Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

Time for a neighborhood adventure! Beginning at 9 a.m. today, January 9, 2010, the monthly "Second Saturday Book Sale" will be open on the lower level of the Crawfordsville District Public Library. You'll never find better bargains. Make that short trip. The Friends of the Library will welcome you.

John Battelle's " Worlds to Explore" holds 54 classic tales of travel and adventure from National Geographic during the times of tramp steamers, clipper ships, and camel caravans. Famous names include Theodore Roosevelt, Thor Heyerdahl, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Jacque-Yves Cousteau, as well as less heralded travelers with equally-riveting experiences.

"Mexican Days" contains Tony Cohan's experiences in our changing world in the mountains, coastal towns, ruins, markets, and galleries, encountering artists, expatriates, and figures from his past. "The Mexican Wars for Independence" by Timothy Henderson reviews the series of civil wars and failed social revolutions to separate Mexico from Spain. Then, "Midnight on the Line" is the secret life on the U.S.-Mexico border told by Tim Gaynor. "French Country" by Barbara Buchholz is a charming look at residential scenes that belong to both the northern and southern portions of Europe.

In "Enough", Juan Williams issues a clarion call to do the right thing about raising the bar of opportunity for all races, advocating self-help, strong families, belief in God, and a plan for overcoming the obstacles that now stand in the way of African Americans' participation in the nation's freedom and prosperity. John Dean's critical work is called "Conservatives Without Conscience".

"The Way to Win" by Mark Halperin tells how the Bush and Clinton families' strategies won elections. "Slam Dunks and No-Brainers" by Leslie Savan discusses the use of language in business, politics, the media, and personal events, exploring the idiosyncrasies of today's language idioms. "Right, Wrong, and Risky" is Mark Davidson's dictionary of American English usage, tracing its history with clever anecdotes and wit. He discusses word choice, spelling, grammar, and punctuation in his reference book that took ten years to compile. Glenn Stout's "Nine Months at Ground Zero" is the story of the brotherhood of workers, each with a short biography, who took on a job like no other in New York.

"Courthouse Research for Family Historians" is a guide to genealogical treasures by Christine Rose. Step by step the book guides us to use and interpret records within courthouses throughout the country. "501 Ways for Adult Students to Pay for College" by Gen and Kelly Tanabe is about going back to school without going broke.
Henri Nouwen's "Life of the Beloved" is an explanation of spiritual life without theological or technical language. "Lyrical Ballads" edited by Michael Mason reviews and quotes William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poetic movement away from the highly formal to a more democratic era of poetry. Kent Glowinski's "Narcissistic Personality Disorder" is a book of clever poems classified as pathology, symptoms, case studies, and treatments.

"When I Lay My Isaac Down" by Carol Kent based on Genesis chapter 22, is about her unshakable faith in unthinkable circumstances, enabling her to survive a terrible personal tragedy. Peter Gomes' "The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus" tells what's so good about the good news, and the answer is hope.