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
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
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.

Citizen Staff Writer
Music

AUSTIN COUNTS

Tucson Citizen

One
of the hardest working men in country music is making his way back to
the Old Pueblo with a new CD dedicated to the people who keep this
nation moving: American truckers.

Aaron Tippin’s new CD, “In Overdrive,” is a collection of country
classics that celebrate the trucker lifestyle – something the singer
can relate to as a former rig driver himself.

The disc is Tippin’s second release from his newly established
record label, “Nippit” – Tippin spelled backward – in a joint
partnership with Rust Nashville label founder Ken Cooper. The artist
was more than happy to leave bigger recording companies behind in favor
of having creative control of his work.

“Everybody is scratching for a place on the charts,” Tippin says
during a recent phone interview. “So it’s nice to be able to do the
kind of projects that I want to do and the fans will like.”

Trucker classics such as Jerry Reed’s “Eastbound and Down” and
Maggard Cletus’ “White Knight” have been dusted off and repolished by
Tippin. The album also includes Tippin’s pro-drilling anthem “Drill
Here, Drill Now,” which first debuted on “The Sean Hannity Show” on Fox
News Channel last fall.

Tippin had his heart set on recording an album that honors the
American truck driver, many of whom have been hit hard by the weak
economy and high gas prices.

“I used to listen to these songs when I would be driving and thought
‘I could record these songs,’ ” the 50-year-old Tippin says. “And now I
have.”

Tippin’s truck-driving roots go way back. He learned how to drive a
truck at the age of 6 on his family’s farm. He says he also learned a
strong work ethic, courtesy of his father, and has based his life’s
philosophy around it.

Later in life, Tippin used the skills he learned on the farm to land
a commercial truck driving job, as well as many other jobs, before
making the move to country music permanently. Before becoming a country
music star, Tippin worked nights at an aluminum factory in Kentucky and
then would drive 60 miles to work as a staff writer for Acuff-Rose
Music in Nashville by morning.

“I kept up that routine for two years before they finally gave me a
permanent job,” he says. “I work as hard as I can because I’m a farm
boy.”

Many professionals who have worked with Tippin consider him “the
hardest working man in country music” because of his dedication to his
craft and the hardships he had to endure early in his career.

“I don’t know about being the hardest working man in country music,” Tippin says. “But I’m definitely the most routine.”

Hard work isn’t Tippin’s only virtue; he is a strong believer in
giving back to the community. He builds bikes onstage at shows and then
donates them to that city’s local “Toys for Tots” organization. In the
past 10 years, he has built and donated more than 800 bicycles to the
group.

Another recipient of Tippin’s generosity is the U.S. military. Once
a year, he entertains troops in Afghanistan. He began performing for
military stationed abroad in 1990 when he was invited to join the Bob
Hope USO Show during the Gulf War. During his first performance, the
crowd gave him a standing ovation when he finished his hit “Where the
Stars and Stripes Meet.”

“When they stood up after I played,” he says, “it was heartfelt.”

IF YOU GO

What: Aaron Tippin in concert

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Desert Diamond Casino, Interstate 19 and Pima Mine Road

Price: $18 advance, $23 day of show

Info: 321-1000, www.ticketmaster.com

Citizen Staff Writer
Music

ROGELIO YUBETA OLIVAS

rolivas@tucsoncitizen.com

Tucson musician Domingo DeGrazia is honoring the memory of his late father, local artist Ted DeGrazia, with a concert Saturday at the Fox Theatre. Part of the yearlong celebration marking the centennial of Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia’s birth, the show will feature the DeGrazia Guitar Band performing Spanish guitar blended with touches of flamenco, salsa, rock drum beats and other Latin rhythms.

The elder DeGrazia died of cancer in 1982, and proceeds from the concert will benefit the American Cancer Society.

In an e-mail interview Domingo DeGrazia, 34 – who also is an attorney specializing in juvenile law – discusses his father’s influence on his life, the three CDs he has in the works and how a waitress at one of their restaurant performances became the group’s violin player.

Question: How did you stumble into music?

Answer: I think I was born into music. I started playing piano at age 10 and picked up guitar and bass around age 12. I had only three formal lessons because the lessons had little to do with enjoying guitar and more to do with holding the guitar in a technically perfect posture. I have been writing my own music ever since. My whole family on my mom’s side are musicians and my dad played trumpet, so I literally grew up surrounded by music.

Why Spanish guitar?

I have always been drawn to Spanish guitar music. Spanish guitar music for me combines passion with exotic rhythmic flair. The music can have a strong danceable feel or convey an amazing depth of emotion. Also, the guitar techniques for the right-hand are often difficult to play, making it more enticing.

So you’re working on your new and third CD. Please tell me more about it.

The new Spanish guitar CD will be titled “Nuance” and should be out around July of 2009. It will be the same flavor as the “San Carlos” CD and will include guitar, violin, bass, drums and percussion. I’ve already started recording a few of the new songs and I am excited. Concertgoers can get a sneak peek at some of the new songs at our concert at the Fox. Expect the CD to be upbeat and exotic.

What about the Christmas CD? When will that be ready and what will it include?

I’ve had a lot of people asking for a Christmas CD. The Christmas CD will be ready November 2009 and will have traditional Christmas songs, with a little Spanish guitar flair. It will include “Carol of the Bells,” “Silent Night” and “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting).” I’m planning on some guest performances on that CD.

You’re also planning a classical CD with a member of your band, violinist Beth Daunis. How did the project come about?

I was introduced to Beth Daunis during a New Year’s performance. The owner of the restaurant asked if one of the servers who played violin could sit in with us on a song. I was hesitant, but I couldn’t really say “no” since the owner also hired us. Beth walked up with her violin and I asked if she could play in A minor. She said she could and we played a great song, improvised on the spot. She has been playing with us ever since. The guitar and violin CD should be out by the middle of 2009. Some of the songs that I write are too classical sounding or too folk sounding to be included on a Spanish guitar CD, but the songs are perfect for this CD.

So you’re a musician, lawyer, pilot and former motorcycle racer. Where does that sense of adventure come from and what other careers or pastimes would you like to conquer?

I’m not sure where my adventurous side came from. I started out as a bicycle stunt rider and later moved to motorcycles and before I graduated high school I had my pilot’s license. I’ve always been comfortable in high-pressure situations, so extreme sports felt natural to me. In recent years music and law have dominated my attention so I haven’t had time to pursue other passions. But I look forward to scuba diving, flying gliders, getting back into skiing.

Who were your music influences, and why?

I like well-written songs, from any genre. I started playing music in heavy rock bands so that music will always influence my songwriting. I’m also influenced by classical and folk musicians. To name a few bands I would say, Sepultura, Dream Theater, Jesse Cook, and (Andres) Segovia. I have a few thousand songs in my iPod.

What special treats do you have planned for the concert at the Fox?

We have fantastic musicians and a great stage show. Along with violin, drums, percussion and bass, we have a flamenco dancer coming to perform with us. Also, we have a beautiful stage setup and Allusion Studios is also bringing a DVD crew and they will be recording a live audio CD. The audience will also be naming a song for the new CD. It is a song that I haven’t had inspiration to name, so I thought it would be fun to have the audience name the song.

What do you think your dad would think of all the hoopla surrounding what would have been his 100th birthday?

I think he would be proud. This concert is part of a yearlong celebration the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is holding for him. My dad touched a lot of people with his art, and I think he would be honored that so many people are still celebrating his life and his art.

DeGrazia’s son dazzles with music

IF YOU GO

What: DeGrazia Centennial Concert featuring the DeGrazia Guitar Band

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress

Price: $25, $35, $50

Info: 624-1515, www.foxtucsontheatre.org

Freelance
Shelf Life

Larry Cox

contactlarrycox@aol.com

‘Fundamentals of Photography: The Essential Handbook for Both Digital and Film Camera’

By Tom Ang (Knopf, $25)

Ang, an award-winning photographer and a leading authority on digital photography, shares many of his secrets in this comprehensive, essential guide. The contents include such topics as the fundamentals of light, working with color, processing the image and outputting the image along with tips for buying and using various cameras. Whether beginner or an old pro, using a film camera or digital, today’s photographer will find this up-to-date books very useful.

‘Flat Earth’

By Christine Garwood (St. Martin’s Press, $27.95)

Christopher Columbus was not the explorer who discovered the Earth was round. According to Dr. Garwood, the idea of a spherical world was accepted in educated circles as early as the fourth century B.C. She adds that it was not until the 19th century that the notion of a flat word took hold and she claims the bizarre notion persists to this very day despite Apollo missions and widely publicized pictures of the “blue ball” as seen from space. Based on a range of original sources, this fascinating history of flat-Earth beliefs raises issues that are central to the history and philosophy of science, its relationship to religion and the making of human knowledge about our natural world.

‘Have You Seen . . .?’

By David Thomson (Knopf, $39.95)

This marvelous book is a literary tip of the hat to more than 1,000 films, from masterpieces to oddities, from guilty pleasures, to classics. As Thomson points out in his introduction, there are even a few disasters. The reference, which begins with the 1948 horror-classic, “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” and ends with “Zabriske Point” released in 1970, is a companion volume to “Thomson’s Biographical Dictionary of Film” published in 1975, and is, itself, an incredible achievement. The crisp essays in this collection are fun, informative and a literary feast for movie lovers.

‘The Sun and the Moon: The Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists, and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth-Century New York’

By Matthew Goodman (Basic Books, $26)

Goodman, a frequent contributor to such publications as The American Scholar, The Utne Reader and the Harvard Review, chronicles the summer of 1835, when the New York Sun newspaper convinced its readers that the moon was inhabited. The story, which was quickly picked up by other publications, created a sensation. Told in rich, historic detail, “The Sun and the Moon” brings the raucous world of 1830s New York to life and reveals how this outrageous story, and others like it, popularized the penny papers and made America into a nation of newspaper readers.

‘The Well-Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself’

By Hannah Holmes (Random House, $25)

Holmes, a columnist for Discovery Channel online, has traveled to the far corners of the Earth in her quest to better understand its history, study dinosaurs, volcanic ash and dust among other things. Her new book explores something a little closer to home: the creature, homo sapiens. In her research, she reveals such tidbits as our brains consume 20 percent of our daily calorie intake, women are more likely than men to wake up mid-surgery, and sleeping in a ratty old T-shirt can trigger a biological reaction in the person beside you. The perfect blend of an engaging, witty narrative and good science make this a highly entertaining book.

‘Hitler’s Private Library: The Books That Shaped His Life’

By Timothy W. Ryback (Knopf, $25.95)

This is a strange little book about a strange little subject. According to the author, the education of Adolf Hitler was formed largely through the books in his personal library. Many of the books from his collection were recently discovered at the Library of Congress. Hitler read everything from “Don Quixote,” “Robinson Crusoe,” and Shakespeare to Henry Ford’s rabidly notorious anti-Semitic tract, “The International Jew.” Ryback, who has written for such publications as The Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal, provides a remarkable view into Hitler’s intellectual world and personal evolution.

‘Meltdown: How Greed and Corruption Shattered Our Financial System and How We Can Recover’

By Katrina vanden Heuvel and the editors at The Nation (Nation Books, $15.95)

Many of the writers and editors at The Nation, America’s oldest weekly magazine, saw our economic meltdown and collapse years before it became a part of our daily lives. In a series of articles gleaned from the past 20 years, the observers who saw it all coming now offer up a vision of how we can survive and move forward. Highlights include Robert Sherrill on why the bubble popped, Christopher Hayes on the coming foreclosure tsunami, Barbara Ehrenreich on the implosion of capitalism and Thomas Frank on the rise of market populism. Also explored is what President Obama and his administration must do to ensure a more secure future for America.

‘Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid’

By Dr. Denis Leary (Viking, $26.95)

This book will make you laugh, cry, and, yes, even anger you. Leary, the Oscar-nominated actor and comedian, has written one of the most snarky, smart and witty books of the year. Part memoir, part self-help tome and completely entertaining, “Why We Suck” is perfect reading for those who agree that skinny jeans are for skinny people, NyQuil is a perfect solution for noisy children, most kids are not cute, and Americans are hated throughout the world because we generally elect dopes and crooks as our political leaders. Leary, who received a doctorate of humane letters from Emerson College in Boston, goes to the head of the class for providing this rollicking literary roller coaster ride. A word of warning: hold on tight!

Freelance
Shelf Life

‘Beside Every Successful Man: A Woman’s Guide to Having It All’

By Megan Basham (Crown Forum, $24.95)

Basham, a Tucson-based author, builds a convincing case that stay-at-home wives are in an excellent position to help propel the careers of their husbands. The wives of today are more highly educated and work-credentialed than those of generations past and this provides them the tools to forge a true partnership in the marriage. Basham is convinced that with a little effort, wives can become career partners, both mentoring and advising their husbands so that together they can reach higher levels of financial success. This user-friendly book reveals how the family home can become a “command center,” how marriages can be made stronger and how professional goals can be achieved.

‘Real Life Management: 5 Steps to ALTERing Your Attitude About Health, Money, and Relationships’

By Wayne E. Nance with William Hendricks and J. Keet Lewis (Fireside Books, $14)

Two-thirds of Americans are too fat, 82 percent will retire broke and more than half of their marriages will end in divorce. According to Nance, creator of Real Life Management Inc., even though there are no quick fixes to losing weight, making money and transforming broken relationships, we can re-examine our individual style and personal attitude to gain control of our lifestyle problems. Nance’s 10-step plan provides the path needed to help readers set realistic goals and manage their lives to the fullest.

‘The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green’

By Starre Vartan (St. Martin’s Press, $16.95)

If 2009 is the year you decide to become greener, this dandy little book could be the extra motivation you need. Vartan, creator of the popular blog www.eco-chick.com, has written a snappy go-to book that serves up advice on such things as finding eco-friendly fashion and accessories, avoiding pesky power vampires and even making our pets more planet-friendly. With sane information about groceries, gardens and ways to lower our carbon footprints, this delightful eco-guide is custom-written for young women who are trying to lead fashionable and eco-conscious lives on a fixed income.

‘Discover Your Inner Wisdom: Using Intuition, Logic, and Common Sense to Make Your Best Choices’

By Char Margolis with Victoria St. George (Fireside Books, $14)

Margolis, who has built an international reputation for her talents as a psychic medium, has written a guide that suggests that we can blend our intuitive powers with common sense and logic so that we can make wiser choices in life. By focusing our powers, Margolis claims we can achieve better health, raise happier children, attract compatible partners, sense opportunities and even avoid negativity. According to this book, all this is possible if we begin our personal journey of discovery and listen to our inner wisdom.

‘Complete Guide to Women’s Health: Everything You Need to Know, Age 35 and Beyond’

By Dr. Nieca Goldberg (Ballantine, $16)

This indispensable, essential guide provides a system-by-system tour of the female body, lists symptoms and what they mean, and reveals effective ways to communicate with health professionals. It also covers various treatment options, explores the benefits of preventive medicine and outlines a sensible eating and exercise program. If you are a woman older than 35, you probably have more stress than even you realize. You are also more than likely low on energy, have gained weight and are not sleeping as soundly as you once did. Goldberg, an associate professor of medicine and medical director of New York University’s Women’s Heart Program and former chief of women’s cardiac care at Lenox Hill Hospital, offers warmth, encouragement and solid information on how to get back on the path to good health.

‘Feeling Good Together: The Secret to Making Troubled Relationships Work’

By David D. Burns, (Broadway Books, $24.95)

In his previous best-seller, “Feeling Good,” Dr. Burns introduced cognitive behavior therapy, a clinically proven, drug-free therapy that is a radically different approach to making troubled relationships work. The plan is based on three simple but powerful ideas, namely that we cause the exact relationship problems we complain about, we don’t examine our own role in the problem and we have far more power than we think to change. His new book is based on 25 years of clinical experience and groundbreaking research on more than 1,000 individuals with happy or troubled relationships and it provides the tools we need to resolve virtually any relationship problem almost instantly. By following his plan, Burns is certain that we can achieve far more satisfying relationships with the people we care about, as well as the ones we don’t.

‘One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good’

By Regina Leeds (Da Capo/Lifelong, $16.95)

If we break down our lives into bite-size weeks, we can create a bedroom that is a sanctuary, organize our e-mail inbox, declutter the kids’ rooms, find the surface of our dining room table and even clear our garage so that we can park our car inside it. Leeds, named best organizer in Los Angeles by Los Angeles magazine, has discovered that most of us have the same amount of stuff and the same issues when it comes to getting ourselves – and our lives – organized. With weekly projects ranging from tackling our closets to whipping up a Thanksgiving dinner, this guide provides the structure and the time frame to achieve the impossible: personal organization.

‘The Truth Shall Make You Rich: The New Road Map to Radical Prosperity’

By Farrah Gray (Plume, $15)

With the U.S. economy in meltdown, the dreams of many Americans to own a home, pay off our debt and even find financial security seem to be slipping further and further from our grasp. Gray, a money coach on AOL and a consultant to JP Morgan Chase, challenges many of the popular misconceptions that many of us have about what it takes to achieve success. He debunks seven major myths that hinder personal success and shows how his practical and down-to-earth advice can put readers on a path toward fulfilling many of their financial goals.

‘Emotional Bull****: The Hidden Plague That is Threatening to Destroy Your Relationships – and How to Stop It’

By Carl Alasko (Tarcher/Penguin, $14.95)

Alasko, a practicing, California-based psychotherapist for more than two decades, thinks that all of us are affected by the toxicity of “emotional bull****.” Drawing on case studies, the author demonstrates that whether it’s a casual “I forgot,” or a premeditated deception, emotional bull**** erodes trust and drives people apart. From the highest precincts of commerce and politics to the casual verbal interactions we have with friends and neighbors, EB entails three main ingredients: denial, delusion and blame. In this simple, straightforward book, Alasko shows how to detect EB and the steps we can take to keep it from contaminating our daily lives.

Freelance
Shelf Life

‘A Christmas Carol’

By Charles Dickens (CreateSpace, $4.95 softbound)

Written by Charles Dickens and published just before Christmas in 1843, this is, without a doubt, one of the most celebrated holiday stories ever written. Brimming with such timeless literary characters as flinty Ebenezer Scrooge, good-hearted Bob Cratchit, and, of course, Tiny Tim, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the joy contained in this wonderful little book. This edition of the world’s most famous ghost story features the original text, exactly as originally written by Dickens 165 Christmas seasons ago.

‘Santa Clawed: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery’

By Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown (Bantam, $25)

As Brown explains, it takes a cat to write the purr-fect mystery. Her new book begins just 10 days before Christmas in the community of Crozet, Va. With felines Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, as well as Canine Tucker in tow, Mary “Harry” Haristeen and her husband, Fair, arrive at the local evergreen farm to select their holiday tree. They are shocked to discover the body of the farm’s owner, Christopher Hewitt, lodged beneath one of the spruces. The time has come to find out who’s naughty and catch the murderer before he strikes again.

‘A McKettrick Christmas’

By Linda Lael Miller (MIRA Books, $16.95 softbound)

This crisply written novel features the McKettrick family, ranchers in Arizona Territory. Lizzie McKettrick, after two years away at school in San Francisco, boards a train for her family home, the Triple M Ranch. With her is Whitney Carson, a man she thinks might propose marriage to her during the holidays. After three days of traveling, the locomotive is struck by a tremendous avalanche. Although most of the passengers escape injury, the conductor and engineer are killed. As the weather worsens, the threat of yet another snow slide becomes imminent.

‘A Christmas Grace’

By Anne Perry (Ballantine Books, $18)

With Christmas just around the corner, Thomas Pitt’s sister-in-law, Emily Radley, is suddenly called from London to be with her dying aunt. Leaving her husband and two children behind, she arrives in the small village of Connemara on the western coast of Ireland. The painful memories of an unsolved murder and the troubling fears that the killer may still be lurking about have put a damper on the holiday season. Can Emily crack the case and unmask the murderer? This suspenseful story of tragedy and redemption is about the gift that comes with making peace with the past.

‘The Handmaid and the Carpenter’

By Elizabeth Berg (Ballantine Books, $10 softbound)

This novel transports readers to Nazareth in biblical times where we meet Mary and Joseph. Berg’s careful examination of the young couple’s feelings about their immaculate conception brings fresh insights and a deeper meaning to this ancient story. Beautiful in its simplicity and faithful to the traditional version, this exquisitely written book is imbued with a lyrical, poetic writing style that has helped earn Berg a devoted readership throughout the world.

‘Dashing Through the Snow’

By Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark (Simon & Schuster, $23)

In the duo’s fifth holiday suspense novel, the adventure is set in picturesque Branscombe, a small town in snowy New Hampshire. Hoping to create an annual event that will attract tourists, local residents plan a Festival of Joy. The night before the festival is to begin, a group of workers learn they have won $180 million in the lottery. When one of their co-workers, a man who opted out of the lottery, vanishes, people begin to wonder if he purchased a second winning ticket in a neighboring town. Interesting characters, an innovative plot, and old-fashioned wit combine to ladle out a generous helping of holiday cheer.

‘What Does Mrs. Claus Do?’

By Kate Wharton with illustrations by Christian Slade (Tricycle, $15.99)

Everyone has a fairly good handle on what Santa Claus does, but what does Mrs. Santa do? In this modern tale about Santa’s better half, young readers discover that she is a multi-tasker. For example, she entertains, runs the Claus Enterprises, processes consumer requests and develops new products. She also is a whale rider, sushi chef, snowmobile chopper, heli-bungee-jump-mountaintop hopper, movie director, gingerbread architect, snowman inspector, and much more. Despite all of her activities, she loves greeting Santa when he returns from his busiest night of the year. (All ages)

‘Cole Family Christmas’

By Jennifer Liu Bryan with Hazel Cole Kendle and the illustrations of Jenniffer Julich (Next Chapter Press, $17.95)

Just before Christmas, the nine children in the Cole family gather around the Sears catalog in their home in the small mining community of Benham, Ky. When a blizzard prevents their Papa from coming home after working extra hours at the coal mine on Christmas Eve, the stage is set for an unexpected holiday that no one could have predicted. This simple, good-natured story and the richly detailed artwork are the perfect combination for this heart-warming story. (Ages 7-12)

Freelance
Shelf Life

A roundup of Larry Cox’s recommended new books

‘They Made Their Mark: An Illustrated History of the Society of Woman Geographers’

By Jane Eppinga (Globe Pequot Press, $29.95)

Tucson author Jane Eppinga documents the achievements of 23 members of the Society of Woman Geographers, including Pearl S. Buck, Jane Goodall, Amelia Earhart and Margaret Mead. Also featured are lesser known members such as Edith “Jackie” Maslin Roone, the first lady of Antarctica; mountain climber extraordinaire Annie Smith Peck; and writer and groundbreaking television producer Elizabeth Brownstein.

Supplemented with rare images from the society’s archives, this crisply written book fills a vital gap in history by bringing into focus the long overlooked but vast and varied achievements of some of the brightest and bravest women the world has ever known.

‘Otero Mesa: Preserving America’s Wildest Grassland’

By Gregory McNamee with photographs by Stephen Strom and Stephen Capra (University of New Mexico Press, $24.95)

The Greater Otero Mesa area encompasses more than 1.2 million acres of remote Chihuahuan Desert grassland in southern New Mexico. This region, which is North America’s largest and wildest grassland, is between the Guadalupe Mountains and El Paso, Texas. It is a complex environment and home of many species of wildlife and native plants. Gregory McNamee, a Tucson-based writer, editor and photographer, points out that this “strange and empty place” is under threat by oil and gas interests and action must be taken so that it remains intact and unspoiled. (McNamee and Stephen Strom will read from their new book Dec. 5 at the Arizona Historical Society Book Fair at the historical society’s main Tucson museum, 949 E. 2nd Street.)

‘Shadows at Dawn: A Borderland Massacre and the Violence of History’

By Karl Jacoby (Penguin Press, $32.95)

Prize-winning historian Karl Jacoby, an associate professor of history at Brown University, examines one of America’s bloodiest Indian massacres. On April 30, 1871, just before dawn, a combined party of Americans, Mexicans and members of the Tohono O’odham tribe surrounded a small settlement of Apaches in the Arizona borderlands. Despite the fact that the Apaches were under the supposed protection of the United States government, they were attacked and nearly 150 people – mostly women and children – slain in their sleep. The account of this incident is told from the perspectives of four of the parties involved and challenges our traditional reading of American history. Jacoby paints a sweeping panorama of the Southwestern borderlands, a world far more complex, multicultural and morally ambiguous than is popularly understood. This is a landmark book, meticulously researched and long overdue.

‘The Navajo Nation: A Visitor’s Guide’

By Patrick and Joan Lavin (Hippocrene Books, $21.95)

Tucson-based writers Patrick and Joan Lavin have written an insightful guide that focuses on the largest Indian reservation in the United States, the Navajo Nation, a region that encompasses sections of Arizona, New Mexico and southern Utah. In addition to a list of the major attractions, scenic routes and accommodations, there are suggestions for 3- to 10-day trips, special details for RVs, camping and hiking, and ways to both explore and enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of Navajoland.

‘A Place of Refuge: Maynard Dixon’s Arizona’

By Thomas Brent Smith (Tucson Museum of Art, $40)

Western painter Maynard Dixon was born in California but was attracted to Arizona because he found it “a land bright and mysterious, of sun and sand, of tragedy and stark endeavor.” Many of his most important paintings reflect the beauty and solitude of our state. After his first visit to Arizona in 1900, he began creating a collection of distinctive artwork that reflected what he believed was the vanishing West. Thomas Brent Smith, a former Curator of Art of the American West at the Tucson Museum of Art, explores Dixon’s remarkable work, which was a dramatic departure from the traditional depictions of human conflict in the Old West as rendered by such predecessors as Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell and Charles Schreyvogel. This is a magnificent book documenting the life and work of one of America’s most talented Southwestern artists.

‘Grand Canyon: Views Beyond the Beauty’

With text and photography by Gary Ladd (Grand Canyon Association/University of Arizona Press, $14.95)

Gary Ladd’s work has been featured in National Geographic Books and notable publications such as Arizona Highways, Life magazine and Modern Photography. His latest collection is a personal guide to the Grand Canyon, covering 20 North and South Rim overlooks, including Grand Canyon Village, Yavapai Point, Mather Point, Desert View and Bright Angel Point. In addition to more 100 stunning images, there are facts about the geology, human history, prehistory, ecology and weather patterns of this incredible site, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

‘Gila Libre! New Mexico’s Last Wild River’

By M.H. Salmon (University of New Mexico Press, $19.95)

Located near where the Rocky Mountains meet the Sierra Madre, the Gila River is the last major undeveloped river in New Mexico. M.H. Salmon, a Silver City-based writer who has written extensively about the American Southwest, reveals the river’s story to date and speculates on its future. His highly readable book extols the recreational joys of the waterway, including fishing, bird-watching, and canoe trips. This is a fitting homage to one of the last truly rare, wild places in our region.

‘Colonias in Arizona and New Mexico: Border Poverty and Community Development Solutions’

By Adrian X. Esparza & Angela J. Donelson (University of Arizona Press, $19.95)

Half a million people live in 227 officially designated colonias in southern Arizona and New Mexico. These communities are characterized by poor-quality housing, a lack of infrastructure, adequate water, sewer systems and electricity. Adrian X. Esparza, an associate professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Arizona, and Angela Joy Donelson, president of Donelson Consulting, a firm that assists nonprofit organizations and local governments with housing and community development capacity building, provide the first comprehensive overview of regional colonias, with the aim of increasing their visibility and promoting community development. This is a seminal work that merits our attention.

‘Wings in the Desert: A Folk Ornithology of the Northern Pimans’

By Amadeo M. Rea (University of Arizona Press, $70)

In this focused account of the O’odham tribes of Arizona and Northwest Mexico, Amadeo Rea, an adjunct professor in the department of anthropology at the University of San Diego, explores the rich ornithology that has been generated by tribal members about the birds that are native to their region. Through highly detailed descriptions and accounts that reflect Native American voices, this is the definitive study of folk ornithology and a valuable asset for scholars of both linguistics and North American Native studies.

Freelance

‘Danger’s Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her’

By Maxwell Taylor Kennedy (Simon & Schuster, $30)

On May 11, 1945, a young Japanese kamikaze pilot, Kiyoshi Ogawa, crashed his plane into the USS Bunker Hill in the western Pacific Ocean about 100 miles from the raging battle for the island of Okinawa. The first hit was followed by an assault by a second pilot, seriously damaging the carrier and killing or injuring more than 700 of its crewmen. Kennedy, a devoted maritime historian, combines the best elements of storytelling, research and objective analysis to document this seminal event.

‘POWDER: Writing by Women in the Ranks, From Vietnam to Iraq’

Edited by Lisa Bowden and Shannon Kane (Kore Press, $17.95)

As revealed in the foreword, women make up over 14 percent of the U.S. armed forces and comprise 11.4 percent of officers serving in the Middle East. As of 2006, more than 2,000 women who saw action in Iraq or Afghanistan have been awarded Bronze Stars for valor, and some 1,300 the Combat Action Badge. This highly readable collection is part memoir and part poetry, and all contributed by women who’ve been involved in conflicts from Somalia to Vietnam to Desert Shield. Many of the 19 contributors are authors and winners of writing awards and fellowships.

‘Wounded Warriors: Those for Whom the War Never Ends’

By Mike Sager (Da Capo, $16.95)

Sager was commissioned to write his first magazine piece for Esquire in 1983, about Vietnam vets living in Thailand after the war. Fast forward 25 years. His most recent book centers on his original article and presents an even fuller picture of today’s injured soldiers as they struggle to come to terms with their physical injuries and limitations. Sager, a former Washington Post reporter and Rolling Stone contributing editor, writes with a keen eye, grit, and insight. This is a compelling book that is guaranteed to both shock and haunt long after the final page has been read.

‘Why Marines Fight’

By James Brady (Thomas Dunne Books, $14.95)

Brady, who commanded a rifle platoon during the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star for valor, has served up one of the best books ever written about the U.S. Marine Corps. First published in 2007 and now in paperback, this book is a series of essays by combat-seasoned Marines who were asked to explain, in their own unscripted words, what drove them to battle and why they fought so well. The result are contributions that ring with clarity, elegance and brutal frankness, providing a rare look into the minds of our most admired warriors. “Why Marines Fight” is an example of exceptional reporting that has all the emotional kick of a punch to the gut.

‘In a Time of War: The Proud and Perilous Journey of West Point’s Class of 2002′

By Bill Murphy Jr. (Henry Holt & Company, $27.50)

The West Point class of 2002 was the first in a generation to graduate into armed combat. Murphy offers remarkable insights into a handful of soldiers’ lives during a time of upheaval and division, focusing on two members of the class of 2002 in particular: Todd Bryan, a witty Californian from a family with a military tradition, and Drew Sloan, the hardworking son of liberal parents from Arkansas. Drawing on more than 200 interviews with the officers, their families and the soldiers they served with, this is a sympathetic picture of the struggles faced by the military men and their families as they face separation, anxiety, fear and pride.

‘The Brenner Assignment: The Untold Story of the Most Daring Spy Mission of World War II’

By Patrick K. O’Donnell (Da Capo, $25)

The Brenner Pass was an essential trade and military route through the Alps. Following the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Germans began using the path as a major supply artery for the Third Reich. Drawing on recently declassified files, private documents and personal interviews, O’Donnell reveals the story of a handful of brave men who were dropped into enemy lines with orders to cut off access to the Brenner Pass by any means necessary. This remarkable account is rich in historic detail and crackles with excitement. Forget the spy novel on your bedside table – this is real, riveting and eyewitness history at its best.

‘Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief’

By James M. McPherson (The Penguin Group, $35)

McPherson, one of the greatest living Civil War historians, illuminates a heretofore obscure aspect of Lincoln’s legacy: his role as commander-in-chief. Lincoln, the only president in American history whose entire administration was skewed by war, essentially invented the idea of commander-in-chief, as neither the constitution nor existing legislation specified how the president should declare war or dictate strategy. The president was a master at molding public opinion and, through trial and error, redefined the role of the nation’s leader during wartime. Written with rich historical detail and extraordinary insight, “Tried by War” is as suspenseful and entertaining as a well-executed novel.

‘The Greatest Day in History: How, on the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month, the First World War Finally Came to an End’

By Nicholas Best (Public Affairs, $27.95)

Best, who served in the Grenadier Guards and worked in London as a journalist before becoming a full-time author, has written a fully nuanced, well-crafted account of the final days of World War I. It was a historic week that included dramatic negotiations, military offensives and an outbreak of communist agitation. On Nov. 11, 1918, Allied leaders and representatives of the German imperial regime met in a railroad car at Compiegne, France, to sign the document and hasten the termination of the war to end all wars.

‘Forgotten Patriots: The Untold Story of American Prisoners During the Revolutionary War’

By Edwin G. Burrows (Basic Books, $27.50)

This is the graphic, never-before-told account of the British prison that was established in New York City and the nearly 20,000 patriots who perished behind its walls. The prison became the jailhouse of choice for the British during the Revolution because the city was the principal base of the Crown’s military operations. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Burrows reveals the shocking fact that the number of those who died while captive was between two and three times the number of those believed to have died in battle. This is an unknown part of our history and Burrows is to be commended for telling it.

‘Where a Hundred Soldiers Were Killed: The Struggle for the Powder River Country in 1866 and the Making of the Fetterman Myth’

By John H. Monnett (University of New Mexico Press, $29.95)

During a crisp December day in 1866, 79 soldiers of the 18th U.S. Infantry and 2nd Cavalry and two civilians under the command of Capt. William Judd Fetterman were slain by a well-organized force of Lakota, Northern Cheyennes, and Arapahos. The battle, which took place near Fort Kearny in present-day northern Wyoming, would be the worst defeat for the U.S. Army until Custer’s skirmish at the Battle of the Little Big Horn a decade later. Monnett, a professor of Native American history at Metropolitan State College in Denver, examines the battle and its aftermath in a narrative that is magnificent in scope and a valuable contribution to the history of the American West.

Freelance
Shelf Life

By Charles D. Ellis (Penguin Press, $37.95)

Grade A

The story of Goldman Sachs would be fascinating even if we weren’t in the middle of a global financial meltdown. The fact that we are makes this not just an interesting read, but a must-read.

When Charles Ellis began his research more than 10 years ago, not even he could comprehend that by the time he finished his book Goldman Sachs – the most powerful and profitable investment bank in the world – would be one of the last such institutions still standing in the market place.

As a strategy consultant to the company for more than 30 years, he had more than just a passing understanding of how Goldman Sachs worked. The partners, for example, worked long hours, always putting the company first and thinking and planning long term. Although it might seem quaint, there has always been a sense of family at the institution.

By drawing on his close personal relationships within the company, Ellis serves up fascinating stories about some of the great personalities who made the company such a success. One of the most unlikely success stories is Sidney Weinberg, a junior high school dropout who developed an incredible flair for markets.

Other heavy hitters include Robert Rubin and Hank Paulson, who both served as secretaries of the treasury, and Lloyd Blanfein, its current CEO and chairman of the board, all of whom left their indelible mark.

According to Ellis, Goldman Sachs began as a sole proprietorship dealing in commercial paper during the mid-19th century. As an innovative underwriter, it weathered the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed. In tough times, it had the ability to reinvent itself and that is one of the reasons why it survived even during economic downturns. Even though the company occasionally took chances, Ellis insists it was never imprudent.

This highly readable book is insightful, the research meticulous, and its narrative powerful and relevant. Ellis has done a magnificent job documenting the history and evolution of this legendary company, one of the most successful business organizations in the world.

Freelance
Shelf Life

‘The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington’

By Jennet Conant (Simon & Schuster, $27.95)

During the winter of 1940, the British government – led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill – created a secret organization based in America that was charged with using every method possible to weaken the isolationist sentiment then prevalent in the United States. The goal was to get the United States involved in the war as one of England’s allies. When Roald Dahl was assigned to the British Embassy in Washington in 1942, he used his wit, charm and a great deal of skullduggery to manipulate both the leaders of our country and its media. This is an extraordinary true tale of deceit, double-dealing, and moral ambiguity, all in the name of victory.

‘The Letters of Allen Ginsberg’

Edited by Bill Morgan (Da Capo, $30)

Allen Ginsberg was one of the leading voices of the Beat Generation of the 1950s. He counted among his friends such heavy hitters as Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, e.e. cummings, Ken Kesey and Timothy Leary.

“Howl,” his epic poem published in 1956, established Ginsberg as one of the most celebrated and widely read poets of the 20th century. Through the letters he wrote to publishers, editors and the media, he revealed his most passionate thoughts about both politics and social issues.

The letters begin in 1941 and end in 1997, shortly before his death. This is a stimulating collection that is being published with a companion volume, ‘The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice: First Journals and Poems 1937-1952′ edited by Bill Morgan and Juanita Lieberman-Plimpton (Da Capo, $17.50 softbound).

‘American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century’

By Howard Blum (Crown, $24.95)

This is the electrifying true account of an explosion that ripped through the offices of the Los Angeles Times building in October 1910. The event, which killed 21 people and left dozens of others injured, was the kickoff of a planned nationwide terror wave that targeted major cities throughout the country, acts of terrorism triggered by ongoing conflicts between big business and big labor.

William J. Burns, America’s greatest detective, is hired to track down the bombers. Seven suspects are named and so begins one of the most sensational trials in American history. Blum has written a richly textured account of this case with research that is meticulous and a narrative that is both exciting and crisp. This is exceptional historical reporting.

‘The Scotia Widows: Inside Their Lawsuit Against Big Daddy Coal’

By Gerald M. Stern (Random House, $20)

Mine disasters that are caused by safety failings have become almost commonplace in this country. When a violent explosion ripped through the Scotia mine in the heart of eastern Kentucky coal country on March 9, 1976, the event triggered an epic four-year legal struggle led by the brave widows of the killed miners.

Despite hostile judges and the scorched-earth defense of the mine’s owners, the women continued to fight for justice even though they were up against a corrupted legal system, powerful corporate interests and incredible odds.

‘Ghosts at the Table: Riverboat Gamblers, Texas Rounders, Internet Gamers, and the Living Legends Who Made Poker What It is Today’

By Des Wilson (Da Capo, $26)

This highly entertaining book is an overview of poker, one of America’s favorite card games.

As Wilson establishes early in his narrative, poker is more about people than the cards they play and he builds a convincing case to support his opinion. Even though poker can be fascinating and fun, one only has to watch a tournament to quickly discover that the game can also be brutal, especially at the professional or semi-professional level.

Wilson sets today’s poker in the context of its past in a narrative that is lively and as full of surprises as the turn of a card.

‘Intrepid: The Epic Story of America’s Most Legendary Warship’

By Bill White and Robert Gandt with a foreword by John McCain (Broadway Books, $26.95)

The Intrepid was one of America’s most famous warships. Commissioned in 1943, the 27,000-ton aircraft carrier saw action in the Pacific at both Okinawa and the Leyte Gulf, where she was responsible for sinking Japanese battleships while surviving both kamikaze and torpedo attacks.

After WWII, she served as a recovery ship for America’s first astronauts, participated in the Vietnam War and eventually was retrofitted as a museum and docked earlier this month at a pier on New York’s Hudson River. Arizona Sen. John McCain, who served on the Intrepid, wrote the foreword to this eloquently written book.

Freelance
Shelf Life

Photography by Kevin Rivoli, and artwork by Norman Rockwell (Howard Books, $24.99)

Grade B

Norman Rockwell was the Lawrence Welk of American art.

He was born in New York City, studied at the Chase School of Art and began illustrating for major periodicals during the early years of the last century.

His first cover for The Saturday Evening Post was published in 1916, and so began a professional relationship with the magazine that continued for almost half a century. Using oils, he created work that was realistic and idealized small-town American life.

Critics have sometimes suggested that the America Rockwell portrayed on his canvases never really existed. One critic alleged that Rockwell “created an America that never was and never will be.”

Photojournalist Kevin Rivoli disagreed and set out to prove the naysayers wrong and he does – to a certain degree. He began by selecting dozens of classic Rockwell paintings and then he paired them with his black-and-white photographs. All of the photographic images are similar to Rockwell’s art work but with a modern twist.

For example, one of Rockwell’s most memorable covers was published in the Saturday Evening Post just before the national election of 1944. In the scene, a perplexed man is shown standing at a voting booth with a copy of the Cedar Rapids Gazette in his hand. Plastered on the front page are pictures of both FDR and Thomas Dewey and a simple headline: “Which One?” That classic cover is paired with a contemporary image of a poll worker.

In addition to Rockwell’s illustrations and the photography of Rivoli, there are quotes from notables including President Jimmy Carter, Arnold Palmer, former Rockwell models and even Rockwell himself.

This collection speaks for itself. Regardless of your point of view, this superb book is certain to connect in a very personal way. Rockwell, who often painted from staged photographs he personally choreographed, would no doubt be pleased by this collection. His art work and the images of Rivoli are a seamless blend.

Citizen Staff Writer
Entertainment

Entertainment news about personalities and events with an Old Pueblo connection.

Burke on ‘Dancing’ with the Stars’

Former Tucsonan Brooke Burke is among the 13 celebrities who’ll be strutting their stuff on this season’s edition of “Dancing with the Stars.”

The model-actress, who grew up in the Old Pueblo and graduated from Sahuaro High School in 1989, will be paired with Derek Hough.

Burke, 36, is the former host of such shows as E! TV’s travel series “Wild On” and the CBS summer reality show “Rock Star.”

“Dancing with the Stars” premieres Sept. 22 on ABC and will include contestants Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton and Lance Bass.

Local author on NY Times best-seller list

“Have a New Kid by Friday,” written by Tucson Citizen columnist Dr. Kevin Leman, has the distinction of being called a New York Times best-seller.

The book last week entered the paper’s Hardcover Advice List at No. 9.

It is a manual that provides a five-day action plan for changing a child’s behavior and also includes an extensive appendix with advice on more than 100 hot topics for parents, including bedtime battles, lying, argumentative attitudes, sibling rivalry, talking back, and many more.

Leman, whose advice column appears in the Citizen’s Family Plus section Tuesdays, is a psychologist, radio and television personality and author. He is known for his wit and common-sense approach to psychology.

Cellist Ronstadt’s new

CD available online

The second installment of Tucson cellist Michael G. Ronstadt’s CD, “Cotton Dreams,” is now available.

The disc, known as “Cotton Dreams (Part 2),” can be purchased online at cdbaby.com for $12.97.

According to the music site, Part 1 features the Gypsum Duo’s eclectic blend of jazz, classical, rock, folk, and traditional Mexican music. Part 2 includes unaccompanied solo cello works in the classical genre.

Ronstadt received his master of music in cello performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in June and his bachelor’s from the University of Arizona in May 2006.

Send submissions to calendar@tucsoncitizen.com.

Citizen Staff Writer
First Look: CDs

“Tuscan Prelude: Jazz Under Glass” (Consolidated Artists Productions)

Anyone who remembers the Third Stream jazz movement will be able to connect with this collection of 11 original compositions reflecting an improvised blend of jazz rhythms and the harmonic structure of classical music. The chords, progressions and lyrical lines are all drawn from the concert hall traditions of European art music. Pianist Jay D’Amico employs a light touch to present a sophisticated experience reminiscent of the Modern Jazz Quartet and others of that ilk.

An accompanying news release credits the music of Frederic Chopin and the playing of Oscar Peterson with inspiring young D’Amico to leap into the Third Stream. When the impressionable young pianist met MJQ bassist Milt Hinton and they hit it off musically, D’Amico’s artistic course was set.

The selections here are for the most part moderately paced. Marc Johnson, bass, and Ronnie Zito, drums, make sure everything swings from top to bottom. D’Amico rides this rhythmic wave, a graceful surfer in a tuxedo playing melodies just as balanced. With such titles as “G minor Ballade,” “Fuga,” “Nocturne” and a sonata in three movements, you know it will be a good time to lean into the loudspeakers.

GRADE A

CHUCK GRAHAM

Tucson Citizen