A Novel Forever Young by Janice Clauser

Thursday, February 7, 2013

 

 

           

 

 

 

            As the literary world celebrates the 200^th anniversary of “Pride and Prejudice,” the Crawfordsville Library offers its collection of 26 titles about the novel along with 83 relating to Jane Austen. Even issues like the “The Jane Austen Little Advice Book,” “The Jane Austen Cookbook,” and “Jane Austen’s Guide to Living Happily Ever After” continue, stimulated by world-wide fan clubs and new issues of her beloved stories on movies, audios and DVDs.

Moving ahead to today, current events books include “Games without Rules” by Tamim Ansary, subtitled The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan. “Why Nations Fail” by Daron Acemoglu explains that it is “manmade political and economic institutions that underlie economic success (or the lack of it).”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commentaries begin with “Iron Curtain 1944-1956” Anne Applebaum’s report of the crushing of Eastern Europe. “The Eve of Destruction” by James Patterson tells how 1965 transformed America when the sense of harmony gave way to civil rights demonstrations in Selma, Alabama and the war in Vietnam incited rebelliousness at home. “The End of Men and the Rise of Women” by Hanna Rosin explores how society is adapting to the different ways men and women today earn, learn, spend, couple up - even kill - that’s turned the big picture upside down all over the world. James Munton’s “The Con” tells how scams work, why we’re vulnerable, and how to protect ourselves; it shows ordinary people who are thrown into disorienting circumstances by the deceptions of con artists. 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

            New books about animals abound. In “Little Boy Blue” Kim Kavin details her puppy’s rescue from death row and her journey to learn what can happen in some of America’s shelters. “A Dog Named Boo” is Lisa Edwards’ story of how, besides giving her faith in herself, her dog has changed countless lives through his work as a therapy dog. In “Comet’s Tale” author Steven Wolf tells of adopting an elegant cinnamon-striped racing greyhound, who had to learn common everyday skills, and ends up caring for its owner in amazing ways. In “Buddy” Brian McGrory’s rooster turns him into a family man. The new National Geographic “Bird Watchers Bible” is a complete avian menagerie, compiled by Editor Jonathan Alderfer. Inside “Little House in the Suburbs” Deanna Caswell gives advice about backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living. Then, “Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid” is called “your path” to building an energy-independent home; the author is Sheri Koones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Miscellaneous texts are inviting. “Just Kidding: Using Humor Effectively” comes from Louis Franzini.”24/6” “is a prescription for a healthier, happier life” by Matthew Sleeth, with Biblical references. “Unglued” by Lysa TerKeurst shows how to make wise choices in the midst of raw emotions. “This Will Make You Smarter” edited by John Brockman contains short new scientific memos to improve your thinking offered by 151 of the world’s “most influential thinkers.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            “Heads in Beds” is Jacob Tomsky’s reckless memoir of hotels, its employees, its services (in other words adventures in the hospitality business.) “What Are You Looking At?” is the surprising, shocking, and sometimes strange story of 150 years of modern art through the eyes of Will Gompertz. His special appendix called Artworks by Location lists the museums where his notable choices are located.