Books listed in this issue of Braille Book Review were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection.
To order books, contact your cooperating library.
This page includes Web-Braille links to full-text braille versions of books. Eligible patrons may sign up for Web-Braille through the library that handles their braille magazine subscriptions.
Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."
Mrs. Dalloway BR 11925
by Virginia Woolf
2 volumes
The events of a single day in June when Clarissa Dalloway, a
London society woman, meets a former lover. The author, an early
rebel against the traditional rules of novel writing, uses
interior monologue and a stream-of-consciousness style to reveal
the private lives of Mrs. Dalloway and her family and friends.
1925.
The Human Comedy BR 11931
by William Saroyan
2 volumes
Story of a mother and her four children who live in Ithaca,
California, during World War II. Features fourteen-year-old
Homer, who is exposed to a lot of sadness in his job as
telegraph messenger. 1943.
The Immoralist BR 11937
by Andre Gide
1 volume
Michel, the protagonist, explains how his personality and
attitudes toward life disintegrated under the influence of a
tropical climate and illness. In this psychological study, Gide
examines the conflict between self-development and self-sacrifice. The author was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1947. 1970.
Catch-22 BR 11980
by Joseph Heller
4 volumes (Reissue)
Bombardier Yossarian desperately tries to stay alive during
World War II. Military rules make it impossible for anyone to
achieve the combat quota necessary to quit flying. Yossarian and
his buddies concoct ways to avoid the ridiculous orders of their
officers. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1955.
Byrne BR 12106
by Anthony Burgess
1 volume
Novel in verse written just before Burgess died in 1993. Irish
artist Michael Byrne struggles for fame in the 1930s, moving
from country to country and siring children as he goes. He
composes an opera while the Nazi menace rises. Several of his
offspring complete the tale. Some strong language. 1995.
Tales of the Night BR 12121
by Peter Hoeg
3 volumes
Eight short stories by the Danish author. The common theme is
love--of people, of art, or of a vocation in life--and the
circumstances in which love exists. All are set on the night of
March 19, 1929. Some violence, some strong language, and some
descriptions of sex. 1998.
The Tonto Woman and Other Western Stories BR
12131
by Elmore Leonard
3 volumes
A collection of nineteen westerns. In the title story, an exiled
wife tattooed by Indians gets her self-esteem back with the help
of a cattle rustler. In "The Colonel's Lady," a captive woman
rescues herself from the clutches of a lone Apache. Some
violence. 1998.
The Coast of Good Intentions: Stories BR 12132
by Michael Byers
2 volumes
Eight tales about ordinary folks living on the Pacific Northwest
coast. In "Settled on the Cranberry Coast," a handyman fixes up
the house of his high school sweetheart and enjoys the feeling
that this time things will work out better between them. Some
strong language. 1998.
Transparent Things BR 12133
by Vladimir Nabokov
1 volume
American Hugh Person retraces an itinerary in Switzerland where
he first met Armande Chamar, as if he could find the past
shining through the objects he had encountered previously.
Person's woeful tale gradually unfolds as his memories are
evoked. 1972.
The Desert Crop BR 12155
by Catherine Cookson
3 volumes
1880s England. Young Daniel Stewart's life changes when his
widowed father marries a distant Irish cousin, Moira Conelly.
Over the years the cheerful Moira has many children while the
father squanders their money. When his father dies, Daniel
assumes the leadership of the family, falls in love with the
wrong girl, and continues farming. 1997.
The Red River BR 12164
by Frederic Bean
2 volumes
Elias McBee and Seth Booker leave the flatboats of the
Mississippi to try their luck trapping along the Red River. They
find plenty of wildlife but also warring Indian tribes. In time,
despite the many hardships and fighting, they decide to stay and
live with their native wives. Violence. 1996.
Season of Wishes BR 12165
by Christina Skye
3 volumes
Jamee Night has already been kidnapped once as a teenager when
bodyguard Ian McCall, the tenth laird of Glenlyle, is hired to
protect her in Scotland. It is Ian's last job before his
family's curse overtakes him, and he hadn't planned to fall in
love with his charge. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1997.
Ask Mariah BR 12171
by Barbara Freethy
3 volumes
Michael Ashton is raising his six-year-old twin daughters alone
following their mother's death. The girls think she is coming
back, and the crystal ball from their grandmother says they can
find their mother at school. When they arrive at summer school,
they find Joanna Wingate, a look-alike of their mother. Some
descriptions of sex. 1997.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus BR 12173
by Mary Shelley
3 volumes (Reissue)
A science student, Victor Frankenstein, invents an artificial
man using body parts from several corpses. The hideous creature
cannot find companionship and becomes violent. Eventually he
turns on his creator. 1818.
Death and Restoration: A Jonathan Argyll Mystery BR
12181
by Iain Pears
2 volumes
Flavia di Stefan, of the art theft squad, learns that infamous
English art thief Mary Verney is returning to Italy. Flavia
enlists the help of her fiancé, lecturer Jonathan Argyll,
to keep Mary from plundering any more items. They soon realize
that the target is an obscure madonna icon of little obvious
value. 1996.
The Big Bad City: A Novel of the 87th Precinct BR
12182
by Ed McBain
3 volumes
A nun with breast implants is murdered in a city park. Detective
Carella investigates the crime while still fuming at the
unexpected release of the man who killed his father. Meanwhile a
burglar is canvassing the city leaving chocolate chip cookies at
each crime scene. Violence and strong language. 1999.
Ghost Town BR 12183
by Robert Coover
2 volumes
A lone cowboy drifting through the desert is engulfed by a ghost
town where the inhabitants engage in violent behavior--gunfights, robberies, gambling, and whoring--almost every day.
The rider becomes a sheriff, then an outlaw, and then he falls
in love. Strong language and violence. 1998.
A Man in Full BR 12185
by Tom Wolfe
7 volumes
Atlanta's mores--racial, sexual, and political--are undergoing
rapid changes from the old southern tradition. And at sixty
Charlie Croker, self-made millionaire with a trophy wife, is
having difficulty adjusting. Strong language. 1998.
Final Vinyl Days and Other Stories BR 12188
by Jill McCorkle
1 volume
Nine short stories about slightly offbeat characters. In the
title piece, an educated man remains stuck in his job in an
obscure record shop rather than reclaim a former girlfriend and
adapt to change. In "Paradise," a modern Adam meets Eve and
marries her despite their names. Some strong language. 1998.
Last of the Duanes BR 12191
by Zane Grey
2 volumes
At twenty-three Buck Duane realizes he has inherited the killer
instinct when he is provoked by a drunken cowboy. This first
gunfight makes him an outlaw fugitive, constantly at risk until
offered a second chance: to redeem his name as a Texas Ranger.
Written in 1913. Some violence. 1996.
Gertrude of Stony Island Avenue BR 12193
by James Purdy
2 volumes
Carrie Kinsella is still mourning her estranged daughter
Gertrude, a famous painter who died two years ago. Carrie leaves
her husband and immerses herself in Gertrude's bohemian Chicago
environment, searching for explanations. With the help of
assorted friends, Carrie begins to accept her daughter's life
and death. 1997.
Night Gardening BR 12194
by E.L. Swann
2 volumes
Sixty-one-year-old Maggie Welles is recovering from a stroke in
her Harvard Square house when she meets Tristan Mallory, a
landscape architect working next door. The two are drawn
together by their love of gardening. Maggie's son soon intrudes
in his quest for money. Some strong language and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1999.
The Partner BR 12204
by John Grisham
3 volumes
Four years ago, attorney Patrick Lanigan faked his own death and
ran away with ninety million dollars belonging to his partners
and a client. Now he's been found, tortured, sued by numerous
parties including his wife, and charged with murder. Strong
language and violence. Bestseller 1997.
Bittersweet BR 12213
by Danielle Steel
3 volumes
India Taylor left a successful photojournalism career to settle
down as a soccer mom. Seventeen years and four children later,
she longs for some excitement. She meets and befriends tycoon
Paul Ward, who encourages her to take risks. When Paul is
suddenly free, India must make some choices. Bestseller 1999.
The Emperor's General BR 12214
by James Webb
5 volumes
Ambassador Jay Marsh recounts serving as aide-de-camp to General
Douglas MacArthur during the final days of World War II. Marsh
recalls the roles MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito played and the
trial of Japan's general Yamashita. He also reminisces about his
mistress and that of MacArthur. Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1999.
Blueback: A Contemporary Fable BR 12218
by Tim Winton
1 volume
As a child Abel loved diving for abalone near his coastal
Australian home. As he grows older and goes off to college, his
heart remains there with his mother and the huge blue groper
fish he named Blueback. Later, as a marine biologist, Abel
returns to help save the bay. 1997.
Love Stories BR 12231
retold by Tana Reiff
1 volume
Six love stories that originated in different cultures but have
been retold in various forms around the world over the
centuries. Includes "Cupid and Psyche" from ancient Rome,
"Rhodopis and the Golden Shoes" (similar to "Cinderella") from
Egypt, and "Beauty and the Beast" from France. Grade 1 braille.
1993.
Burning Up BR 12234
by Caroline B. Cooney
2 volumes
Macey and her friends almost die in a fire while volunteering in
an inner-city church and later discover an older incident in
1959 that was aimed at the town's first African American
teacher. Macey becomes activated to change her community. Some
violence and some strong language. For junior and senior high
readers. 1999.
The Color Purple BR 12265
by Alice Walker
2 volumes (Reissue)
Two impoverished sisters have different fates--Nettie travels to
Africa with a missionary family while Celie is married off to an
abusive older man. Celie writes letters to God discussing events
around her. Eventually she begins to take charge of her life.
Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Pulitzer
Prize. 1982.
A New Song: The Mitford Years, Volume 5 BR 12273
by Jan Karon
4 volumes
The Bishop assigns Father Tim, now retired, to fill in as
interim priest on North Carolina's coastal island Whitecap. He
is reluctant to leave his old friends in Mitford, but does keep
in touch. However, he quickly finds his place at St. John's in
the Grove. Sequel to Out to Canaan (RC 44958, BR 12272).
Bestseller 1999.
Troubled Waters BR 12279
by Carolyn Wheat
2 volumes
Jan Gebhardt surrenders after being a fugitive for fifteen
years, accused of killing a federal agent while transporting
illegal aliens. Her old acquaintance, attorney Cass Jameson, is
worried that Jan may implicate her former boyfriend, a
paraplegic veteran who is also Cass's brother. Strong language
and violence. 1997.
Broken Chords BR 12283
by Barbara Snow Gilbert
1 volume
When Clara Lorenzo was only three, her parents--who both
excelled in musical careers--recognized her talent at the piano
and found her the best teacher. Now seventeen, Clara is poised
to win a coveted scholarship competition when she begins to
doubt her passion for the piano. For junior and senior high
readers. 1998.
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