menus from Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, Japan, China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Spain, the Middle East, Turkey, Greece & Crete, Africa, India, the British Isles, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Russia.

In addition to the recipes, there are brief sections that show how the history, geography, religion and ingredients of a particular region influence and help define its food. This is the perfect book to teach cooks at every level about the diversity of cuisine from around the world.

‘The River Cottage Meat Book’

By Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Ten Speed Press, $40)

“The River Cottage Meat Book,” first published in the United Kingdom, has been reissued for American cooks and covers all of the basics such as choosing the very best raw materials and understanding the different cuts and the cooking techniques used with each of them.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, a renowned British chef and campaigner for real food, serves up a thought-provoking and practical guide, in addition to more than 150 delicious recipes. His book is divided into two main parts: Understanding Meat and Cooking Meat. Whether your aim is to prepare a Pork Roast with perfect crackling, a traditional Steak and Kidney Pie, a hearty Irish Stew or Roast Grouse, “The River Cottage Meat Book” is the only reference you’ll need.

As the author points out, an educated consumer can buy and prepare meat for better health and better living, while supporting the environment, vibrant local economies, and, yes, the respectful treatment of animals.

Freelance
OUR FAVORITE COOKBOOKS

‘Pillsbury Fast Slow Cooker Cookbook’

From the editors of Pillsbury (Wiley, $19.95)

The slow cooker has become one of the most important tools in the modern American kitchen. It can be a lifesaver when it comes to preparing great-tasting, home-cooked meals when time is in short supply. A new cookbook from the editors of Pillsbury serves up 140 recipes that get busy cooks in and out of the kitchen with as little as 15-minute prep time. The test with any cookbook isn’t necessary just the length of time to prepare recipes but how good they taste.

In addition to a short overview of the secrets of slow cooking success, there are six main chapters: Family Favorite Chicken & Turkey; Tasty Beef Main Dishes; Busy-Day Pork and Sausage; Stews, Soups & Chiles; Hearty Warm Sandwiches; and Great Sides & Starters. There are also a metric conversion guide and helpful nutrition and cooking information.

Most of the featured recipes are comfort foods. What sets this collection apart, however, is that by minimizing chopping and extra steps such as browning meat, prep time is dramatically cut. The ingredients are also accessible. For example, armed with a can of refrigerated biscuits or a jar of green salsa, Chicken Pot Pie and Chicken Tortilla Soup are a snap to prepare.

One of my favorite parts of this cookbook is a list of tips for adapting favorite family recipes to the slow cooker. There are also flavorful suggestions for dressing up a slow-cooked meal just before it is served at the family supper table.

In these economically challenging times, this cookbook is a true asset. It offers not only speed and convenience but money saving recipes and delicious recipes that will be family crowd pleasers throughout the year.

I tested two recipes from this collection: a hearty Hungarian Stew and a delicious Autumn Pork Roast dinner made with apple cider and sweet potatoes. Both were successful.

Tucsonan Larry Cox’s “Shelf Life” reviews of fiction and nonfiction books and his “Treasures and Trends” antiques column run Thursdays in Calendar Plus. E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com

Hungarian Stew

Prep time: 15 minutes

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean boneless beef chuck roast cut into small bite-size pieces

2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots

1 medium onion, sliced (1 1/2 cups)

1 medium green bell pepper, sliced

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt (I used sea salt)

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup chili sauce

1 can (14 ounces) beef broth

2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 bag (16 ounces) uncooked wide egg noodles (10 cups)

1 8-ounce container of sour cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

In a 4 quart slow cooker, mix beef, carrots, onion and bell pepper. Add flour, paprika, salt, thyme and pepper. Toss to coat. Stir in chili sauce and broth.

Cover, cook on low setting for 7-8 hours.

Stir mushrooms into stew. Cover, cook on low setting 20 to 30 minutes longer or until mushrooms are tender. Meanwhile, cook noodles per package instructions and drain.

At serving time, stir sour cream into stew until well mixed. Spoon noodles into individual shallow bowls. Top each with stew and sprinkle tops with parsley.

LARRY COX

Pillsbury cookbook offers quick, cheap and hearty meals

Freelance
Shopping

For my last two collectibles columns for the Tucson Citizen, I share the names and contact information for sources most often requested by our readers.

ACOUSTICAL INSTRUMENTS

Paul Blumentritt, the owner of The Folk Shop, 2525 N. Campbell Ave., is one of the region’s experts. He also buys, sells and appraises. His phone number is 881-7147.

ANTIQUE MALLS

The three I like most are American Antique Mall, 3130 E. Grant Road; Copper Country Antique Mall, 5055 E. Speedway Blvd.; and 22nd Street Antique Mall, 5302 E. 22nd St.

APPRAISERS

Diane Maier of Maier Appraisal Services received her certification from New York University and is a member of the Appraisers Association of America. She specializes in personal property, general antiques and collectibles and residential contents. Her contact information is 480-275-2104, dmaier308@aol.com.

AUTOGRAPHS

Brett Sadovnick, owner of Tucson Coin & Autographs, 6470 N. Oracle Road, is one of the few dealers in the Old Pueblo who specializes in autographs. He can be reached at 219-4427, tucsoncoin@theriver.com.

BOOKS

Tucson has several excellent books shops. A personal favorite is the Book Stop, 214 N. Fourth Ave., 326-6661. Owners Claire Fellows and Tina Bailey are friendly and experts of used and rare out-of-print books. A Web site I use frequently is www.abe.com.

CHINA-MATCHING SERVICE

Missing a piece of your Royal Doulton dinnerware? You can track down elusive pieces of retired china patterns at Replacements, P.O. Box 26029, Greenboro, NC 27428. The company’s toll free telephone number is 800-737-5223.

CLOCK REPAIR

Viki Watson is the go-to person for clock repair in the Old Pueblo. Her shop, Ye Olde Clock Shoppe, 6342 N. Oracle Road, 544-4014, is one of the best in town.

CLOTHES – VINTAGE

Got a closet of old clothes from the 1960s or ’70s? You can turn them into cash at How Sweet It Was, 419 N. Fourth Ave. The shop is consistently one of the better vintage clothing stores in our region.

COINS

Rob Weiss, the owner of Old Pueblo Coin Exchange, 4420 E. Speedway Blvd., has built a solid reputation for his competency and good business practices. His telephone number is 881-7200.

COWBOY MEMORABILIA

I continue to find treasures at Country Emporium, a wonderful shop that features vintage saddles, branding irons, wagon wheels and other assorted gems that are marketed by owners Paul and September Walker. The address and telephone number are 3431 N. Dodge Blvd. and 327-7765.

FURNITURE DEALER

I highly recommend two businesses: Tom’s Fine Furniture and Collectibles, 5454 E. Pima St., 795-5210; and Annabell’s Attic, 6178 E. Speedway Blvd., 571-8400.

GEMS AND ESTATE JEWELRY

Janet Lawwill has a regional reputation for her expertise in costume and fine estate jewelry. Her contact information is 907-2839 and jewel2@sparklz.com.

GLASS REPAIR

John Wakefield does expert repair of china and crystal pieces. He also does leaded, etched and beveled glass work at his shop, Artistry in Glass, 3423 E. Grant Road, 320-0104 and www.artistry-in-glass.com.

INDIAN ART

Two excellent shops: Michael D. Higgins & Son, 4429 N. Campbell Ave., 577-8330 and mdhiggins@ earthlink.com; and Morning Star Traders, 2020 E. Speedway Blvd., 881-2112 and Morningstar@the river.com.

INDIAN RUG REPAIR

Penelope Starr is an expert when it comes to the restoration and repair of Navajo rugs. Her contact information is 319-2464 and penelopestarr@msn.com.

MEXICAN PRIMITIVES

Spanish Cross Home Furnishings is authentic and interesting. This small shop is one of the more intriguing locally owned businesses specializing in Mexican primitives. Hard to find but worth the trouble, it is at 2929 E. Broadway, 322-5383.

MILITARY COLLECTIBLES

Jeff Albiniak owns Mystiques, which specializes in military collectibles of all kinds. He can be contacted at 514-2195, CWBUFFSTER@aol.com.

ORIENTALIA

A real treasure trove, Eastern Living has a sensational inventory that offers some of the most exceptional pieces of Asian furniture and collectibles in the Southwest. Located in the Lost Barrio at 242 S. Park Ave., the telephone number is 299-3889. Despite a little damage from a recent fire, the store is still in business.

PHOTOGRAPHY

People come from all over the world to see and purchase the incredible vintage images that are offered by the Terry Etherton Gallery, 135 S. Sixth Ave., 624-7370 and www.ethertongallery.com. This gallery has some of the most outstanding examples of early Southwest images in the region.

PIANO REPAIR & TUNING

AAA piano company is excellent, especially in the tuning and repair of older pianos. The work is professional and the cost, reasonable. Call 884-5222. For reproducing pianos, one of the more competent technicians in Arizona is Peter Knoblock in Tempe, 480-820-7093.

Next week: My final column for the Tucson Citizen will highlight more of the best of the best.

LARRY COX

Freelance
Shelf Life

FICTION

‘Nothing But a Smile’

By Steve Amick (Pantheon, $24.95)

In this story, set in 1940s Chicago, Wink Dutton, a former illustrator for Yank and Stars and Stripes, rents a room in the back of a camera shop run by Sal Chesterton, the wife of one of his war buddies still stationed in the Philippines. Business is slow until Wink talks Sal into producing pinup photos for girlie magazines. This well-crafted tale has interesting characters and a wonderfully sexy plot. Hubba, hubba.

‘The Deepest Cut’

By Dianne Emley (Ballantine Books, $24)

When Pasadena detective Nan Vining begins investigating the ugly gang murder of a low-level snitch, she is shocked to discover clues that link the murder to her own brutal assault that occurred two years earlier. Pulse-pounding prose and unexpected plot twists make this must-reading for those who love books that drip with suspense.

‘The Rules of the Game’

By Leonard Downie, Jr. (Knopf, $26.95)

Corruption, deception and intrigue in the nation’s capital are at the core of the latest novel by best-selling author Leonard Downie Jr.

Sarah Page, a reporter at the Washington Capital, is assigned to cover the dark underbelly of politics and money and as she begins her research, one of her sources is murdered and others disappear. She is determined to follow the story wherever it leads, even when she becomes the target of a car bomb. Chilling, gripping, and full of surprises, this novel is by the former executive editor of The Washington Post and current vice president of the company.

‘Brothers’

By Yu Hua (Pantheon, $29.95)

This novel, which serves up a satirical, compassionate and unforgettable portrait of life after Mao, sold more than 1 million copies in China. The plot centers on two stepbrothers, Baldi Li and Song Gang. A study in contrasts, Baldi is talkative, outgoing and sex-obsessed, while Song is quiet and bookish. As children, they pledge to be brothers forever but that vow is tested when both men fall in love with the same woman. This yin and yang tale is filled with wit, tragedy and a vibrant sense of what life is like in today’s China.

NONFICTION

‘Black: The History of a Color’

By Michel Pastoureau (Princeton University Press, $35)

Black is the archetypal color of darkness and death, and has always been the favorite of priests, artists, fashion designers, penitents, and, yes, fascists. This magnificent color has also been used to help define such things as powerfully opposed ideas, good and bad, and wealth and poverty. This remarkable book, which features a striking design and a compelling text, is a virtual feast, especially for readers who are interested in the history of fashion, art, media and design.

‘The West of the Imagination’

By William H. Goetzmann and William N. Goetzmann (University of Oklahoma Press, $65)

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian William H. Goetzmann and his son, art historian and financial economist William N. Goetzmann, present the second edition of their landmark overview of western art, first published two decades ago as a companion to the PBS series by the same name. Through an expanded text of several fresh chapters and the inclusion of more than 150 new images, the authors present the true character of the American West as nothing less than a vibrant mirror reflecting our cultural diversity.

‘Hunter S. Thompson: An Insider’s View of Deranged, Depraved, Drugged-Out Brilliance’

By Jay Cowan (The Lyons Press, $24.95)

Cowan, the editor-in-chief of Aspen Sojourner magazine, was a former caretaker at Hunter Thompson’s Owl Farm in Colorado. As his employee, friend, and next door neighbor, he knew the coked-up, suicidal journalist intimately and had a front row seat to, perhaps, his wildest – and most prolific – period. Thompson, who once described himself as a lazy hillbilly, left an indelible mark on American journalism. This incredible biography is a literary mix of sex, drugs, politics and sports. It is funny, shocking, insightful, sad, and like Thompson, unpredictable to the very end.

‘Gimme Shelter: Ugly Houses, Cruddy Neighborhoods, Fast-Talking Brokers, and Toxic Mortgages – My Three Years Searching for the American Dream’

By Mary Elizabeth Williams (Simon & Schuster, $26)

The author, the cultural critic for Public Radio International’s morning news show, is convinced that owning a home is encoded into our cultural DNA. As a writer and a parent living in New York City, her dream of owning a house quickly morphs into a test of endurance. Her search took three years, covered the farthest reaches of the boroughs and tested the very limits of her patience. Spoiler alert: After hard work and incredible determination, she eventually finds a house that fits both her lifestyle and middle-class bank account.

‘Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life’

By Gail Blanke (Springboard, $19.99)

Blanke, a motivator, best-selling author, columnist and life coach, believes that if you want to grow, you gotta let go. With that in mind, she takes us through each room of the houses, from attic to the garage, and explains that by doing such simple things as emptying the junk drawer in the kitchen (you know the one) we can truly liberate ourselves. Clutter, both physical and emotional, holds us back, weighs us down and makes us feel badly. Blanke’s book is a call to action so that we can get rid of the “life plaque” we’ve allowed to build up in our lives.

‘The Paleontology of New Mexico’

By Barry S. Kues (University of New Mexico Press, $45)

In this updated and expanded version of his 1982 book, “Fossils of New Mexico,” Kues, a professor of paleontology at the University of New Mexico, covers the state’s entire fossil record. More than 6,500 different species of fossil organisms have been documented in New Mexico, a region long considered to be a depository of diverse paleontological finds of national and international importance. This engaging book is generously illustrated, which makes the identification of specimens a much easier task.

‘Cheever: A Life’

By Blake Bailey (Knopf, $35)

John Cheever was born in Quincy, Mass., and by the time he was 22, he was writing for The New Yorker. After World War II, he taught composition and wrote scripts for television. Throughout his professional life, he spent much of his career impersonating a perfect country gentleman. A new biography suggests that he was much more complex and interesting. Bailey, a Virginia-based writer, edited a two-volume set of Cheever’s work earlier this year. He presents Cheever as a soul in conflict, a proud Yankee who flaunted his lineage while deploring the provincialism of his hometown of Quincy, dropped out of high school yet published his first short story when he was 18, and a dire alcoholic who recovered to write his greatest novel, “Falconer.”

‘Chemical Cowboys: The DEA’s Secret Mission to Hunt Down a Notorious Ecstasy Kingpin’

By Lisa Sweetingham (Ballantine Books, $26)

Sweetingham, who has written extensively for such publications as The New York Times and Parade, documents the thrilling, never-before-told story of the groundbreaking undercover investigation that led to the toppling of a billion-dollar Ecstasy trafficking network in 1995. Robert Gage, a New York DEA Agent, infiltrated club land to uncover a thriving drug scene fueled by two cultures: pill-popping club kids and Israeli dealers. This taut, behind-the-scenes look at the international drug trade is gripping, sobering and shocking.

PAPERBACKS

‘The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker’

By Steven Greenhouse (Anchor Books, $14.95)

This crisply written book asks a simple question: Why, in the world’s most affluent nation, are so many corporations squeezing their employees dry? With pragmatic recommendations on what government, business and labor should do to alleviate the economic crunch, Greenhouse explores the economic, political and social trends that are transforming the American workplace.

‘True Stories of Crime in Modern Mexico’

Edited by Robert Buffington and Pablo Piccato (University of New Mexico Press, $27.95)

This collection of essays focuses on some of the more interesting cases of crime and deviance that have occurred in Mexico since the late 19th century. Contributors include such heavy-hitters as Christopher R. Boyer, Victor M, Macias-Gonzales and Renato Gonzales Mello. The documentary record of each case is explored to show the impact that each had on Mexican culture. The collection is edited by Buffington, an associate professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Piccato, author of “City of Suspects: Crimes in Mexico City, 1900-1931.”

‘The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home’

By Terra Wellington (St. Martin’s Griffin, $16.95)

This practical guide is jam-packed with hundreds of “green” suggestions that can help us save our environment. For example, Wellington suggests that we contact the manager of our neighborhood grocery store to make certain that it carries locally grown produce, we buy coffee that is USDA organic and fair trade certified, and we keep our family diets free of food tainted with pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or genetic engineering. The author is spokeswoman for more than 50 companies including Proctor & Gamble, Clorox, and Hormel Foods.

‘Comfortably Numb: How Psychiatry Is Medicating a Nation’

By Charles Barber (Vintage, $15.95)

It is a shocking fact that American doctors dispense approximately 230 million antidepressant prescriptions each year, more than any other class of medication. Barber explores this disturbing phenomenon in his compulsively readable, urgently relevant and meticulously researched account of our pill-popping society.

Freelance
OUR FAVORITE COOKBOOKS

LARRY COX

contactlarrycox@aol.com

By Carol Fenster, Ph. D (Wiley, $35)

It isn’t easy to prepare meals for those who have wheat allergies, gluten intolerance, or celiac disease. Carol Fenster, an internationally recognized food expert, discovered that she was gluten intolerant more than two decades ago. Since then, she has spent much of her time developing gluten-free strategies and helping others who need to make the transition to a free-gluten lifestyle.

Most recipes for even basic pies, cakes, pastas and breads contain wheat, the most common source of gluten. Since even packaged foods such as dressings and seasons may contain it, consumers must be educated and vigilant.

If your household requires gluten-free cooking, this new collection of recipes will be essential and indispensable. There are recipes that are suitable for almost every meal of every day. Best of all, the selections are fairly easy to prepare and delicious.

This massive 700-page book is divided into 17 chapters: Pancakes, Waffles and Other Breakfast Foods; Quick Breads and Muffins’ Yeast Breads; Appetizers and Snacks; Salads and Soups; Sandwiches, Wraps and Tacos; Pastas; Grains and Beans; Fish and Seafood; Poultry; Meats; Vegetables; Cookies and Bars; Cakes and Cupcakes: Pies and Pastries; Fruit and Custard Desserts; and Homemade Gluten-Free Ingredients. There is also a new outline for a gluten-free diet that is compatible for our 21st century.

Two recipes were tested from this cookbook, a delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage – since St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner – and a surprisingly good Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake (yes, I said mayonnaise).

This excellent collection features 172 breakfast recipes; 75 for sandwiches, salads, and soups; 106 pasta, grain, bean, and vegetable dishes; 205 for main courses; and 377 for cookies, cakes, pies, and other mouth-watering desserts. Simply put, this is the best gluten-free cookbook I’ve seen and it is highly recommended, even if you aren’t on a restricted diet. It’s that good.

Tucsonan Larry Cox’s “Shelf Life” reviews of fiction and nonfiction books and his “Treasures and Trends” antiques column run Thursdays in Calendar Plus. For more, go to tucsoncitizen.com/calendar.

E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Makes 12 servings

3/4 cup boiling water

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process or alkali)

3/4 cup real mayonnaise (not reduced fat or salad dressing)

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I used Mexican vanilla)

2 cups Carol’s Sorghum Blend*

1 teaspoon baking soda

Place a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9-inch square nonstick cake pan (gray, not black).

In a small bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa and stir until smooth. Set aside while you measure remaining ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl, beat mayonnaise, sugar, and vanilla extract with electric mixer at medium speed about one minute. Reduce speed to low and beat in cocoa mixture just until incorporated. Gradually add sorghum blend and basking soda, beating just enough that the batter thickens. Spread evenly in the pan.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Cut and serve immediately.

*Carol’s Sorghum Blend

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour

1 1/2 cups starch/cornstarch

1 cup tapioca flour

Whisk ingredients together until well blended. Store it tightly covered and in a dark, dry place. You may refrigerate or freeze the blend but bring it to room temperature before using.

Makes 4 cups. You can double or triple this recipe.