Site Map
Search the Catalog
Kids Zone
Find a Library
FAQ
Sign Up
Contact Us
Site Map
Search the Catalog
Kids Zone
Find a Library
FAQ
Sign Up
Contact Us
Home > Talking Book Topics > Nov-Dec 2005
The following information is reprinted from two issues of NLS Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals. Flash is online at www.loc.gov/nls/newsletters/flash.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, is making significant progress with the audio-to-digital conversion project. Early sketches and models of the player and flash cartridge have been developed; many electronic components have been investigated and identified; a quality-assurance plan to guide the development of the player's software has been created; and more than four thousand books have been digitized.
It has not been easy. "In this transition, much of the talking-book program is changing, which means that many complex projects are under way simultaneously," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "Designing players, developing digital talking-book cartridges, and building evaluation tools are each huge tasks, involving complicated processes."
To keep the project moving forward, NLS has hired a variety of outside contractors. Battelle and HumanWare are designing the best exterior shell for the player, a critical decision that affects the layout of controls. Two other contractors, the Trace Center and the National Federation of the Blind, are set to run a second round of usability tests on the controls this month. David Andrews of the Minnesota State Services for the Blind has provided a consumer perspective to the project. "Design engineers are tackling tough issues such as storing the power cord, housing the speaker for maximum audio quality, integrating the handle, and inserting and removing cartridges," states Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director.
Another contractor, ManTech, has created a comparative analysis of the costs for distribution models for digital talking books, especially massduplication and a hybrid version. ManTech also created a decision-making matrix that will help NLS staff select the right distribution system using four overarching criteria: impact on patrons, cost, complexity of implementation, and risk or vulnerability.
The Chafee Amendment relaxes copyright infringement laws for not-for-profit organizations who reproduce and distribute books for blind and physically handicapped readers, as long as special formats are used. For the current project, this required protection is called digital rights management (DRM).
According to Neil Bernstein, NLS research and development officer, "DRM utilizes encryption to allow access to digital book files by eligible readers only. In our system, all NLS patrons get the keys to unlock the book. The general public will not be able to read it."
NLS is developing an improved DRM system that is compatible with international systems. The standard, when universally accepted, will dramatically streamline international interlibrary loan procedures.
Development of the DRM is an international effort involving the world's top experts on digital talking books. "Many of these people were instrumental in creating the original standards for digital talking books," Bernstein notes. Bernstein works with software engineers, hardware and software manufacturers, and consultants. A DRM expert is providing design and technical consultation. The committee has solicited feedback and recommendations from consumer groups and publishers. Specifications will be completed in December 2005 and sent to Retrieval Systems, an NLS contractor, to build the latest DRM tool.
Retrieval Systems has already designed three tools for NLS. These include the Quality Assurance Player, a PC-based player that allows a quality assurance expert to review a book and verify that it will play and navigate properly; NLS VAL, a software tool that runs dozens of automated tests on a book to check it against specifications and report problems; and DTB Prep, which compresses raw audio and applies an earlier form of DRM protection. The new DRM software will be more flexible and have a stronger encryption system than the current DTB Prep tool.
Book production
NLS started creating digital audio files in 2002. By 2004, all new titles were digitally recorded for production of NLS cassette books. NLS had some experience with digital audio, but it's been a learning process. Talking books were once recorded on open-reel analog tape for duplication onto cassettes for circulation. Now master copies are recorded as audio files using a variety of digital recording systems. These digital files are then marked to highlight navigation points.
In constructing the digital talking book, NLS strives to ensure that the capabilities of ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002, the national DTB standard, are applied in a useful manner. This is not a simple task. Print books are simply too varied in the way they are laid out. NLS and its producers must therefore assess each book and decide how best to mark it for ease of use by the reader. A novel only needs to have each chapter marked, but a cookbook will require much more markup to allow easy access to recipes and the ability to step through a list of ingredients one by one.
Once a digital talking book is finished, a software check is conducted to confirm that the file meets the standard requirements.
Practice makes perfect. To the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, this makes perfect sense. That is why meticulous, ongoing evaluation is key to developing the digital talking-book machine (DTBM). NLS recently completed the second in a series of eight usability tests on the latest player model, an essential step toward finalizing requirements and design.
Four main goals guided these tests: validating user-interface design and defining priorities for basic and advanced players; defining patron understanding and use of primary DTBM features; gathering feedback on player design and specific physical features; and lastly, improving the design and development of the models to be tested in round three.
"With each round of testing, NLS gains a deeper understanding of user and librarian needs, which helps us further refine player capabilities and design," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "Patron and librarian feedback is essential to building the best machine possible."
Sixty-nine current and potential patrons--with varied visual, physical, and cognitive impairments--participated in the study. Users ranged from children to seniors and were grouped by gender, age, and skill. Testing was facilitated by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in Baltimore and Cleveland and by the Trace Research and Development Center of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Interviews with library staff also yielded valuable insight into the system's functionality.
"This series of usability tests was intended to see if engineers are getting the design right from the perspective of librarians and patrons," notes Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director. "From the results of these tests, we will be able to validate and refine some requirements and turn them into specifications for the machine."
For the first time, users conducted operational tasks on models of digital talking-book cartridges and players. The models incorporated ideas from initial user tests. While constructed of a special modeling foam, these models had functional buttons that were connected to actual digital talking-book recordings to simulate reading.
Operational tasks conducted on the player reflected typical usage scenarios. Testers examined the accessibility of basic functions, including primary and secondary controls and player features. All features needed to be obvious to patrons with varied capabilities and player experience.
The users appraised the shape, placement, tactile appeal, and ease of use of control buttons and the logic and clarity of navigation features. They assessed player size and appearance, cartridge insertion, power cord storage, and the use of the retractable handle and headphone jack.
NLS's top priority is producing a player that is both easy to use and navigation-friendly. "You can put in all the bells and whistles in the world, but if the user doesn't understand how to operate the machine, it's worthless," emphasizes Michael Katzmann, head of the NLS Engineering Section. "Player features must be obvious to users."
Librarians were interested primarily in maintenance issues such as cleaning players, re-labeling cartridges, stacking DTBMs for storage, and mailing-container handling. Librarians also desired a method for patrons to notify them of cartridge problems on return.
Testing does not stop with users. Engineers conduct their own field tests to ensure that the player meets NLS's high standards. The player must survive tough endurance exercises and still be functional. It must withstand a series of drops on all sides from as high as three feet, and resist scratches, spills, vermin, and extreme temperatures. Additional software-based testing evaluates its technical specifications.
According to Robert Fistick, acting chief, Materials Development Division, usability testing helps NLS pinpoint patron priorities so that the player is designed to meet their top needs. The findings reveal that patrons continue to value accessibility, usability, portability, and that easy maintenance continues to be the highest priority for librarians and repair personnel.
Users suggested improvements to audio instructions housed in the player. They also expressed preferences on handle positioning, cord storage compartment, and the cartridge mailing container.
Moodie stated that "All of these findings are significant because they will be evaluated and incorporated into the ongoing design and development process for the cartridge and player."
Based on the findings, engineers will explore several recommendations for improvement including changes to control layout, behavior, and complexity; cartridge insertion; and cord storage methods.
Creating an optimal player is difficult. Engineers must negotiate many competing requirements before finalizing the design.
Conflicts often relate to portability and accessibility. For example, deciding between long-running batteries and portability is a big issue. Higher battery capacity involves increasing the size and weight of the player, which ultimately inhibits portability and increases cost. A sleek yet stackable player design is another challenge. A rounded top may be stylish but it is impractical for storage and handling. In this case, form should follow function.
NLS strives for a happy medium and makes trade-offs based on the best interests of patrons and librarians.
The following ongoing projects, set to conclude by 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses.
For information on the NLS digital project contact:
Jean M. MossTo view the Strategic Business Plan on the web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/index.html
The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. Items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement.
Home Readers, a not-for-profit organization, is now offering more than twenty-five popular mail-order catalogs on four-track cassette free of charge, to make shopping more convenient. There are a wide variety of catalogs to choose from including clothing, music, old time radio, food, gifts, pet products, health and beauty, practical solutions, house wares and home decor. The cassettes cover all text and product descriptions available in the print catalogs. For a free copy of the fall/winter 2005 Home Readers catalog call toll-free 1-877-814-7323 or visit the web site at www.homereaders.com
Sacred Geography: A Tale of Murder and Archeology in the Holy Land RC 56683
by Edward Fox
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
2 cassettes
When sixty-seven-year-old American archeologist Albert Glock was murdered in 1992 in the West Bank, he was close to publishing a book on his lifework—excavating a site establishing historic Palestinian roots. A journalist investigates why he might have been killed. 2001.
Triangle: The Fire That Changed America RC 57638
by David Von Drehle
read by Eric Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
Chronicles the March 25, 1911, New York City garment factory fire that claimed the lives of 146 workers—mostly young immigrant women and children. Details the social conditions and strikes that preceded the tragedy, the trial for manslaughter (and acquittal) of the sweatshop's owners, and the workplace reforms that followed. Violence. 2003.
The Natural History of the Rich: A Field Guide RC 57761
by Richard Conniff
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
Award-winning journalist explores similar social patterns of affluent humans and wild animals in this humorous but authentic zoomorphic study. Conniff observes the natural behaviors of the superwealthy socioeconomic class, including mating rituals, displays of dominance, and survival mechanisms to ensure their status is passed on to their offspring. 2002.
I Believe in Miracles: Streams of Healing from the Heart of a Woman of Faith RC 57763
by Kathryn Kuhlman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Ordained minister presents twenty-one cases of believers who claimed to be healed of medically incurable disorders with the help of her prayers and the power of faith. Foreword by former congressman Samuel A.Weiss. 1992.
Oz Clarke's New Encyclopedia of Wine RC 57846
by Oz Clarke
read by John Richardson
10 cassettes in 2 containers
Wine expert Clarke begins with the premise that the new world of wine offers endless choices and expands every year. More than 1,500 entries comprise his alphabetical listing of wines, grapes, growing regions, and producers. Also provides hints on choosing red, white, and sparkling wines. 2003.
The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking: Modern Techniques for Dynamic Communication RC 57868
by Dale Carnegie
read by Dave Corey
2 cassettes
Fourth revision of the classic public speaking guide by the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People (RC 53469). Covers developing confidence, choosing a subject, knowing your audience, and delivering the talk. Stresses practice and proper attitude for clear self-expression in business, social, and personal situations. 1962.
Ace of Aces: The Life of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker RC 58137
by H. Paul Jeffers
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
A biography of captain Eddie Ricken-backer (1890-
1973), the much decorated "Ace of Aces" who destroyed twenty-six enemy planes in World War I. Fascinated with engines and speed, he began his career as a race-car driver, becoming third-ranked in the country. He later founded Eastern Airlines. 2003.
Survivors: True Tales of Endurance RC 58169
edited by John B. Letterman read by Dan Toohey
4 cassettes
Twenty-three writings selected by the editor as the most "exciting, moving, and inspiring pieces ever written about human courage and perseverance" from the sixteenth to twentieth centuries. Primarily firsthand accounts, they include the Essex whaling ship wreck, astronaut James Lovell's harrowing adventure aboard Apollo 13, and Senator John McCain's POW experiences. 2003.
The Book Club Cookbook: Recipes and Food for Thought from Your Book Club's Favorite Books and Authors RC 58177
by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
read by Barbara Pinolini
4 cassettes
Each of one hundred entries includes a synopsis of a popular book club selection, an explanation of the role food plays in that book, recipes based on those foods, and a profile of the recommending book club. 2004.
Ten Rings: My Championship Seasons RC 58208
by Yogi Berra
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
Autobiography by baseball Hall of Fame catcher highlighting his ten championship seasons with the New York Yankees between 1947 and 1962. Recalls the "golden years" of baseball, his famous contemporaries, and rival teams and relates how the game has changed since the 1950s. 2003.
Game Time: A Baseball Companion RC 58307
by Roger Angell
read by Eric Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
Sportswriter Steve Kettmann compiles his favorite Roger Angell baseball essays, spanning 1962-
2002. The pieces profile players such as Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Pete Rose, and David Cone, as well as the various teams and spring training camps that he's studied. Introduction by Richard Ford. 2003.
Kate's Journey: Triumph over Adversity; the Story of a Miracle RC 58321
by Kate Adamson
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
Author recounts her survival against immense odds after suffering a brain stem stroke that left her completely paralyzed at the age of thirty-three. Describes the physical and emotional challenges she overcame and the lessons she learned on her long road to recovery. 2004.
Sister Nations: Native American Women Writers on Community RC 58347
edited by Heid E. Erdrich and
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
In poems, short stories, and essays, contemporary American Indian women—some young, some older—share their feelings and insights about their sense of community. This anthology is grouped by themes: Changing Women, Strong Hearts, New Age Pocahontas, and In the Arms of the Skies. 2002.
My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey through Chile RC 58348
by Isabel Allende
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
The famous author remembers her childhood home, Chile, which she left after the death of her uncle in a 1973 military coup. She talks about Chile's history, nostalgic memories of her family, and her life as an exile in her new home, the United States. 2003.
Opening Mexico: The Making of a Democracy RC 58349
by Julia Preston and Samuel Dillon
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters examine Mexico's July 2000 revolution that ended a despotic, one-party rule. Includes history of political events and pivotal players in the rise of pluralistic democracy. Describes changes such as ballot and legislative reform, presidential power limitations, and improved human rights. 2004.
The Working Poor: Invisible in America RC 58355
by David K. Shipler read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author analyzes an ethnically and racially diverse cross-section of impoverished, low-paid working Americans. Shipler traces their poverty to interlocking problems of poor education and wages, limited abilities, bad parenting, unwise spending, and lack of health insurance. Recommends higher minimum wage, vocational training, and voter registration, among other remedies. 2004.
I Seat Myself to Write You a Few Lines: Civil War and Homestead Letters from Thomas Lucas and Family RC 58374
edited by Dona Bayard Sauerburger and Thomas Lucas Bayard
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
Chronicles the life and times of the Lucas family in hundreds of letters. Reveals pivotal events such as Thomas Lucas joining the First Pennsylvania Cavalry to fight in the Civil War and, decades later, the family migration to Nebraska to homestead. 2002.
In the Shadows of War: An American Pilot's Odyssey through Occupied France and the Camps of Nazi Germany RC 58383
by Thomas Childers
read by Fred Major
4 cassettes
Interwoven stories of WWII pilot Roy Allen, who parachuted from his burning B-17 over occupied France, and two French youths—schoolteacher Colette Florin and resistance leader Pierre Mulsant—who risked their lives to save him. Details Allen's eventual capture by the Gestapo, his experiences in several concentration and POW camps, and liberation. Violence. 2002.
Solving Home Plumbing Problems RC 58410
by Gary Branson
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Former contractor and editor of Home Handyman magazine offers guidance on repairing and maintaining household plumbing systems. Covers the basics of replacing fixtures; fixing leaks; working with copper, plastic, and steel pipe; maintaining drains; remodeling for wheelchair use; and coping with minor emergencies. Includes information on useful tools and safety. 2004.
What about the Kids? Raising Your Children before, during, and after Divorce RC 58417
by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
A guide to helping children of all ages cope with the process of divorce and remarried family life. Authors identify the three major challenges facing parents: getting their own lives in order, preparing their kids for and supporting them through the breakup, and building a new relationship with the ex-spouse. 2003.
Jon Bon Jovi RC 58423
by Laura Jackson
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
Biography of songwriter and rock star Bon Jovi, born in 1962. Traces his career from small New Jersey club gigs to formation of his own band in 1983 and subsequent award-winning albums. Also describes his film and TV acting roles. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2003.
Blue Blood RC 58424
by Edward Conlon
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
Author of the New Yorker magazine's "Cop Diary" columns, who joined the NYPD in 1995, reveals the hidden world of the fraternity of cops. Covers his family's police background, his rookie days in public housing, and his experience working on September 11, 2001. Violence and strong language. 2004.
Win Her with Dinner: Food, Booze, and Tunes for Cooking Up the Perfect Evening RC 58515
by Doug Veith and Tom Greenwood
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Although intended for guys cooking for girls, this home entertainment guide is helpful to anyone who wants to prepare a meal but doesn't know where to begin. Accompanying the twenty-four step-by-step recipes are ingredient and equipment lists plus recommendations for drinks and background music. 2004.
Essential Musical Intelligence: Using Music as Your Path to Healing, Creativity, and Radiant Wholeness RC 58516
by Louise Montello
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Music therapist's guide to reconnecting with one's essential music intelligence (EMI), the innate ability to use sound to facilitate total health and well-being, increase vitality, and cope with pain. Relates case histories and personal accounts to demonstrate meditative exercises utilizing a variety of music from classical to drumming. 2002.
Diné
: A History of the Navajos RC 58526
by Peter Iverson
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
A cultural history of the largest North American Indian nation. Describes their Southwest origins bounded by four sacred mountains and their evolving lifestyle through the start of the twenty-first century. Discusses their adaptability as a means of survival, focusing on the past 150 years. Spur Award for nonfiction. 2002.
When Good People Write Bad Sentences: Twelve Steps to Better Writing Habits RC 58539
by Robert W. Harris
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Strategies for overcoming an "addiction to bad writing." Examines the roots of common writing errors that lead to ineffective sentences and baffling communication. Explains how to use correct grammar, syntax, punctuation, diction, and style to produce clear, confident, and persuasive prose. 2003.
Stitch 'n' Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook RC 58586
by Debbie Stoller
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Cofounder of a trendy New York City knitting circle gives a brief history of this needle craft. Presents the basics: how to cast on, bind off, and knit. Explains advanced stitching and repair techniques and provides details for over thirty projects, including Pippi Kneestockings, Sparkle Hat, and Under the Hoodie. Some strong language. 2003.
The Cat from Hué
: A Vietnam War Story RC 58589
by John Laurence
read by Steven Carpenter
6 cassettes
News correspondent's comprehensive memoir of the Vietnam War from the 1968 Tet offensive through the 1970 Cambodian incursion, with flashbacks to 1965. Along with wartime portraits and a chronicle of daily life in a war zone, reveals author's personal antiwar sentiment and admiration of American soldiers. Violence and strong language. 2002.
Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin RC 58590
by John D'Emilio
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
Chronicles the life (1912-
1987) and accomplishments of a pivotal civil rights
figure. Covers his influential activism in prison reform, military desegregation,
the Montgomery bus boycott, the 1963 March on Washington, and LBJ's Great Society.
Also notes Rustin's homosexuality and its impact on his career. Some descriptions
of sex. 2003.
The Facts of Life and Other Dirty Jokes RC 58592
by Willie Nelson
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Popular singer/songwriter's reflections on what is and what is not important in his life. In his collection of jokes, memories, and song lyrics (often raunchy and politically incorrect), Nelson ruminates on the stock market, sports endorsements, and his favorite biblical lines. Some strong language. 2002.
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College RC 58593
by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
Practical techniques for planning a successful transition to college. Basic rules cover getting settled in the dorm, eating cafeteria food, staying safe at parties, and focusing in the classroom. Includes tips for avoiding laundry and for pulling an all-nighter. For senior high readers. 2004.
The Worst Journey in the World RC 58594
by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
read by David Cutler
5 cassettes
Epic tale of two-and-a-half years of exploration and survival in Antarctica as recounted by the youngest member of Scott's last expedition to the South Pole. Describes the difficult crossing of the Beardmore Glacier, Cherry-Garrard's scientific mission to obtain emperor penguin eggs, and his discovery of Scott's body. 1922.
Flying Cloud: The True Story of America's Most Famous Clipper Ship and the Woman Who Guided Her RC 58595
by David W. Shaw
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Account of the clipper ship's 1851 maiden voyage from New York to San Francisco. Describes how the navigator, captain's wife Eleanor Creesy, managed the crew and safely plotted the vessel's course around Cape Horn. Observes that the Flying Cloud made the sixteen-thousand-mile trip in a record eighty-nine days and twenty-one hours. 2000.
I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks RC 58596
by Steve McVicker
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Award-winning journalist chronicles the life and crimes of con artist Steven Russell, a former North Carolina police officer. McVicker describes Russell's ruses to evade Texas jails, including faking his own death, and depicts Russell as a hopeless romantic in his love for a fellow inmate. Some strong language. 2003.
A History of Appalachia RC 58597
by Richard B. Drake
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
A social history of the North American region that ranges from Alabama to Pennsylvania. Drake discusses the characteristics that make the region distinct, the various ethnicities that have contributed to Appalachian diversity, and the unique cultural patterns that evolved between the precolonial Native American era and the late twentieth century. 2001.
Home and Away: Memoir of a Fan RC 58598
by Scott Simon
read by Eric Synnestvedt
4 cassettes
National Public Radio broadcaster pens his memoirs, using his affection for his hometown teams—the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Bulls—as a point of entry into reflections on the past. Recalls discussing his passion for sports with Fidel Castro in Cuba, with Albanians in Kosovo, and with Jesse Jackson on the campaign trail. Some strong language. 2000.
I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson RC 58600
by Jackie Robinson
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Baseball legend's account of his triumphs and tragedies on the road to becoming the first African American to play major league baseball. Descended from slaves and sharecroppers, Robinson recalls struggling to overcome racial barriers before and after his 1947 debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Introduction by Hank Aaron. 1995.
A Place in the Woods RC 58601
by Helen Hoover
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Author recounts her adventures liv-ing close to nature after she and her husband, Adrian, quit their jobs in Chicago and move to a cabin in Minnesota's northern woods. Helen describes their triumphs and setbacks as they gradually adapt to the rigors of wilderness survival, including isolation and near poverty. 1968.
Bobby the Brain: Wrestling's Bad Boy Tells All RC 58605
by Bobby Heenan
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Heenan, a pro wrestler since the 1960s and an eighth-grade dropout, recalls his days in the ring, recounts anecdotes about other athletes and celebrities, and discusses the business angle of the sport. Foreword by Hulk Hogan. Some strong language. 2002.
Hank Williams, So Lonesome RC 58607
by Bill Koon
read by Todd Scofield
2 cassettes
Biography of country singer Hank Williams (1923-
1953) who wrote over one hundred songs including "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Your Cheatin' Heart," and "Lovesick Blues." From interviews with family, friends, and band members, Koon documents Williams's rise from Depression-era Alabama to Nashville stardom and examines the mystery surrounding his death. 2001.
Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement RC 58608
by Desmond King-Hele
read by Corrie James
4 cassettes
Portrait of Charles Darwin's grandfather—poet, physician, scientist, and inventor. Observes that Erasmus wrote about evolution long before his grandson's research on the topic. Credits the elder Darwin with the design of a carriage steering mechanism still used in twentieth-century cars and asserts that he was the first to describe the process of photosynthesis. 1999.
Spreadin' Rhythm Around: Black Popular Songwriters, 1880-1930 RC 58609
by David A. Jasen and Gene Jones
read by Robert Sams
4 cassettes
This fifty-year history focuses on various African American composers, lyricists, performers, and publishers, to show their influence on mainstream popular American culture. Discusses minstrel shows, vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, blues, early jazz, and Broad-way. 1998.
The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train through Asia RC 58610
by Paul Theroux
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes (Reissue)
An American novelist's account of a four-month trip in 1973. Traveling through Turkey, Iran, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the USSR, he writes of his encounters with a motley collection of hippies, businessmen, whores, and fellow tourists. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1975.
Twenty Ads That Shook the World: The Century's Most Groundbreaking Advertising and How It Changed Us All RC 58611
by James B. Twitchell
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Traces the evolution of advertising technology. Presents twenty commercials and ad campaigns that the author believes had the most influence on the American marketplace and culture. Explains the consumer needs that these products filled, the means by which sponsors gained publicity within each community, and the successes that served as milestones in changing the nation's perspective. 2000.
Nature's Children RC 58612
by Juliette de Bairacli-Levy
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Revised and expanded edition of classic 1970 childrearing book by an herbalist. Provides recipes and information on raising healthy kids without prescription-drug medication. Includes advice on natural childbirth, parenting, and use of medicinal herbs. 1997.
Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi RC 58613
by Katherine Frank
read by Anne Flosnik
5 cassettes
Biography of India's first woman prime minister. Discusses Indira Gandhi's (1917-
1984) sad childhood and her reluctance to enter politics even though her father was former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Portrays the woman who sublimated her personal inclinations to serve her country and was assassinated by her own bodyguards. 2002.
The Siege of Shangri-La: The Quest for Tibet's Sacred Hidden Paradise RC 58618
by Michael McRae
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
National Geographic correspondent discusses the explorations that have taken place in the Tsangpo River Gorge in southeastern Tibet since the 1920s. Describes how this area, made famous by James Hilton's Lost Horizon (RC 51095), has been explored for its topography, natural history, tribal ethnography, and spiritual signifi-cance. 2002.
The Soul of a Chef: The Journey toward Perfection RC 58620
by Michael Ruhlman
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Making of a Chef (RC 47657), award-winning journalist explores the professional cooking world by attending the Culinary Institute of America's Certified Master Chef ten-day examination and observing the candidates' successes and failures. Also describes three distinctive chefs and their restaurants. Includes appendix of recipes. 2000.
The Education of Little Tree RC 58621
by Forrest Carter
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Memoir of an orphaned boy who was raised in a log cabin by his Cherokee grandparents in Tennessee during the Great Depression. Some strong language. 1976.
Blood and Fire: William and Catherine Booth and Their Salvation Army RC 58622
by Roy Hattersley
read by Anne Flosnik
4 cassettes
Study of the evangelists who founded the Salvation Army in Victorian England. Revivalist preacher William Booth believed in active Christianity and used the poor to recruit the poor. Catherine, a biblical scholar, endorsed the idea of women's religious equality and helped transform the organization into a worldwide movement. 1999.
Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation RC 58623
by Shaun Assael and Mike Mooneyham
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
A behind-the-scenes look at World Wrestling Federation owner Vince McMahon who transformed the sport into a lucrative television spectacle in the 1990s. The authors chronicle the controversial promoter's rise to power, detailing internal conflicts, legal and ethical scandals (including drug overdoses), and feuds with rival organizations vying for TV ratings. Strong language. 2002.
Volcanoes in Human History: The Far-Reaching Effects of Major Eruptions RC 58624
by Jelle Zeilinga de Boer and Donald Theodore Sanders
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Examines nine historic volcanic disasters. Discusses their geologic settings in relation to plate tectonics and both the immediate and long-range consequences in human terms of volcanic activity. Chronicles eruptions of Vesuvius, Tambora, Krakatau, Mount Pelé
e, and Mount St. Helens and discusses the formation of Iceland and the Hawaiian Islands. 2002.
Secrets of Saffron: The Vagabond Life of the World's Most Seductive Spice RC 58625
by Pat Willard
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Food writer Pat Willard traces the provocative history of saffron, from its medical significance in ancient Egypt, through the spice trade of the Middle Ages, to its present uses in cooking. Includes a short guide to buying saffron and a selection of both ancient and modern recipes. 2001.
Young Adult's Guide to Business Communications RC 58626
by Kristi L. Thomason-Carroll
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Outlines the interpersonal skills a new graduate needs for success in the workplace. Covers applying for a job, interviewing, making a good first impression, and using proper written and verbal communication. Includes sample resumé
s and letters. For senior high and older readers. 2004.
Near a Thousand Tables: A History of Food RC 58627
by Felipe Fernández-Armesto
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Oxford historian presents a global perspective of food as a theme of world history, "inseparable from all other interactions of human beings with one another . . . and nature." He has classified his topic into eight "revolutions," including cooking, food as more than sustenance, and food as an indicator of rank. 2002.
Squash: A History of the Game RC 58652
by James Zug
read by Fred Major
4 cassettes
Squash player chronicles the British sport's rise in the United States from 1884 to the twenty-first century. Describes the origins and basics of the game, which is played with a racquet and a rubber ball in a four-wall court. Recaps major tournaments and personalities. Foreword by George Plimpton. 2003.
Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution RC 58653
by David Carter
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
Chronicles six days of violent protests in June 1969, when homosexuals fought police during a routine raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. Examines events leading up to the riots, key demonstrators, and the uprising's aftermath that prompted the gay rights movement. 2004.
The Arts RC 58659
by Hendrik Willem Van Loon
read by Janis Gray
6 cassettes (Reissue)
A cultural survey of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre, and many minor arts from prehistory to the twentieth century by the author of Van Loon's Lives (RC 55071). Covers creative expression in ancient Egypt and Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Revised and updated 1974. 1937.
Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School RC 58661
by Gotham Writers' Workshop Faculty
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Gotham Writers' Workshop faculty present lessons for creating fiction. Addresses the craft, art, and business of writing. Exercises cover character and plot development, dialogue, pacing, themes, revising, and more. Includes full text of Raymond Carver's "Cathedral." 2003.
The Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation RC 58666
by Drew D. Hansen
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Hansen's essay on the meaning of the 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech describes King as a master of the art of black homiletics, whose gifts had been little known beyond the pulpit and the civil rights movement. Explores the oration's spontaneity, language, and prophetic vision and the public's reaction to it. 2003.
Survive the Savage Sea RC 58667
by Dougal Robertson
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Author relates his family's nightmare of trying to survive after killer whales attacked and sank their forty-three-foot schooner Lucette in the Pacific Ocean. Robertson's daily accounts describe their thirty-eight-day struggle against thirst, starvation, and exhaustion before being rescued by Japanese fisher-men. 1973.
The Scientists: A History of Science Told through the Lives of Its Greatest Inventors RC 58669
by John Gribbin
read by Butch Hoover
5 cassettes
British astrophysicist, author of Almost Everyone's Guide to Science (RC 49321), traces Western science from the Renaissance to the end of the twentieth century. Gribbin presents history's great discoveries and techno-logical achievements through the lives of the individuals who made them possible, beginning with Copernicus. 2002.
Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series RC 58673
by David Pietrusza
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
Baseball historian's biography of notorious Jazz Age drug kingpin, bootlegger, casino operator, and labor-union racketeer Arnold Rothstein, the "king of Manhattan gamblers." Examines Rothstein's connections to Tammany politicians and crooked cops, and implicates sports figures involved with Rothstein in the 1919 World Series fix. Reconstructs Rothstein's 1928 murder. 2003.
School of Dreams: Making the Grade at a Top American High School RC 58674
by Edward Humes
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist spends a year with the faculty, staff, and students of California's top-ranked public high school, Whitney High in Cerritos. Commenting on his observations, Humes heralds the school's social and academic achievements, but also examines some unintended consequences of such a high-pressure learn-ing environment. 2003.
Prophecy: What the Future Holds for You RC 58676
by Sylvia Browne
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Psychic and bestselling author of The Other Side and Back (RC 48861) discusses prophesies throughout history, including those from Nostradamus (sixteenth century), Edgar Cayce (twentieth century), and Native American and other religious seers. Offers her own predictions for early twenty-first-century ecology, politics, technology, health, medicine, space exploration, and more. 2004.
The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of U.S. Warfare RC 58680
by James F. Dunnigan
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Military analyst surveys the evolution of elite combat units, focusing on the twentieth century. Discusses tactics of the Russian Spetsnaz, British Special Air Service, U.S. Navy SEALS, and other special forces operating during World War II, the Vietnam conflict, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 2003.
Jefferson's Legacy: A Brief History of the Library of Congress RC 58681
by John Y. Cole
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Veteran librarian and historian provides a history of the nation's foremost cultural institution. Coverage begins in 1800 with the establishment of a legislative library and ends in 1992. Features information on collections, the evolution of the library's buildings, and brief biographies of the Librarians of Congress. 1993.
Simple Knits with a Twist: Unique Projects for Creative Knitters RC 58684
by Erika Knight
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Twenty contemporary projects incorporate felting, beading, and patch-working to create wall hangings, throws, rugs, napkin rings, wire bowls, and other household items. Ribbon, wire, strips of plastic, or gauze sometimes substitute for yarn. Includes basic how-to instructions. Most patterns are appropriate for experienced knitters. 2004.
The Silent War: The Cold War Battle beneath the Sea RC 58686
by John Piña Craven
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
Firsthand recollections of submarine-based espionage and nuclear deterrence from former chief civilian scientist of the U.S. Navy's Special Projects Office. Author recounts clandestine operations including Polaris missile activities and pursuit of the rogue Soviet sub that inspired Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October (RC 21513). 2001.
The Question of David: A Disabled Mother's Journey through Adoption, Family, and Life RC 58690
by Denise Sherer Jacobson
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
An independent thirty-six-year-old woman, happily married, recounts the couple's decision to adopt a possibly disabled baby boy. Both she and her husband have cerebral palsy and use wheelchairs, but open their hearts to becoming a family. Describes the joys and daily complexities of raising their son. 1999.
Jean Langlais: The Man and His Music RC 58692
by Ann Labounsky
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Authorized biography of blind twentieth-century organist/composer Jean Langlais (1907-
1991) by organist/music scholar Labounsky. Discusses Langlais's training at France's National Institute for the Blind, his subsequent organist position at Paris's Sainte-Clotilde, his American tours, and his instrumental, choral, and vocal compositions. 2000.
The Wilderness of Denali: Explorations of a Hunter-Naturalist in Northern Alaska RC 58694
by Charles Sheldon
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Relates hunter's 1906 to 1908 adventures in the territory surrounding Denali, the Native American name for Mt. McKinley. Personal notes and diary entries record observations about sheep, grizzlies, and other native wildlife. This 2000 edition includes a biographical introduction. 1930.
Ripples of Battle: How Wars of the Past Still Determine How We Fight, How We Live, and How We Think RC 58695
by Victor Davis Hanson
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Classicist reexamines the outcomes of three lesser-known military engagements and how they changed the course of Western warfare, culture, and politics. Considers the long-term impact of the battles of Okinawa in World War II, Shiloh during the Civil War, and Delium, a battle in which the Athenians were defeated in 424 B.C. 2003.
The Presidency of Richard Nixon RC 58696
by Melvin Small
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Review and analysis of the domestic and foreign policies of the thirty-seventh American president. Traces Nixon's political rise and resignation from office. Posits that his main achievement remains his domestic social legislation on such topics as desegregation of southern schools, women's rights, and the environment. 1999.
Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 RC 58697
by Mitchell Fink and Lois Mathias
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Journalist and his wife gather dozens of first-person accounts of World Trade Center workers, Pentagon employees, rescue personnel, witnesses, and others who lived through the events of September 11, 2001. Violence and strong language. 2002.
The Practical Writer: From Inspiration to Publication RC 58698
edited by Therese Eiben and Mary Gannon
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Poets & Writers magazine editors' compilation of essays to facilitate informed decisions by emerging authors at each career stage. Covers title choice, manuscript revision, grant applications, contracts, interaction with editors, and more. Contributors are novelists, poets, and publishing in-siders. 2004.
The Way of a Ship: A Square-Rigger Voyage in the Last Days of Sail RC 58702
by Derek Lundy
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
The author of Godforsaken Sea (RC 50690) recreates the adventures of his great-great-uncle Benjamin Lundy, a Cape Horn seaman during the 1880s. Derek Lundy portrays the challenges and perils Benjamin and the crew most likely faced while learning firsthand the "eternal lessons of the sea." 2002.
The Final Days RC 58703
by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Traces the last months of Richard Nixon's administration in 1974 including the cover-ups and obstructions of the president's advisers. Chronicles the events that led to the first presidential resignation in American history. Some strong language. 1976.
How to Hear from God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make Right Decisions RC 58704
by Joyce Meyer
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
Bible teacher uses scripture and examples from her own ministry to explain how to develop sensitivity to God's communication through supernatural revelation, the "inner witness," and nature. Contends that rote religious activity, unforgiveness, and legalism can hinder the fulfillment of God's plan and suggests ways to protect against negativity. 2003.
Hollywood Hulk Hogan RC 58708
by Hollywood Hulk Hogan
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
The autobiography of Hulk Hogan, professional wrestler and seven-time world-title holder, from his boyhood as Terry Bollea, an overweight kid from Tampa, Florida. Hogan looks at the many phases of his career, his metamorphosis from wrestler to entertainer, steroid use, and the price of fame and success. Strong language. 2002.
Simple Crochet RC 58709
by Erika Knight
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Twenty projects for the home from textile designer and fashion consultant. Includes pillows, throws, rugs, baskets, bags, and slippers. Describes equip-ment and techniques. Step-by-step instructions require only a few basic stitches. 2003.
Mafia Wife: My Story of Love, Murder, and Madness RC 58730
by Lynda Milito
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Exposé
by the Jewish widow of a member of the Gambino crime family. Recalls her childhood in Brooklyn, the twenty-four years she spent with Louie Milito until he disappeared in 1988, murdered by his own colleagues, and her subsequent mental and emotional problems. Strong language and some violence. 2003.
John Winthrop: America's Forgotten Founding Father RC 58731
by Francis J. Bremer
read by Robert Sams
4 cassettes
Portrait of the founder and first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Examines Winthrop's upbringing and undistinguished career in his native England until he sailed for America in 1630, then details his role in shaping and expanding the new colony. Also discusses Winthrop's puritan character, religious moderation, and responses to foreign and domestic challenges. 2003.
Carole Lombard: The Hoosier Tornado RC 58732
by Wes D. Gehring
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
Biography of film star Carole Lom-bard (1908-
1942), known as the queen of "screwball" comedies. Gehring relates Lombard's childhood years in Indiana and California, rise in the movie industry, and marriage to Clark Gable. Also describes her tragic death in a plane crash while returning home after a war-bond rally. Some strong language. 2003.
Reflections from the North Country RC 58735
by Sigurd F. Olson
read by Todd Scofield
1 cassette (Reissue)
Collection of essays by conservation activist and award-winning nature writer Sigurd F. Olson (1899-
1982). Olson's recollections of his wilderness adventures in the northern United States and arctic tundra reflect his "understanding of man's long relationship to nature, all living things, and the universe itself." 1976.
Crimes of New York: Stories of Crooks, Killers, and Corruption from the World's Toughest City RC 58736
edited by Clint Willis
read by Todd Scofield
2 cassettes
Fourteen previously published true-crime tales bring to life the Big Apple's illicit past and present. Selections include "The Annals of Manhat-tan Crime" listing Manhattan's most famous social aberrations, examinations of turn-of-the-century Tammany Hall's political corruption, and an excerpt from Herbert Asbury's The Gangs of New York (RC 55088). 2003.
Good Morning, Mr. Zip Zip Zip: Movies, Memory, and World War II RC 58737
by Richard Schickel
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
Time magazine film critic explores the false nostalgia of wartime popular culture. Revisiting his escapist childhood addiction to moviegoing, Schickel contends that the government, films, and other mass media deliberately distorted the realities of war—and promoted a "greatest generation" fantasy—to keep people complacent and maintain a "happy middle-class fic-tion." 2003.
Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography RC 58740
by Rü
diger Safranski
read by Faith Potts
4 cassettes
Examines the development of this major nineteenth-century German philosopher's thinking. Focuses primarily on Nietzsche's thoughts as expressed in his published and unpublished writings and secondarily on the facts of his life where they intersect with his work. Attempts to place this complex and influential figure in cultural and historical context. 2000.
The Selected Poems of Federico García Lorca RC 58741
by Federico García Lorca
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
Representative poems in English and Spanish from works originally published between 1921 and 1936. Includes "Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías," about a famous Spanish bullfighter and friend of Lorca's who was killed in the bullring at five in the afternoon. Includes a short preface in English. 1955.
In the Presence of My Enemies RC 58747
by Gracia Burnham
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Account of an American missionary who, with her husband, Martin, was kidnapped from a Philippine resort by Islamic terrorists in 2001. Describes their yearlong ordeal as hostages on the run in the jungle, their struggle to keep their faith, and the rescue during which Martin was killed. Some violence. 2003.
Parting the Desert: The Creation of the Suez Canal RC 58748
by Zachary Karabell
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Chronicles the joint venture of French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps and Egyptian rulers to construct a waterway connecting the Mediterranean and the Red seas, an engineering marvel that altered the terrain and the political landscapes of three continents. Karabell traces the canal's creation from before its 1869 inauguration. 2003.
Long Way Back to the River Kwai: Memories of World War II RC 58749
by Loet Velmans
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Memoir by one of some 250,000 soldiers imprisoned by the Japanese and forced to construct the "Railway of Death" on the Thailand-Burma border during World War II. Velmans details his Jewish family's escape from Holland following Hitler's invasion, their settlement in Jakarta, and his capture and torture after joining the Dutch army. Violence. 2003.
Aeschylus I—Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides RC 58751
by Aeschylus
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
Three ancient Greek tragedies written and performed in the fifth century B.C. The trilogy of plays comprising Oresteia relates the murder of Agamemnon, the return of his son Orestes to avenge his father's death and regain the throne, and Orestes's flight from Argos. Translation, introduction, and critical commentary by Richmond Lattimore. 1953.
The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games RC 58757
by Tony Perrottet
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Author of Route 66 A.D. (RC 56790) examines the experience of attending the ancient Olympic games as "a spectator, an athlete, or one of the overworked officials." Recreates five hectic days and nights in Olympia, Greece, where the games were a part of the many festivals taking place. 2004.
The World: Travels 1950-
2000 RC 58758
by Jan Morris
read by Corrie James
4 cassettes
Collection of essays by noted Welsh journalist and travel writer Jan (formerly James) Morris recording her observations over a fifty-year career of "wandering and writing" in every inhabited continent. Describes witnessing landmark historical events, visiting most of the world's great cities, and sampling many different cultures. 2003.
"Master Harold" . . . and the Boys RC 58763
by Athol Fugard
read by Fred Major
1 cassette
A one-scene play depicting 1950s South Africa. In a tea room two middle-aged black servants, Sam and Willie, greet the white owner's seventeen-year-old son, Hally, whom Sam has helped raise. Apartheid's racial prejudices become manifest when Hally, angry about his father's shortcomings, lashes out at Sam. Strong language. 1982.
L. Frank Baum: Creator of Oz RC 58766
by Katharine M. Rogers
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Biography of celebrated children's author Lyman Frank Baum (1856-
1919). Rogers discusses Baum's myriad occupations preceding his career as the successful author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (RC 51047). Considers how Baum's interest in theosophy and his support of feminism influenced his life and work. 2002.
Raising America: Experts, Parents, and a Century of Advice about Children RC 58767
by Ann Hulbert
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Traces the emergence of conflicting child-rearing guidance in the twentieth century. Offers biographical sketches of major figures in the field (Erik Erikson, Arnold Gesell, and Benjamin Spock, among others) and examines their theories, techniques, and influences. Also analyzes an unintended consequence of their work, which was to exacerbate the anxieties of parenting. 2003.
Oberammergau: The Troubling Story of the World's Most Famous Passion Play RC 58769
by James Shapiro
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Explores the small Bavarian community's production of the Passion Play, staged once each decade since 1634. Shapiro maintains that, despite late-twentieth-century efforts to appease critics, the play remains freighted with the inflammatory anti-Semitism that once earned praise from the Nazis. 2000.
Facing Ali: The Opposition Weighs In RC 58773
by Stephen Brunt
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Award-winning sportswriter and commentator presents fifteen stories from those who shared the ring with heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Brunt profiles fighters from around the world, including George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Chuck Wepner—later immortalized as "Rocky"—who tell how they were affected by Ali, his politics, and his legacy. 2002.
The Secret Life of Cowboys RC 58774
by Tom Groneberg
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
A young college graduate relates how, with his new wife, he rejects an urban lifestyle to become a cowboy. Describes beginning as a Colorado trail guide then settling on a small Montana ranch. He recounts his growth and discovery in the beautiful but brutal western wilderness. 2003.
The Secret Life of Dust: From the Cosmos to the Kitchen Counter, the Big Consequences of Little Things RC 58777
by Hannah Holmes
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Science writer examines the myriad forms of minuscule particles she calls dust—from space debris to soot to skin flakes—and their effects. Holmes describes dust's vital role in planetary evolution, Earth's climate, and natural history, including dinosaur extinction. She also details health problems associated with exposure to pollution and minute toxins. 2001.
Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights RC 58778
by Aryeh Neier
read by Dan Willems
3 cassettes
Neier chronicles his career fighting for civil liberties and his work with the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, and the Soros Foundations. Divided chronologically, the book covers segregation, antiwar protests, abortion, and free speech issues of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and international rights issues dating to 2003. 2003.
Autumn Glory: Baseball's First World Series RC 58780
by Louis P. Masur
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Recreates the 1903 postseason play-off between teams in the rival American and National leagues—the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates—that marked the birth of baseball as a modern sport and pastime. Details each game of the World Series, described by one participant fifty years later as "the wildest . . . ever played." 2003.
Caesar's Hours: My Life in Comedy, with Love and Laughter RC 58781
by Sid Caesar
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
TV comedian relates his rise to entertainment success in the 1950s. Describes the Caesar's Hour and Your Show of Shows programs and the so-called Writers' Room that produced these shows, drawing upon the talents of Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, Imogene Coca, and others. Discusses his addiction problems. 2003.
Anyone You Want Me to Be: A True Story of Sex and Death on the Internet RC 58783
by John Douglas and Stephen Singular
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Former FBI profiler Douglas traces the case of John Robinson, one of the first known serial killers to find his victims by using the Internet. Explores the Kansas con man's world, his decades-long criminal record, and his ability to lure women into sadomasochistic relationships. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2003.
Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear RC 58785
by Paul Fussell
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
A literature professor's lighthearted look at the personal, cultural, and historical meanings of uniforms and what they reveal about class, gender, and the need to belong. Reviews the distinctive clothing of the military (including that of generals Patton and Eisenhower), Boy Scouts, police, and nurses and some garb of other coun-tries. 2002.
Nonrequired Reading: Prose Pieces RC 58793
by Wislawa Szymborska
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Nearly one hundred of the Nobel Prize-winning poet's musings inspired by obscure or ephemeral books unlikely to receive much attention from reviewers. Memoirs of Napoleon's valet evoke her sympathy for the emperor's lack of privacy; a book on Neanderthals leaves her questioning their spiritual lives. A variety of whimsical digressions. 2002.
Mary Queen of Scots: The Fair Devil of Scotland RC 58800
by Jean Plaidy
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Biography of ill-fated queen of Scotland Mary Stuart (1542-
1587), executed on the order of her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England. Chronicles her childhood in France, her multiple marriages, and the religious and political unrest that plagued her rule. 1975.
Three Weeks with My Brother RC 58824
by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks
read by Henry Leyva
2 cassettes
A memoir chronicling the around-the-world adventure of author Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah, in 2003. Leaving wives and families at home, the brothers journeyed to Machu Picchu, Peru; India; and the Australian outback remarking on milestones in their lives, childhood remembrances, and truths about loss and hope. Bestseller. 2004.
He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle RC 58869
by T.D. Jakes
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Christian bishop, author of The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord (RC 50543), offers men advice to help improve their relationships with themselves, their families, and God by understanding their own emotional and spiritual needs. Jakes cites biblical and modern examples and suggests how women can offer support. 2004.
On the Natural History of Destruction RC 58874
by W.G. Sebald
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Four essays based on lectures by German scholar and award-winning author of Austerlitz (RC 53308) explore the lingering effects of WWII Allied bombings on his nation's collective consciousness. "Air War and Literature" criticizes the failure of postwar German writers to adequately address their country's destruction; the other pieces analyze works of three such literary figures. 1999.
In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr. RC 58878
by Wil Haygood
read by Jake Williams
5 cassettes
From research and interviews, award-winning journalist relates the life and career of performer Sammy Davis Jr., from his start as a four-year-old singer/dancer with the Will Mastin Trio. Recounts his romances, mob connections, politics, and ever-present conflict of racial identity. Strong language. 2003.
What Would Aristotle Do? Self-Control through the Power of Reason RC 58882
by Elliot D. Cohen
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Philosophical counselor's commonsense approach to overcoming self-destructive thoughts,
emotions, and actions by harnessing innate powers of reason and critical thinking.
Uses real-life scenarios to demonstrate how Aristotelian logic can be used to combat
everyday maladies like guilt, loneliness, grief, anger, social anxiety, and depression. 2003.
Goya RC 58883
by Robert Hughes
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Interpretive biography of Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746-
1828) by Time magazine art critic and author of Culture of Complaint (RC 36854). Chronicles Goya's development as a man and artist, offering critical analyses of his work, social milieu, professional influences, and dominant events like the Inquisition. 2003.
American Mafia: A History of Its Rise to Power RC 58884
by Thomas Reppetto
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Former Chicago detective and coauthor of NYPD (RC 52137) surveys organized crime in the United States, 1880s to 1950s. Contends that social forces empowering Torrio, Capone, Luciano, and many other mobsters included widespread anti-immigrant bias, Prohibition, and corrupt alliances between politicians and law "enforcers" flagrantly on the take. 2004.
Skywriting: A Life out of the Blue RC 58891
by Jane Pauley
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Award-winning television news anchorwoman's autobiography, in which she pens her "personal process of discovery" from an upbringing in the Midwest to success on the Today and Dateline shows. Discusses her adult-onset bipolar disorder and family life with husband Garry Trudeau and their three children. Bestseller. 2004.
Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family RC 58893
by Phil McGraw
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Host of television's "Dr. Phil" and bestselling author of Self Matters (RC 54036) offers a guide to "leading your family and parenting with purpose." Explains seven parenting tools needed to instill values, help define and attain success for each child, and counteract outside distractions like peer pressure. Bestseller. 2004.
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders RC 58996
by Jennifer Finney Boylan
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Candid autobiography of professor and transgender author (as James Finney Boylan) of The Constellations (RC 43488). Boylan reveals her transition from male to female and reactions by family, friends, colleagues, and students to "Jenny" after the sex change. Afterword by novelist Richard Russo. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2003.
My Personal Best: Life Lessons from an All-American Journey RC 58997
by John Wooden
read by Ted Stoddard
1 cassette
Ninety-three-year-old former UCLA basketball coach recalls his educational life journey and the people who shaped him. Hailed "the greatest coach of the twentieth century," he reflects on his early life, lessons of integrity and dignity, and stewardship of the UCLA dynasty that won ten national championships in twelve years. 2004.
Celia: My Life RC 59003
by Celia Cruz
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Autobiography by the Afro-Cuban singer, the "Queen of Salsa," who died in 2003. Reminisces about her upbringing and early career in Havana and her road to international success. Recalls her voluntary exile after Castro came to power, her long marriage, and associations with other musicians. Foreword by Maya Angelou. 2004.
Love, Daddy RC 59015
by Carlton Smith
read by Eric Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Journalist's account of a sensational case: in December 2001 con man Christian Longo, a "disfellowed" Jehovah's Witness, apparently murdered his wife and three preschoolers, dumped their bodies into waters off the Oregon coast, and vanished. Recounts police searching widely, finding Longo in Mexico, and repatriating him for trial. Some violence. 2003.
He's Just Not That into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys RC 59020
by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Two writers formerly with the Sex and the City television series caution women that their dates' mixed messages are in fact rejections. Uses real situations and question-and-answer format to humorously advise when to quit unsatisfying relationships and how to recognize those that are positive. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
The Blindness Revolution: Jernigan in His Own Words RC 59457
by James H. Omvig
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Blindness activist and attorney examines the transformation of the Iowa Commission for the Blind by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, a National Federation of the Blind leader. Describes Jernigan's reorganization of the service agency beginning in 1958 from an ineffective medical model to a civil-rights-based "empowerment" organization. 2005.
My Disability—God's Ability: Seven Principles of Triumphant Life RC 59622
by Young Woo Kang
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
In the sequel to A Light in My Heart (RC 26603), a Korean-born, blind U.S. government senior executive continues his memoir "to tell the world how faith and vision work together" and how they change lives. Kang discusses the principles that helped him thrive and overcome bitterness. 2004.
Blind Justice: Jacobus tenBroek and the Vision of Equality RC 59656
by Floyd Matson
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Biography of the founder of the National Federation of the Blind, written by friend and collaborator Matson. Tells how tenBroek (1911-
1968), blinded at age seven, obtained a law degree and became an advocate not only for blind people but for people with disabilities, poor people, and other minority groups. 2005.
Electric Universe: The Shocking True Story of Electricity RC 59659
by David Bodanis
read by Del Roy
2 cassettes
Describes the discovery of electricity and the ways its development transformed the world. Weaves biographical sketches of pioneers Michael Faraday, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Alan Turing, and others with explanations about their impact on applications such as batteries, telegraph, radio, transistors, and computers. 2005.
Tourmaline RC 57199
by Joanna Scott
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Murray Murdoch and his family flee financial ruin in mid-fifties America to Elba, where Murray dreams of striking it rich in semiprecious tourmaline. But, seduced by the island's intrigues, he falls under suspicion in a local girl's disappearance. In 1999, son Oliver returns to probe the events that nearly destroyed his father. 2002.
The Best American Mystery Stories, 2003 RC 57428
edited by Michael Connelly
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
Twenty short mystery stories by authors including Mike Doogan, Walter Mosley, Joyce Carol Oates, and George Pelecanos. In "When the Women Come Out to Dance," a former stripper and wife of a wealthy Pakistani employs a domestic to help resolve marital problems. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
The Breathtaker RC 57636
by Alice Blanchard
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Oklahoma. In the aftermath of a devastating twister, widowed police chief Charlie Grover discovers the bodies of three apparent tornado victims. When autopsies reveal foul play, Charlie—aided by storm-chasing specialist Willa Bellman—races to stop a killer using cyclones to camouflage murder. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
On a Night like This RC 57637
by Ellen Sussman
read by Barbara Goodson
2 cassettes
Chef Blair Clemens, a single mother of a sixteen-year-old, is dying of cancer. When screenwriter Luke Bellingham tracks her down for their twenty-fifth high school reunion, sparks fly. Nevertheless, Luke is still longing after his estranged wife, and Blair must cope with her illness. Strong language. 2004.
A Whistling Woman RC 57683
by A.S. Byatt
read by Laura Giannarelli
4 cassettes
Teeming, panoramic novel of social change in 1960s England, centered on recently divorced Frederica Potter from Babel Tower (RC 42872), now a BBC talk show host. Into her orbit come radical psychoanalysts, disaffected academics, followers of a charismatic religious mystic, and snail researchers. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.
Don Quixote RC 57711
by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
read by Peter Gil
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Spanish classic depicting the adventures of Don Quixote, an aging gentleman addled by chivalrous visions, who appoints himself a knight-errant and sets out with his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, on a quest to right the world's wrongs. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. New translation by Edith Grossman. Bestseller. 2003.
Mirror Mirror RC 57764
by Gregory Maguire
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Montefiore, 1502. In this adaptation of "Snow White," Vincent de Nevada is dispatched to find the Tree of Knowledge, leaving his young daughter, Bianca, with evil Lucrezia Borgia. Lucrezia, fiercely jealous of Bianca's beauty, orders her death. Rescued by the seven dwarves, Bianca discovers the truth in an ancient mirror. 2003.
True Valor: Uncommon Heroes, Book 2 RC 57765
by Dee Henderson
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Lieutenant Grace Yates, a self-assured Navy pilot, is in love with Major Bruce Stanton, an Air Force pararescue jumper. Both, with deep religious convictions, have been deployed to the Middle East. When Grace's plane goes down, it becomes Bruce's job to rescue her. Sequel to True Devotion (RC 57753). 2002.
Paranoia RC 57827
by Joseph Finder
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
When Adam Cassidy, a low-level employee of Wyatt Telecommunications, is caught rerouting funds, he receives two options—face embezzlement charges or become a spy at Trion Systems, Wyatt's largest competitor. Risking exposure, Adam infiltrates Trion but ultimately finds his loyalties tested. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004.
Freaky Green Eyes RC 57887
by Joyce Carol Oates
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Fourteen-year-old Francesca "Franky" Pierson relates events during the year her mother leaves home for long periods and then disappears. Initially sympathizing with her father, a former football star-turned-broadcaster, Franky eventually discovers the truth about her parents' relationship—and her mom's murder. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. For senior high readers. 2003.
Candle in the Darkness: Refiner's Fire RC 58048
by Lynn Austin
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
1856. After Caroline Fletcher's mother dies, the fifteen-year-old leaves her family's Virginia plantation to live with relatives in Philadelphia. There she joins the antislavery movement and becomes a determined abolitionist. Caroline returns home just as her father, cousin, and fiancé
go off to war. 2002.
The Bride Hunt RC 58142
by Jane Feather
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
The Duncan sisters, professional matchmakers and anonymous editors of a controversial London broadsheet, are sued for libel. Bookish middle sister Prudence proposes a barter to barrister Gideon Malvern: he defends their case, they find him a bride. Sequel to The Bachelor List (RC 58123). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.
The Moon's Shadow: Saga of the Skolian Empire, Volume 8 RC 58147
by Catherine Asaro
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Seventeen-year-old Jaibriol exchanges himself for a Eubian Trader—his uncle—and assumes the throne of Skolia's rival empire, Eube. The son of parents from both societies, Jai struggles to conceal his telepathic abilities as he works for peace. Sequel to Spherical Harmonic (RC 58121). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
Paradise RC 58185
by Patrick Dennis
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes (Reissue)
At an exclusive Acapulco resort, an eclectic group of rich and famous people is stranded when an earthquake separates the hotel site from the Mexican mainland. While the guests await rescue, second-rate television producer Jimmy Malvido arrives to broadcast their plight. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1971.
Slider RC 58305
by Patrick Robinson
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Twenty-year-old pitcher Jack Faber, an impoverished farmer's son hoping to play in the majors, spends the summer at an elite baseball camp. But after he returns to college, a jealous coach destroys Jack's confidence, causing him to doubt his abilities and quit the game. His camp buddies help restore his self-assurance. Strong language. 2002.
Forge of Heaven: The Gene Wars, Book 2 RC 58325
by C.J. Cherryh
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
From orbiting Concord Station, where humans and alien ondat coexist, Procyon Stafford observes immortal Gene War survivor Marak Trin Tain rebuild his planet's biosphere. But the arrival of a ship from Earth upsets the delicate balance of power. Sequel to Hammerfall (RC 52458). Some violence and some strong language. 2004.
The Mrs. Dalloway Reader RC 58332
edited by Francine Prose
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Selection of critical essays exploring the evolution and impact of Virginia Woolf's 1925 classic novel Mrs. Dalloway and the companion piece, "Mrs. Dalloway's Party." Includes the two works, Woolf's journal entries and letters regarding the works' creation, and various writers' commentary. Includes editor's introduction. 2003.
The Sergeant's Lady RC 58340
by Miles Hood Swarthout
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Arizona Territory, late 1800s. General Nelson Miles and Sergeant Ammon Swing of the U.S. cavalry battle Geronimo and his band of fierce Apache warriors. Rancher Jacob Cox and his spunky sister, Martha, who soon finds herself smitten with the sergeant, are caught in the middle. Violence. 2003.
The Dragon King's Palace RC 58342
by Laura Joh Rowland
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Edo, Japan; 1694. Traveling to Mt. Fuji to escape the heat, the shogun's mother's entourage is ambushed, the troops slain, and the women kidnapped. Among them is Reiko, wife of Sano, the emperor's private investigator. While Reiko schemes to protect her honor, Sano resorts to desperate measures. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2003.
The Spirit Line RC 58343
by Aimé
e Thurlo and David Thurlo
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Preparing for her upcoming Navajo womanhood ceremony, fifteen-year-old Crystal Manyfeathers weaves a traditional rug but omits the spirit line—a flaw intentionally woven as a tribute to Spider Woman. When the rug disappears, Crystal and her friend Junior, a healer's apprentice, launch a search. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.
With You in Spirit RC 58346
by Steven Cooper
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Gay, Native American, and Jewish Graydove Hoffenstein, heir to a parking meter fortune, defends his mother who is jailed for murdering his father. The eccentric family hires blind medium Brenda Cloudholder to intervene at their haunted Vineyard estate. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
A Dark Champion RC 58351
by Kinley MacGregor
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
At a tournament, warrior lord Stryder of Blackmoor meets Rowena de Vitry, an idealistic lady who detests war and knights. Both have sworn off marriage, but a king's clever scheme and an assassin's deadly vendetta bring them together. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2004.
Up in a Heaval: Xanth RC 58393
by Piers Anthony
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Umlaut Human seeks refuge at Castle Zombie and befriends a water serpent disguised as a dragon. Finding some undelivered letters in the castle's dungeon, Sesame and Umlaut help forward one to Demon Jupiter—who subsequently hurls his red spot towards Earth and Xanth. Now they must stop the huge storm from destroying both worlds. 2002.
The Good House RC 58397
by Tananarive Due
read by Madelyn Buzzard
4 cassettes
African American talent agent Angela Toussaint returns to her late grandmother's house in Washington state where Angela's son committed suicide two years earlier. With her high school sweetheart, Angela investigates the tragedy and battles ancient supernatural forces that possessed her family. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
Plan of Attack RC 58411
by Dale Brown
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
No longer in charge of Air Battle Force (RC 56547), demoted aerial warfare expert Patrick McLanahan cannot prevent a Russian sneak attack from devastating U.S. strategic air forces. McLanahan's only option is to convince his superiors to undertake a daring counterstrike. Some strong language. 2004.
Twelve Times Blessed RC 58414
by Jacquelyn Mitchard
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
Widowed mother True Dickinson celebrates her forty-third birthday at a Cape Cod bar, where she meets Hank Bannister, ten years her junior. That night, during a blizzard, he saves her life. Their relationship moves fast, but not fast enough to elude Hank's needy ex-girlfriend. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2003.
Mrs. Roberto; or, The Widowy Worries of the Moosepath League: Moosepath League Chronicles RC 58531
by Van Reid
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
Maine, 1897. Tobias Walton continues to woo Miss Phileda McCannon and with aide-de-camp Sundry Moss sets out to visit Sundry's uncle. Instead they become unexpected guests at the eccentric Fern Farm. Meanwhile, fellow Moosepathians, searching for elusive parachutist Mrs. Roberto, run afoul of Fuzz Hadley's gang. 2003.
Captiva RC 58544
by Randy Wayne White
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
South Florida. A fishing dispute turns deadly for vandal Jimmy Darroux, who dies when his homemade bomb explodes. Government agent-turned-marine biologist Doc Ford and his aging hippie friend Tomlinson locate Jimmy's sexy widow and try to stop the escalating violence. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996.
The Speed of Dark RC 58560
by Elizabeth Moon
read by Brian Conn
3 cassettes
Born with autism at the dawn of the twenty-first century, Lou Arrendale is an independent adult working at a pharmaceutical company. When his boss pressures him to receive an experimental treatment that could reverse his condition, Lou worries how he will change and how he will feel being "normal." 2003.
Half a Heart RC 58584
by Rosellen Brown
read by Margaret Strom
4 cassettes
A white Houston doctor's wife locates the daughter she had relinquished years before to her persuasive black professor lover in Mississippi. The recent high school graduate, Ronnee, hides a secret agenda as mother and daughter awkwardly become acquainted and deal with reactions from others. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2000.
Gospel Choirs: Psalms of Survival in an Alien Land Called Home RC 58603
by Derrick Bell
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
In this collection of essays and parables, a law professor uses fictional characters and gospel music references to express his position on racism, poverty, gender issues, affirmative action, the Republican Party's 1995 Contract with America, and the Bell Curve theory. Companion to Faces at the Bottom of the Well (RC 36823). Some strong language. 1996.
Two o'Clock, Eastern Wartime RC 58614
by John Dunning
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
In 1942, author Jack Dulaney escapes from a chain gang to help his long-lost love, Holly Carnahan, locate her missing father. He writes for a radio station in a New Jersey beach town that is vulnerable to a German attack. The two unearth a network of spies and murder. Some strong language. 2001.
A Heart Speaks RC 58615
by LaVyrle Spencer
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Two novellas. In Forsaking All Others, Allison Scott, photographer, is looking for the perfect man for a book cover contract. She finds him in Richard Lang—who becomes more than a model. In A Promise to Cherish, Lee Walker, a construction estimator, grabs the wrong suitcase at the airport and ends up meeting Sam Brown of Brown and Brown, whose bid just happens to be lower. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.
Dead for Life: A Conrad Voort Mystery RC 58616
by Ethan Black
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Wendall Nye, a former high school teacher turned serial killer, targets people
who've harmed him, including Manhattan detective Conrad Voort. Voort, threatened
with dismissal by his superiors, races to uncover the identity of Nye—whose
motives, moreover, reveal political corruption. Violence and strong language.
2003.
North of Havana RC 58617
by Randy Wayne White
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Havana. South Florida marine biologist Doc Ford, a former U.S. agent, returns to help his hippie friend Tomlinson who was stranded after the Cuban government confiscated his boat. Accompanied by his lesbian buddy Dewey, Doc locates Tomlinson among anti-Castro revolutionaries. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1997.
Cold Springs RC 58619
by Rick Riordan
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Nine years after his teenage daughter overdosed on heroin, Chadwick escorts troubled kids to a tough-love Texas boarding school. Now he's hired to help Mallory Zedman, the daughter of his former mistress, who is wanted for questioning in a murder directly linked to his past. Strong language and some violence. 2003.
The Lone Drow: Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 2 RC 58628
by R.A. Salvatore
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
After their near-devastating defeat in The Thousand Orcs (RC 58337), dwarves and humans flee the on-slaught of King Obould Many-Arrows and his orc army. Dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden, having become separated from his companions, sets out alone across the Spine of the World to avenge the fallen. Violence. 2003.
Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne in The Bourne Legacy RC 58648
by Eric Van Lustbader
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Georgetown University professor and ex-covert operative David Webb is framed for the murders of two CIA officials, one his former handler. Hunted by feds and a mysterious assassin, Webb assumes the Bourne identity to stay alive and stop a killer. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.
Welcome to the Great Mysterious RC 58660
by Lorna Landvik
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Broadway star Geneva Jordan finally agrees to return to Deep Lake, Minnesota, to baby-sit Rich, her thirteen-year-old nephew, while her twin sister takes a vacation. Once there, Geneva helps Rich, who has Down syndrome, and his best friend, who has cerebral palsy, while she finds love with a mailman. 2000.
Muletrain to Maggody: An Arly Hanks Mystery RC 58670
by Joan Hess
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Maggody police chief Arly Hanks has her hands full with the filming of a Civil War reenactment and the revelation that Confederate gold is hidden nearby. As the townspeople and film crew compete to find the treasure, some senior citizens mysteriously die and Arly's old flame returns. Some strong language. 2004.
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-first Annual Collection RC 58677
edited by Gardner Dozois
read by Erin Jones
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Review of the year 2003's science fiction presents twenty-nine tales by masters of the genre. New or established authors include Michael Swanwick, Nancy Kress, Harry Turtledove, and Robert Reed. A brief introduction prefaces each story. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004.
Death Trap: An Alaska Mystery RC 58678
by Sue Henry
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
Forced by an injury to miss this year's Iditarod race, musher Jessie Arnold works the booth at the Alaska state fair. The festivities are interrupted when a murder occurs, Jessie's beloved lead dog disappears, and Jessie herself goes missing. Old flame Alex Jensen returns to launch a search. Some strong language. 2003.
The Color of Death RC 58679
by Elizabeth Lowell
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Gem cutter Kate Chandler creates seven beautiful sapphire stones from a single rough one. When her half-brother Lee, her jewel courier, disappears, Kate investigates with help from rogue FBI agent Sam Groves, who believes Lee is a thief. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004.
Mistress of Dragons: The Dragonvarld Trilogy, Book 1 RC 58682
by Margaret Weis
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
To locate a renegade, the Parliament of Dragons sends Draconas, in human form, to abduct the Mistress of Dragons. The mission goes horribly awry when her true identity is revealed. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2003.
A Sundog Moment: A Novel of Hope RC 58689
by Sharon Baldacci
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Elizabeth Whittaker's multiple sclerosis diagnosis changes her life forever. Her perfect marriage strains to the breaking point as she and her family cope with her new physical reality. Elizabeth prays for a sundog, a sun phenomenpn symbolizing hope, to renew her strength and faith. Some descriptions of sex. 2004.
Shadowmancer RC 58691
by G.P. Taylor
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Obadiah Demurral, the power hungry vicar of Thorpe, attempts to become a god by dabbling in magic. Raphah arrives from Africa, recruits young locals Kate and Thomas, and with their help tries to retrieve an artifact that has been stolen from his temple. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit RC 58699
by Sloan Wilson
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
1953. Tired of struggling to make ends meet working for a charitable arts foundation, Tom Rath secures a well-paying but morally empty corporate public relations position. But Rath's compromises magnify family problems and aggravate unresolved issues from his wartime past. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1955.
The Wedding Game RC 58700
by Jane Feather
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
London. Chastity Duncan and her sisters—anonymous matchmakers—seek a wealthy, well-connected wife for Douglas Farrell, an up-and-coming doctor seemingly indifferent to love. Chastity finds Douglas a suitable candidate, but Douglas would rather have Chastity. Sequel to The Bride Hunt (RC 58142). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.
Outcasts of Canyon Creek RC 58705
by Clay Fisher
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Texan Ben Allison stops the hanging of a young mulatto accused by Montana vigilantes of raping and axing a dance hall girl. Ben, determined that the boy, innocent or not, will receive a fair trial, escapes Canyon Creek with him. Some violence and some strong language. 1972.
The Christmas Blessing RC 58707
by Donna VanLiere
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
In this sequel to The Christmas Shoes (RC 58657), Nathan is in his third year of medical school but questions his ability to be a doctor. He also realizes he still has much to learn about life, faith, and blessings. And he will learn from heart patient Meghan Sullivan. 2003.
Murder at a Vineyard Mansion: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery RC 58710
by Philip R. Craig
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Chappaquiddick aristocrat Maud Mayhew hires private detective J.W. Jackson from A Vineyard Killing (RC 57831) to prove her errant son, Harold, didn't kill night watchman Ollie Mattes. But before J.W. can investigate, Harold himself is murdered. The trail leads J.W. to some of the island's most prominent families. 2004.
Song of the Exile RC 58711
by Kiana Davenport
read by John Polk
4 cassettes
Novel of two Hawaiian families from World War II to the islands' statehood. Sunny joins her lover, jazz musician Keo, in Paris. Separated from each other by war, Sunny endures forced prostitution while Keo searches for her in Shanghai. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and some strong language. 1999.
Entranced RC 58725
by Nora Roberts
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
P.I. Mel Sutherland, searching for a kidnapped child, agrees to meet Sebastian Donovan, gifted with the ability to find missing people. Although Mel feels skeptical of such psychic powers, she learns to believe in Sebastian's gift and his love. Follows Captivated (RC 57700). Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1992.
The Caprices RC 58726
by Sabina Murray
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Nine stories about men and women affected by World War II's devastating Pacific campaign. In "Guinea," two American soldiers lost in the jungle—one Irish, one Italian—learn what bonds them together. The title piece portrays the fatal encounter of a young girl and a Japanese soldier. Violence and strong language. 2002.
Between Sisters RC 58727
by Kristin Hannah
read by Mary Beth Wise
3 cassettes
Time and differences have kept divorce lawyer Meghann Dontess, from Distant Shores (RC 56933), and her sister, Claire, from the closeness they shared during a difficult childhood. Reunited for Claire's wedding, they establish new bonds, and Meghann finds herself falling in love as well. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.
Everyone Dies: A Kevin Kerney Novel RC 58729
by Michael McGarrity
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
In one disturbing day, Santa Fe police chief Kevin Kerney argues with his pregnant wife, views the body of a murdered defense attorney, and finds his horse maliciously destroyed. Macabre killings continue as Kerney races to find a connection before his family falls to the madman. Violence and some strong language. 2003.
The Last Chance Texaco RC 58742
by Brent Hartinger
read by Mary Beth Wise
1 cassette
Fifteen-year-old orphan Lucy is sent to a group home located in an upscale neighborhood. She deals with her problems, finds a boyfriend, and begins to feel at home. But an arsonist sets cars on fire, and the foster kids are blamed. Strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.
The Bookman's Promise: A Cliff Janeway Novel RC 58743
by John Dunning
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
For a mere $29,500, book collector and ex-cop Cliff Janeway purchases a three-volume Civil War-era book. After an elderly Baltimore woman claims it belonged to a collection stolen from her grandfather, Janeway investigates and discovers that the book holds secrets for which many would kill. Some strong language. 2004.
Unlucky in Law RC 58744
by Perri O'Shaughnessy
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Defense attorney Nina Reilly joins her PI lover, Paul, in California. Paul proposes, and to postpone answering Nina gets absorbed in her latest case: an unlucky criminal charged with grave robbing and murder, in a trial linked to tsarist Russia. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.
Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch RC 58754
by Haywood Smith
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
The ever-cynical Lin Breedlove Scott is left penniless after her husband runs off with a stripper. Forced to return to her southern hometown, Lin reconnects with her eccentric family and old friends as she struggles to take charge of her life. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.
The Mistress of Alderley RC 58755
by Robert Barnard
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Retired actress Caroline Fawley lives contentedly on an estate near Leeds with her children. Her married lover, wealthy Marius Fleetwood, visits every weekend. When Fleetwood is murdered, Detective Sergeant Peace leads an investigation that turns up numerous suspects with good reason to kill, including various offspring, lovers, and ex-spouses. Strong language. 2002.
A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies: Stories RC 58764
by John Murray
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Collection of eight stories focusing on the emotions of professional persons in the fields of science, medicine, and nature trying to cope with problems and understand their lives. Includes "The Hill Station," an award-winning piece in which an American-born microbiologist visits Bombay—her parents' homeland—and breaks away from her well-ordered existence. Some strong language. 2003.
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons RC 58768
by Lorna Landvik
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Five small-town Minnesota neighbors form a book club and lasting friendships. There's Faith, a lonely housewife; Audrey, the resident sex queen; Kari, the oldest; Slip, the activist; and Merit, an abused wife. They share three decades of personal dramas. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.
Conan and the Spider God RC 58779
by L. Sprague de Camp
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
For the boyish thrill of stealing his commander's woman, Conan of Cimmeria, a captain in the Royal Guard, cuts short his promising career. His sudden flight from the capital city leads to further adventures, including a romance and a deadly encounter with the fierce spider god. Some violence. 1980.
The Green Ray RC 58789
by Jules Verne
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Young Scotswoman Helena Campbell postpones an arranged marriage until she can see a legendary green ray from the setting sun that supposedly will enable her never to be deceived in affairs of the heart. Accompanying her on the quest are two uncles and two would-be suitors. 1883.
Versailles RC 58801
by Kathryn Davis
read by Megan Burnett
1 cassette
Betrothed at fourteen to Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette leaves Austria for Versailles. History unfolds as she experiences court splendor, a queen's extravagance, and the horrors of the French Revolution. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.
A Hole in Texas RC 58829
by Herman Wouk
read by Jonathan Davis
2 cassettes
Physicist Guy Carpenter worked on the underground Super Collider in Texas, searching for the Higgs boson, an elusive subatomic particle, until Congress scrapped the project. When a team of Chinese scientists—including Guy's ex-girlfriend—claim to have discovered the boson, mild-mannered Guy finds himself at the center of the media blitz. 2004.
Snow RC 58863
by Orhan Pamuk
read by Robert Blumenfeld
4 cassettes
Poet Ka returns to Turkey after years of exile in Germany. While trying to rekindle romance with a childhood friend, he investigates the suicide of several religious "head-scarf" girls. Meanwhile a blizzard cuts off the town and a military coup occurs. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. Bestseller. 2002.
Captain's Peril: A Star Trek Novel RC 58868
by William Shatner
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Jim Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard vacation on Bajor, diving among the ruins of an ancient sunken city. They arrive at the archaeological site to find the director murdered and the camp without communications or power. When Picard disappears, Kirk draws on lessons from the past to uncover the truth. 2002.
Calder Promise: Calder Saga, Volume 8 RC 58870
by Janet Dailey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Laura Calder meets two men in Europe who pursue her: Boone Rutledge, son of a Texas billionaire, and Sebas-tian Dunshill, earl of Crawford. One man is a threat to her family. Sequel to Shifting Calder Wind (RC 57507). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.
Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes RC 58871
by Cathy Hopkins
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
To revamp her image, Londoner Izzie pierces her belly button without her mum's approval. Matters worsen when her mother reads her personal diary. Her mates Nesta, Lucy, and T.J. worry that biker Josh Harper, Izzie's older crush, might be a bad influence. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.
The Green Berets RC 58872
by Robin Moore
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes (Reissue)
A civilian journalist accompanying the U.S. Army Special Forces on various missions in Vietnam during the early 1960s describes the exploits and spirit of the elite troops known as Green Berets. Based on Moore's own experiences; made into a John Wayne movie. Violence and some strong language. 1965.
The Other Boleyn Girl RC 58873
by Philippa Gregory
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Fictional portrayal of Mary Boleyn and her siblings, Anne and George, at Henry VIII's court, where the three were sent to advance the Howard family's fortunes. Mary's account takes her from her own affair with the king and her replacement by Anne to Anne's execution. Some descriptions of sex. 2001.
Dr. No RC 58875
by Ian Fleming
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Deadly danger awaits James Bond when he goes to the Caribbean to locate two missing agents. His antagonist is a maniacal doctor with an array of fantastic weapons and dreams of unlimited conquest. Some violence and some strong language. 1958.
Dragon Bones: China Crime RC 58879
by Lisa See
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Chinese inspector Liu Hulan investigates an American archaeologist's murder near the Yangzi River Three Gorges Dam project. Hulan's estranged American husband, David Stark, arrives to look into antiquities theft. The two cases become entwined, and more fatalities occur. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003.
Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War RC 58880
by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
read by Nick Sullivan
4 cassettes
1863. Alternative version of the pivotal Civil War battle of Gettysburg: Confederate general Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia gain the advantage as they prepare to engage the Union Army of the Potomac. Some violence. 2003.
The Playboy RC 58881
by Carly Phillips
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Tired of his marriage-minded mother's hints and exasperated by unwanted advances from local admirers, divorced police officer Rick Chandler asks commitment-shy Kendall Sutton to pose as his lover. She agrees, determined to tame both her personal demons and Rick's playboy ways. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
I, Fatty RC 58886
by Jerry Stahl
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Fictionalized memoir of "fat kid from Kansas" Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, who escapes a dismal childhood and succeeds as a wise-guy comedian in vaudeville and silent films. With marital, weight, and substance-abuse problems as well as rape and murder accu-sations, Arbuckle ultimately exchanges fame for notoriety. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.
Murder List RC 58887
by Julie Garwood
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Chicago. To expose shady self-help guru Lawrence Shields, hotel heiress Regan Madison attends a seminar where Shields instructs participants to list the people they want gone. When Regan's nominees start dying, detective Alec Buchanan vows to protect her. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
The Sunday Philosophy Club: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery RC 58888
by Alexander McCall Smith
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Edinburgh. Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, witnesses a young man's fatal fall in a concert hall and becomes convinced that his death is not suicide. Following her intuition, Isabel investigates, assisted by a frosty banker, an upright housekeeper, and her niece's rejected boyfriend. Bestseller. 2004.
Star RC 58889
by Pamela Anderson
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Affable small-town Florida tomboy "Star" becomes an overnight sensation when she is "discovered" and graces the cover of a gentlemen's magazine and lands a role on a trashy television show. Throughout her adventures Star remains the same sweet girl. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? RC 58890
by Sidney Sheldon
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Four Kingsley International Group think-tank scientists die mysteriously around the globe. Two widows—New Yorker Diane Stevens, who recently testified against the Mafia, and Paris model Kelly Harris—unite to expose KIG's nefarious CEO, Tanner King-sley. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004.
White Hot RC 58892
by Sandra Brown
read by Sharon Murray
3 cassettes
Destiny, Louisiana. Sayre Lynch returns home after her brother's questionable suicide. She investigates the death as charges of labor unrest, bribery, and murder envelop other relatives. Darker secrets emerge while she develops a love/hate relationship with a close family associate. Descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
Shopaholic and Sister RC 58896
by Sophie Kinsella
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
When Becky returns from her round-the-world honeymoon with two truckloads of souvenirs, she learns that real married life means making adjust-ments, including a budget. Meanwhile she meets her half-sister, Jessica, who is a frugal environmentalist and hates shopping! Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
The Fire-Eaters RC 58897
by David Almond
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
England, 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, adolescent Bobby Burns worries about his father's illness. He is friends with eccentric fire-eater Mr. McNulty, wonder-working Ailsa Spink, and classmate Daniel Gower. Bobby believes in miracles, finding hope amidst disillusionment. For junior and senior high readers. Whitbread Award. 2003.
Conan: The Road of Kings RC 58898
by Karl Edward Wagner
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Facing the gallows for killing a captain of the guard, Conan takes advantage of a fellow prisoner's rescue attempt to escape execution. When Conan learns his saviors are rebel soldiers of the White Rose army, he joins their blood-soaked insurrection against a tyrannical despot. Violence. 1979.
The Princess Present: A Princess Diaries Book RC 58912
by Meg Cabot
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Mia is spending the holidays in Genovia with her father and grand-mè
re but insists that her boyfriend, Michael, and his sister, Lilly, come to visit. When royal duties take precedence, Mia has a hard time keeping Michael to herself. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.
Kiss Me while I Sleep RC 58926
by Linda Howard
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Liliane Mansfield has worked as a hired CIA assassin for nineteen years. When several personal friends are killed, Lily decides to take matters into her own hands. Agent Lucas Swain, sent to stop her, finds himself drawn into Lily's game. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.
Charmed and Enchanted: The Donovan Legacy, Book 3 RC 58931
by Nora Roberts
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Continues the story of the Donovan cousins from Entranced (RC 58725). In Charmed, witch Anastasia keeps her abilities hidden until fate steps in. In Enchanted, love waits while Liam learns to trust his new neighbor with the truth about his family's legacy. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.
Northern Lights RC 58932
by Nora Roberts
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Lunacy, Alaska. New sheriff Nate Burke finds the job challenging. While the former cop recovers from his Baltimore partner's violent death, he investigates an unsolved crime that threat-ens his current life and love, fiery bush pilot Meg Galloway. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2004.
Nights of Rain and Stars RC 58933
by Maeve Binchy
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Four strangers—American, English, Irish, and German—on holiday in a Greek village come together after they witness a tragic boating accident. Each of them is trying to escape from a troublesome situation back home. As they become friends and lovers, two locals help them to attain perspective and self-knowledge. Bestseller. 2004.
Tijuana Straits RC 58937
by Kem Nunn
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
U.S.-Mexico border. Ex-con surfer-turned-worm farmer Sam Fahey takes in Magdalena Rivera, a young environmental activist from Tijuana, after she barely escapes a murder attempt. While Magdalena recuperates under Sam's protection, she tries to identify the would-be killers before they finish the job. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
See How She Dies RC 58939
by Lisa Jackson
read by Mary Beth Wise
3 cassettes
Oregon, 1993. Adria Nash, possibly kidnapped years ago, investigates her birthright as wealthy London Danvers in Portland. Caught between feuding families and stalked by her mother's killer, Adria has only one ally—theDanvers black sheep Zachary. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 1994.
The Shadow of the Wind RC 58940
by Carlos Ruiz Zafó
n
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Barcelona, 1945. Young Daniel Sempere selects Julián Carax's The Shadow of the Wind when his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Daniel loves the novel, investigates the author's life and death, and meets a cast of characters hiding deadly secrets. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2001.
The Footprints of God RC 58942
by Greg Iles
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Dr. David Tennant is working on a government program: building a computer that can think. The scientists begin suffering neurological symptoms, and when a murder occurs, David and his psychiatrist, Rachel Weiss, flee. Rachel tries to decipher David's religious visions as the computer takes over. Violence and strong language. 2003.
Death Row: A Ben Kincaid Novel RC 58943
by William Bernhardt
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Fifteen-year-old Erin Faulkner's testimony as sole survivor of her family's slaughter sent Ray Goldman to Okla-homa's death row. Seven years later, with Goldman's life at stake, Erin admits to defense attorney Ben Kincaid that she lied. Her apparent suicide forces Ben to investigate. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2003.
Fox Evil RC 58947
by Minette Walters
read by Vanessa Maroney
3 cassettes
A Dorset, England, coroner cites natural causes in the death of elderly Ailsa Lockyer-Fox, an advocate against animal cruelty. Her husband James's secretive behavior, however, arouses suspicion as he begins a desperate search for the granddaughter who could save his name—and his life. Strong language and some violence. 2002.
Scratch: An Eddie Caminetti Novel RC 58950
by Troon McAllister
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Golf hustler Eddie Caminetti teams up with a physicist to help out his friend and former caddie. Their revolutionary golf ball storms the market, incites a counterfeiting scandal, and brings charges of foul play from rival Tommy Trevillian. When Eddie offers to settle the case on the green, Tommy accepts. Strong language. 2003.
The Rocky Road to Romance RC 58987
by Janet Evanovich
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Daisy Adams is an enterprising Washington, D.C., graduate student whose cookbook for dogs earned her a five-minute show on the local radio station. When the station's traffic reporter is injured, Daisy—not thinking about possible consequences—jumps at the chance to take over the higher paying job. Descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1991.
Havana: An Earl Swagger Novel RC 58988
by Stephen Hunter
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
1953. Arkansas state cop and ex-marine Earl Swagger of Pale Horse Coming (RC 54363) accompanies a con-gressional party to Cuba where he is recruited to assassinate young revolutionary Fidel Castro. The assignment pits him against a Russian who is protecting Castro. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2003.
War Path RC 58990
by Kerry Newcomb
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
1750s. As the French and Indian War rages on, the Colonial militia is aided by the raw fighting force that is captain Johnny Stark. Stark's legendary abilities make him and his lady warrior Molly prime targets of enemy forces. Based on the life of this American frontier hero. Violence. 2003.
Drift RC 58993
by Manuel Luis Martinez
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
San Antonio, Texas. After being expelled from school, sixteen-year-old Mexican American Robert Lomos lives with his grandmother and works dead-end jobs. But when he inherits college money, Robert changes his priorities and turns his life around. Descriptions of sex and strong language. For senior high readers. 2003.
The Rake: Lessons in Love RC 59007
by Suzanne Enoch
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Six years ago notorious Viscount Dare spoiled both Lady Georgiana Halley's innocence and her future hopes, all for a wager. Now she's determined to teach him a lesson, with a simple plan: seduce Dare, win his affections, and break his heart. But then he proposes. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.
Always a Thief RC 59009
by Kay Hooper
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Morgan West's upcoming museum exhibit is bait for a dangerous thief known as Nightshade. Cat burglar Quinn, supposedly helping authorities, takes the opportunity to get closer to Morgan, who can no longer deny an attraction. Sequel to Once a Thief (RC 55330). Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.
Never Look Back RC 59011
by Linda Lael Miller
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
After Don't Look Now (RC 57120), lawyer Clare Westbrook establishes an office in a tough Phoenix neighborhood where she is nearly killed on opening day. But is she or her policeman boyfriend the target? Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.
The Inner Circle RC 59019
by T. Coraghessan Boyle
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Taking Dr. Kinsey's marriage course in college is a daring, revelatory experience for John Milk in 1939 and leads him to become a research assistant in Kinsey's human sexuality project. Over two decades, John's devotion to the doctor's investigations threatens his marriage. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.
Harbor RC 59022
by Lorraine Adams
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Twenty-four-year-old Aziz, a survivor of Algerian civil war atrocities, stows away to Boston. He falls in with other undocumented Muslim immigrants engaging in petty criminal behavior. Their actions come to the attention of the FBI, who suspects they may be terrorists. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2004.
Oblivion's Altar: A Novel of Courage RC 59023
by David Marion Wilkinson
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
The story of Kah-nung-da-tla-geh, or "Ridge Walker," a great Cherokee warrior and chief. In the six decades following the Revolutionary War, Ridge's attempts at peace with the U.S. government through assimilation and negotiation ultimately fail, forcing him to decide the fate of his beleaguered people. Some violence. Spur Award. 2002.
Mutant Message from Forever RC 59028
by Marlo Morgan
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Australia, 1930s. Aboriginal twins are taken from their mother at birth and raised separately outside their culture. Beatrice becomes a church ward, Geoff is adopted by Americans. Years pass before Beatrice reconnects with her brother, who is then in a California jail. Companion to Mutant Message Down Under (RC 39560). Some violence. 1998.
Shadow of Death: A Brady Coyne Mystery RC 59033
by William G. Tapply
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Suspicious of senate-candidate Ellen Stoddard's evasive husband, her campaign manager asks Boston attorney Brady Coyne, a friend of Ellen's, to hire a private investigator. When the detective is murdered and Ellen's husband disappears, Brady claims attorney-client privilege and investigates on his own. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.
The Babes in the Wood: A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery RC 59036
by Ruth Rendell
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
As an epic flood descends upon Sussex, chief inspector Wexford investigates the case of the two missing Dade children, fifteen-year-old Giles and thirteen-year-old Sophie, and their weekend sitter, Joanna Troy. The trail leads to shady suspects and a strange motive while Wexford copes with his own daughter's problems. Some violence. 2002.
Scimitar SL-2 RC 59039
by Patrick Robinson
read by John Horton
3 cassettes
British SAS officer-turned-Hamas leader Ravi Rashood plots to annihilate the U.S. East Coast by firing a nuclear-tipped guided cruise missile into a Canary Island volcano and causing a tidal wave. Former national security advisor Admiral Arnold Morgan launches the hunt for the terrorists' submarine. Strong language and some violence. 2004.
Widow's Watch: The Gunsmith RC 59045
by J.R. Roberts
read by L.J. Ganser
1 cassette
Gunslinger Clint Adams hops a train to Byrne, Kansas, where the pretty wid-ow of a murdered friend begs for his help. Jennifer's husband crossed the wrong guy—crooked railroad man Owen Prowler—and paid the price. Now Prowler is after Jennifer. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003.
Cyrus the Great RC 59047
by Harold Lamb
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Sixth century, B.C. Fictionalized biography of Cyrus the Great, the king of Persia and founder of the Achaemen-ian dynasty and empire. Describes how Cyrus overthrew numerous kingdoms and freed Jews from captivity in Babylon, allowing them to return to Palestine. 1960.
The House Sitter: A Peter Diamond Mystery RC 59049
by Peter Lovesey
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
When psychological profiler Emma Tysoe's strangled body is found on a Sussex beach, detective superintendent Peter Diamond assists local forces. Diamond soon discovers a link to a serial killer known as the "Ancient Mariner," who kept a list of well-known intended victims. Some strong language. 2003.
This Calder Range: The Calder Saga, Volume 1 RC 59051
by Janet Dailey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes (Reissue)
1878. Determined young rancher Chase Calder and his beautiful but practical bride, Lorna, ride to the unspoiled Montana territory. As they dream of freedom and riches, old grudges and debts follow them to the new land. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1982.
Beach Girls RC 59071
by Luanne Rice
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Hubbard's Point, Connecticut. Nine-year-old Nell seeks links to her de-ceased mother, Emma. Jack, Nell's father, shelters her from his sister Maddie, who knows a painful secret about Emma's untimely death. Emma's reclusive childhood friend, Stevie, feels drawn to Nell and to Jack. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.
The Irish Bride RC 59078
by Alexis Harrington
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Ireland, 1855. An accident forces Farrell Kirwan to marry her betrothed's brother, Aidan O'Rourke, and flee to New Orleans. As the unlikely couple copes with their union, they are trailed by someone from their past who is determined to bring Aidan to justice and make Farrell his own. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.
Eye in the Sky RC 59096
by Philip K. Dick
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Sightseeing at California's Belmont Bevatron, unemployed missile technician Jack Hamilton, wife Marsha, and six others become victims of a lab accident. They awaken in a world of Old Testament morality gone awry—a perilous, hilarious realm of plagues and damnation. Together they must find a way home. Some violence. 1957.
Face Relations: Eleven Stories about Seeing beyond Color RC 59119
edited by Marilyn Singer
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Anthology explores issues of racial identity and communication among teenagers. In "Snow" by Sherri Win-ston, African Americans belittle Haitians at school. In "Hum" by Naomi Shihab Nye, a blind neighbor in Texas befriends a shunned Palestinian boy. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2004.
The Night Class RC 59125
by Tom Piccirilli
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
College senior Caleb Prentiss, plagued by stigmata since his sister's suicide, obsesses over the murder of Sylvia Campbell, who was killed in his dorm room over winter vacation. He suspects a faculty cover-up and learns the terrifying truth during an evening of madness. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.
The Ruthless Range and Death Rides a Black Horse RC 59126
by Lewis B. Patten
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
Two novels by a Spur Award-winning western writer. In The Ruthless Range, reluctant gunfighter Jason Mellor helps defend a lovely widow's ranch. In Death Rides a Black Horse, fifteen-year-old Frank Halliday stands to inherit his late father's spread when he comes of age—if he lives that long. Some violence. 1963.
No Place like Home RC 59519
by Mary Higgins Clark
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Celia Nolan is horrified when her new husband surprises her with a gift. He has bought the New Jersey house where, at age ten, Celia accidentally killed her mother while trying to protect her from an estranged husband. Now a killer is threatening Celia's new family. Bestseller. 2005.
A Thread of Grace RC 59663
by Mary Doria Russell
read by Cassandra Campbell
4 cassettes
3. As Italy makes peace with the Allies, fourteen-year-old Belgian Claudette, her father Albert Blum, and other Jewish families prepare to march across the Alps to seek sanctuary in northern Italy. But Germany now occupies that country, and perils abound. Some strong language. 2005.
Shades of Red RC 59664
by Doris Mortman
read by Kimberly Farr
3 cassettes
Sixty-year-old Vera Hart's public life is under siege: someone is using tainted copies of her beauty products to kill women and sabotage her cosmetics empire. Vera's private life is also disintegrating because of the sibling rivalry between her daughters. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.
On the Court with . . . Shaquille O'Neal RC 57864
by Glenn Stout
read by Richard Magesis
1 cassette
Describes the life and career of the basketball superstar and center for the Los Angeles Lakers up until the 2002 season. Tells how O'Neal became a professional player winning many awards and championships, including a gold medal with the U.S. team at the 1996 Olympics. For grades 4-7. 2003.
Pío Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes (Pío peep! Rimas Tradicionales Español) RC 58006
selected by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
A collection of more than two dozen popular nursery rhymes in Spanish from Spain and Latin America, along with English adaptations of each verse. Includes an introduction in English. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers.(Una colecció
n de poemas y canciones infantiles más populares de España y Amé
rica Latina. Se presentan los poemas originales en español seguidos de adaptaciones en inglé
s. Incluye una introducció
n en inglé
s. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2 y lectores mayores.) 2003.
The Kingfisher Geography Encyclopedia RC 58392
by Clive Gifford
read by Kerry Cundiff
4 cassettes
Comprehensive overview of the world's nations. Describes each country's physical geography, climate, people, politics and government, language, religion, currency, recent history, and unique characteristics. Also includes information about Earth's formation, its weather systems, and human impact on the planet. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2003.
The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights RC 58728
by Russell Freedman
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Recounts the life of African American singer Marian Anderson and her "once-in-a-hundred-years" voice. Describes her Philadelphia childhood, intense training, successful career in Europe, triumphant return to America, and setbacks caused by racial discrimination. Highlights Anderson's successful 1939 Lincoln Memorial perfor-mance for 75,000 fans. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2004.
The Lost Colony of Roanoke RC 58759
by Jean Fritz
read by Eric Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Chronicles the founding of an English settlement on Roanoke Island in 1585 and the birth of its first child, Virginia Dare. Describes the early settlers' hard-ships, including starvation and hostile natives, and relates the colony's mysterious disappearance over the next three years. For grades 4-7. 2004.
Lincoln: A Photobiography RC 58762
by Russell Freedman
read by Todd Scofield
1 cassette
Biography of sixteenth U.S. president. Describes his rise from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois to become a self-educated lawyer, state representative, and president in 1860. Highlights Lincoln's Civil War leadership before his 1865 assassination. For grades 4-7 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1987.
All about Braille: Reading by Touch; Transportation and Communication RC 58906
by Laura S. Jeffrey
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Discusses Helen Keller, Louis Braille, and other noted blind persons, including mountain climber Erik Weihen-mayer and musicians Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Provides information on learning braille, using computers with braille displays, and walking with a cane or guide dog. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2004.
The Tarantula Scientist: Scientists in the Field RC 59029
by Sy Montgomery
read by Lewis Grenville
1 cassette
Describes Earth's biggest, hairiest spiders—their body parts, digestion, silk production, and habitat. Follows arachnologist Sam Marshall as he finds tarantulas in a South American rain forest and works in his Ohio laboratory. Details Marshall's research on eight-legged creatures. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004.
Walking the Choctaw Road RC 59053
by Tim Tingle
read by Jonathan Davis
1 cassette
Twelve traditional stories reflecting the history and beliefs of the Choctaw nation spanning almost two centuries of tribal life. "Saltypie" is Tingle's own story of his family's close bond with his blind grandmother. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003.
Yucky Riddles RC 59075
by Marilyn Helmer
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
More than two dozen humorous riddles on some of kids' favorite icky subjects. For grades K-3. 2003.
A Drop of Blood RC 59084
by Paul Showers
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette (Reissue)
A vampire explains what blood is made of and why it is important to health and life. Also describes the functions of red cells, white cells, platelets, and fibrin threads. For grades K-3. 1989.
The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins RC 59121
by Bea Uusma Schyffert
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
1969. Chronicles what Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins did, saw, and thought during America's first lunar-landing mission. Relates how teammates Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the lunar module and took mankind's first steps on the moon, while Collins piloted Columbia solo fourteen times around the moon. For grades 4-7. 2003.
The Dream Bearer RC 56915
by Walter Dean Myers
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old David seeks refuge in his Harlem neighborhood park from his mentally unstable father and unruly teenage brother. David and his best friend, Loren, meet elderly eccentric, Moses Littlejohn, who becomes their mentor with stories about his visions. For grades 5-8. 2003.
The Slippery Slope: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 10 RC 56930
by Lemony Snicket
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Following The Carnivorous Carnival (RC 55536), Klaus and Violet Baudelaire search for their sister, Sunny, in the perilous Mortmain Mountains, where she has been kidnapped by Count Olaf. For grades 4-7. 2003.
Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine RC 57181
by Kristiana Gregory
read by Mary Beth Wise
1 cassette
The diary of Eleanor, first daughter of the duke of Aquitaine, beginning in 1136 and ending in 1137, when at age fifteen she becomes queen of France. For grades 5-8. 2002.
Shoeless Joe and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure RC 57427
by Dan Gutman
read by Michael Kramer
1 cassette
Thirteen-year-old Joe Stoshack travels back in time to 1919 where he meets "Shoeless" Joe Jackson of the Chicago Black Sox and tries to prevent the fixing of the World Series. For grades 4-7. 2002.
The Jamie and Angus Stories RC 57869
by Anne Fine
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Six adventures of Jamie and his stuffed bull, Angus, including a disastrous spin in the washing machine, a wedding celebration, a hospital stay, and a perfect day. For grades 2-4. 2002.
Danger at the Wild West Show RC 57873
by Alison Hart
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
Kentucky, 1886. Twelve-year-old Rose sets out to prove her older brother Zane's innocence when he is accused of shooting a politician during a wild west show in Louisville. For grades 4-7. 2003.
Into the Labyrinth RC 58153
by Roderick Townley
read by Celeste Lawson
1 cassette
Princess Sylvie and other fairy-tale characters from The Great Good Thing (RC 53785)—the only book known in their world—confront the perils of being uploaded onto the World Wide Web, where they are forced to act out their story in cyberspace. For grades 5-8. 2002.
The Slave Dancer RC 58319
by Paula Fox
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette (Reissue)
1840. Kidnapped from his home in New Orleans, thirteen-year-old Jessie Bollier is forced to serve on a slave ship. Every day he must play his fife while the shackled slaves "dance" for exercise. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1973.
Finding Zola RC 58341
by Marianne Mitchell
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Thirteen-year-old Crystal, paralyzed from a car accident, searches for Zola, the elderly woman who is supposed to help her while her mother is out of town. With the help of her older cous-in, she uncovers a dangerous plot. For grades 5-8. 2003.
Me Oh Maya! The Time Warp Trio RC 58724
by Jon Scieszka
read by Ray Hagen
1 cassette
Fred, Sam, and Joe take another unexpected trip into the past and end up in Mexico in the year 1000. They must compete for their lives in a ball game against a cheating Mayan high priest. For grades 3-6. 2003.
Regular Guy RC 58790
by Sarah Weeks
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Because he is so different from his eccentric parents, twelve-year-old Guy is convinced he was switched at birth with a classmate whose parents seem more normal. The boys switch back one weekend, with hilarious results. For grades 4-7. 1999.
The Alphabet War: A Story about Dyslexia RC 58858
by Diane Burton Robb
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Adam likes school but cannot learn to read. In third grade he is diagnosed with dyslexia. With hard work and his teacher's expert help, Adam gains self-confidence and masters the task of deciphering words. For grades 2-4. 2004.
Bernie Magruder and the Haunted Hotel: A Bessledorf Hotel Mystery RC 58907
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
After the Magruders make some repairs to the Bessledorf Hotel and put a cement floor in the basement, they suddenly begin receiving visits from a ghost who resembles an eleven-year-old boy. Once again Bernie and his friends Georgene and Weasel investigate. For grades 4-7. 1990.
Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown RC 58910
by Paula Danziger
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Amber Brown loves the second grade but wonders if she will ever receive an award for keeping her desk clean. In desperation she begins throwing everything away. Beginning reader. For grades K-3. 2004.
Bernie Magruder and the Case of the Big Stink: A Bessledorf Hotel Mystery RC 58918
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
Someone is releasing a very toxic smell in Middleburg, and many residents are becoming sick. Bernie Magruder and his friends Georgene and Weasel investigate who is behind the mask of the Mad Gasser. For grades 4-7. 1983.
Amber Brown Is Feeling Blue RC 58920
by Paula Danziger
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Nine-year-old Amber Brown experiences new problems since her parents' divorce. Because Kelly Green arrives, Amber is regretfully no longer the only person in class with a "colorful" name. And Amber must decide which parent to spend Thanksgiving with because her father is returning from Paris. For grades 2-4. 1998.
Perfectly Chelsea RC 58989
by Claudia Mills
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Nine-year-old Chelsea Garing, an acolyte at church, is a perfectionist. But then she has a fight with her best friend, makes a mistake in the handbell concert, and feels humiliated when her candlelighter goes out. Chelsea slowly learns that people, including herself, are not perfect. For grades 3-6. 2004.
Messenger RC 59006
by Lois Lowry
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Teenage Matty lives with the blind Seer in Village, the utopia from Giver (RC 37689) and Gathering Blue (RC 51297). When the changing community wants to close itself to outsiders, Matty journeys through hostile forests to save Village's founding principles. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004.
The Worry Web Site RC 59064
by Jacqueline Wilson
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
British junior high teacher Mr. Speed creates a web site on which his students can anonymously type their worries and get feedback from their classmates. This helps them sort out everything from stepmothers and abusive fathers to physical problems impeding participation in school events. For grades 4-7. 2002.
Give My Regrets to Broadway: From the Tattered Casebook of Chet Gecko, Private Eye RC 59073
by Bruce Hale
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Gecko detective Chet and his partner Natalie Attired investigate the disappearance of Scott, the lead actor in the school play. Unless they find Scott, Chet will have to perform as stand-in and kiss a girl on stage. For grades 3-6. 2004.
I Was a Sixth Grade Alien RC 59079
by Bruce Coville
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Tim Tompkins is the oddball in his sixth-grade class until Pleskit—a purple, bald alien—enrolls. Tim, a science fiction fan, befriends Pleskit, and the two investigate who's behind a plan to destroy the aliens' peaceful mission on Earth. For grades 3-6. 1999.
Eager RC 59122
by Helen Fox
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
The Bells, including kids Fleur, Gavin, and Charlotte, obtain a new experimental family robot named Eager after older model Grumps begins malfunctioning. Eager works but can also learn, reason—and lie. When the younger generation of robots begins revolting, Eager tries to stop them. For grades 5-8. 2004.
Hurray for Three Kings' Day! RC 59244
by Lori Marie Carlson
read by Jacinda Bronaugh
1 cassette
Anita and her older brothers Tito and Tomás enjoy the traditional celebration of el Día de los Reyes, or Epiphany. They reenact the long walk of the three wise men who bring gifts to the baby Jesus. For grades K-3. 1999.
Pío peep! Rimas Tradicionales Español (Pío Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes) RC 58006
recopilado por Alma Flor Ada y F. Isabel Campoy
leído por Peter Gil
1 cassette
Una colecció
n de poemas y canciones infantiles más populares de España y Amé
rica Latina. Se presentan los poemas originales en español seguidos de adaptaciones en inglé
s. Incluye una introducció
n en inglé
s. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2 y lectores mayores.(A collection of more than two dozen popular nursery rhymes in Spanish from Spain and Latin America, along with English adaptations of each verse. Includes an introduction in English. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers.) 2003.
The Selected Poems of Federico García Lorca RC 58741
por Federico García Lorca
leído por Peter Gil
1 cassette
Collecíon de obras poé
ticas por el famoso poeta y dramaturgo español. En ingles y español. (Representative poems in English and Spanish from works originally published between 1921 and 1936. Includes "Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías," about a famous Spanish bullfighter and friend of Lorca's who was killed in the bullring at five in the afternoon. Includes a short preface in English.) 1955.
Las Películas de mi Vida (The Movies of My Life) RC 58952
por Alberto Fuguet
leído por Luis Omana
2 cassettes
Beltrán Soler, un chileno-americano trabaja como sismó
logo, pero vive una vida aburrida, fragmentada y disfuncional. Recuerda a su familia, su carrera, y las experiencias de su vida que salen vívidas y recordables só
lo cuando las asocia con las películas que vió
durante muchos años. (Chilean American Beltrán Soler works as a seismologist but otherwise leads a fragmented, boring, and dysfunctional existence. He recalls a lifetime made vivid only when he can associate his family, career, and experiences with the popular movies he has seen over a lifetime.) 2003.
Cuentos Folkló
ricos Latinoamericanos: Fábulas de las Tradiciones Hispanas e Indígenas (Latin American Folk Tales: Fables from Hispanic and Indigenous Traditions) RC 58953
compilado por John Bierhorst
leído por Luis Omana
4 cassettes
Antología de más de 100 cuentos folkló
ricos de veinte paises hispanohablantes, incluso los Estados Unidos. Incluyen cuentos basados en los mitos precolombianos, leyendas coloniales que remontan a la Europa medieval y al Oriente anciano, y cuentos dinámicos del siglo XX que representan las tradiciones orales de las gentes indígenas del nuevo mundo. Incluye notas y glosario de culturas indígenas. (Anthology of more than one hundred folktales from twenty Spanish-speaking countries, including the United States. The tales include narratives based in pre-Columbian myths, colonial legends with European and Oriental origins, and dynamic stories from twentieth-century oral traditions of native populations. Includes notes and glossary of indigenous peoples.) 2003.
American Chica: Dos Mundos, Una Infancia (American Chica: Two Worlds, One Childhood) RC 58955
por Marie Arana
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
La autora es redactor principal de la revista Washington Post Book World. Habla de su educació
n bicultural en Amé
rica del Sur durante los años 1950 como hija de un ingeniero peruano y una mujer norteamericana de pelos rubios que era músico. Entregándose a sus recuerdos, Arana cuenta có
mo se las arreglaba con su herencia bicultural. (Editor of the Washington Post Book World recounts her bicultural upbringing in South America in the 1950s as the daughter of a Peruvian engineer married to a blonde American musician. She reminisces about coming to terms with her dual heritage.) 2003.
El Có
digo Da Vinci (The Da Vinci Code) RC 58957
por Dan Brown
leído por María Pino
4 cassettes
El profesor Robert Langdon investiga el asesinato del renombrado conservador del Louvre. Le ayuda la criptó
loga parisina, Sophie Neveu. Siguiendo una clave misteriosa tras otra y descifrando mensajes ocultos, los dos llegan a descubrir que dos secretas sociedades cató
licas se luchan en busca del Grial Sagrado. Contiene algunas descripciones de violencia y lenguaje injurioso. (Professor Robert Langdon investigates the crime scene of the Louvre curator's murder. Joining him is French cryptologist Sophie Neveu. The clues left behind pit two Catholic societies against each other in search of the Holy Grail. Some violence and some strong language.) 2003.
Harry Potter y la Orden del Fé
nix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) RC 58958
por J.K. Rowling
leído por María Pino
6 cassettes
Despué
s de cumplir el cuarto curso de Hogwarts, Harry se encuentra otra vez pasando un verano tedioso con los Dursley en el mundo de los Muggles. Pero todo esto cambia cuando es atacado por los temibles Dementors. Sigue a Harry Potter y el Cáliz de Fuego (RC 52975). Para grados 4 a 7 y lectores mayores. [The summer after Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts—covered in Harry Potter y el Cáliz de Fuego (RC 52975)—finds him back with the Dursleys, isolated in the Muggles' world. But that changes when he is attacked by Dementors. For grades 4-7 and older readers.] 2003.
Las Cinco Personas que Encontrarás en el Cielo (Five People You Meet in Heaven) RC 58961
por Mitch Albom
leído por Luis Alfonso Omana
2 cassettes
Eddie es un viejo que acaba de cumplir sus ochenta y tres años. Pasa sus últimas horas ocupándose con su aburrida rutina de trabajo—manteniendo los carritos del Ruby Pier parque de atraciones. Pero algo va mal con los carritos, y Eddie muere en un accidente intentando salvar a una niña. En el cielo encuentra a cinco personas que le hablan de su vida terrenal. (Eddie spends his last hours on earth in his usual way, maintaining the Ruby Pier amusement park rides. Something goes wrong, and Eddie dies on his eighty-third birthday while trying to save a little girl. In heaven he meets five people who explain his life to him.) 2003.
Es Cuestió
n de Suerte (Luck of the Draw) RC 58962
por Carolina García-Aguilera
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Esmeralda Montoya, una mujer cubanoamericana, y sus hermanos, acuden a la llamada de su madre y se reúnen en la casa familiar de Miami. Su madre anuncia que la familia tiene que planear el regreso a Cuba para revivir el Casino familiar, La Estrella, que fue confiscado por el regimen de Castro. Pero el plan requiere la presencia de todos los hermanos, y resulta que la hermana menor, Diamante, ha desaparecido en Las Vegas. Obligan a Esmeralda que vaya a Las Vegas en busca de ella. Contiene lenguaje injurioso. (Summoned to their parents' home in Miami, Cuban American Esmeralda Montoya and three siblings learn their mother vividly dreamed of recovering and restoring the family's confiscated Havana casino, La Estrella. But plans must wait until Esmeralda finds young sister Diamond, missing in Las Vegas. Some strong language.) 2004.
El Regreso Glorioso: Los Ultimos Días (Glorious Appearing: The End of Days) RC 58963
por Tim LaHaye y Jerry B. Jenkins
leído por Juan Ramirez
3 cassettes
A los siete años de la Raptura, se reúnen en el Oriente Medio millones de personas que representan la Comunidad Global y el Comando Tribulació
n. Nicolás Carpatia todavía cree que su último triunfo está por venir—hasta que el Regreso Glorioso revela la llegada de Jesús. Sigue a Armagedó
n (RC 56968). Descripciones de violencia. [Seven years after the Rapture, millions of people, Global Community members, and the Tribulation Force are gathering in the Middle East. Nicolae Carpathia still believes his ultimate triumph is close at hand, until Jesus arrives in his Glorious Appearing. Sequel to Armagedó
n (RC 56968). Violence.] 2004.
Dones de Gracia: Una Colecció
n de Encuentros Personales con la Virgen María (Gifts of Grace: A Gathering of Personal Encounters with the Virgin Mary) RC 58964
por Lone Jensen
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Presenta una colecció
n de cuarenta y una historias verdaderas de personas que conocían el poder de la Virgen María. Cuenta el caso de una mujer paralizada con MS que sana milagrosamente; la experiencia de una joven drogadicta que logra sobreponerse a sus adicciones; y la historia de una mujer que sueña con la Virgen María. (A compilation of forty-one reports about people who have experienced the power of the Virgin Mary. Individuals include a woman claiming to have been cured instantly of multiple sclerosis, a reformed drug addict, and a woman visited by the Virgin Mary in a dream.) 1996.
Library of Congress Home
NLS Home
Comments about NLS to nls@loc.gov
About this site
Comments about this site to nlswebmaster@loc.gov
Posted on 2006-02-24