Braille Book Review

Books for Adults


The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library.

Note: For the infomation 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 occurence, as in "some strong language."

Nonfiction

Chocolate Chocolate    BR 16915
by Lisa Yockelson
5 volumes
More than two hundred recipes from the author of  Baking by Flavor (BR 15148), focusing on chocolate in all its many forms. Includes a glossary of chocolate terms, an extensive list of brands and forms of chocolate, and recipes for cakes, bread, scones, cookies, brownies, truffles, and more. 2005.

Early Latino Ballplayers in the United States: Major, Minor, and Negro Leagues, 1901-1949    BR 17463
by Nick C. Wilson
3 volumes
Author uses archival materials and interviews to highlight the influence of foreign-born Hispanic players on American baseball teams before the major leagues were integrated by Jackie Robinson. Presents profiles of athletes such as José Meacute;ndez, Cristóbal Torriente, and Roberto Ortiz. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

Last Mrs. Astor: A New York Story    BR 17471
by Frances Kiernan
3 volumes
Biography of the New York socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor, born in 1902, third wife of Vincent Astor, who inherited his fortune in 1959. Discusses her struggle over the terms of Vincent's will, her dedication to the charitable organization named for her husband, and her enjoyment of social functions. 2007.

Adventures of a Cello    BR 17460
by Carlos Prieto
4 volumes
Internationally acclaimed concert cellist details the history of the Piatti cello, made by Antonio Stradivari in 1720. Chronicles its owners and travels from eighteenth-century Italy to twenty-first-century North America. Discusses violin making, cello repertoire, and composers and cellists. 1998.

Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Great Depression    BR 17554
by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
2 volumes
Retired English professor's memoir of her childhood in 1930s rural Iowa, a time Kalish describes as "quite a romp." Recalls years of deprivation and hard work mitigated by simple rewards. Discusses daily life and the influence of religion and literature, and describes family members whose lessons shaped her upbringing. 2007.

Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas    BR 17466
by Kevin Merida and Michael A. Fletcher
4 volumes
Two African American Washington Post reporters examine the character and career of conservative Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, who succeeded Thurgood Marshall on the bench in 1991. They explore Thomas's childhood and education, postulate about his estrangement from the black community, and review his rulings. 2007.

Inside Alzheimer's: How to Hear and Honor Connections with a Person Who Has Dementia    BR 17473
by Nancy D. Pearce
2 volumes
Medical social worker offers a guide to sharing meaningful moments with Alzheimer's or dementia patients who may have difficulty communicating. Discusses facilitating relationships using six basic principles: intent, freeing oneself of judgments and expectations, love, openness to being loved, silence, and thankfulness. Includes anecdotes, exercises, and resources. 2007.

Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival among America's Great White Sharks    BR 17567
by Susan Casey
3 volumes
Account of the author's journey to the Farallon Islands, twenty-seven miles from San Francisco, a renowned refuge of great white sharks. Casey, an editor, relates joining scientists Peter Pyle and Scot Anderson as they study the predators in their natural habitat. She describes shark attacks and the archipelago's beauty. Some strong language. 2005.

Epilepsy: Information for You and Those Who Care about You; a Cleveland Clinic Guide    BR 17506
by Elaine Wyllie
2 volumes
Specialist provides practical guidelines to managing this physical disorder. Discusses causes of and response to seizures, long-term health prospects, psychological issues, and innovative therapies. Covers epilepsy in children, seniors, and women as well as day-to-day concerns involving social, occupational, and lifestyle choices such as driving and dating. 2008.

Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone    BR 17685
by Jenni Ferrari-Adler
2 volumes
Ferrari-Adler invited twenty-six other writers, including food experts, to submit essays about odd but satisfying solo meals they've concocted. Nora Ephron describes the joy of potatoes, the novelist Laurie Colwin's title essay expounds upon the multifaceted eggplant, and a mother dreams of dining alone. Some strong language. 2007.

Body Has a Mind of Its Own: How Body Maps in Your Brain Help You Do (Almost) Everything Better    BR 17677
by Sandra Blakeslee and Matthew Blakeslee
3 volumes
Mother and son science writers describe how the brain systematically maps the body's anatomy and its extensions, such as canes, into the outside world. They discuss what these body maps do and what happens when one or more of the maps are damaged. 2007.

Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine    BR 17422
by Mayo Clinic
3 volumes
Based on clinical experience, research, and testing the Mayo Clinic addresses the effectiveness and appropriateness of the use of natural remedies in place of or in conjunction with traditional medicine. Covers items such as vitamins, prayer, acupuncture, massage therapy, Chinese medicine, yoga, and herbal supplements. Discusses twenty common conditions. 2007.

Skin between Us: A Memoir of Race, Beauty, and Belonging    BR 17719
by Kym Ragusa
2 volumes
Documentary filmmaker reminisces about her childhood in Harlem, during which she was raised alternately by her Sicilian and African American grandmothers. Describes growing up biracially and biculturally in the 1960s and 1970s and her black family's conflicted view of their race. Some strong language. 2006.

Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt    BR 17691
by Nina Burleigh
3 volumes
Chronicles Napoleon's conquest of Egypt and the scientific research conducted there on his behalf. Highlights one of the earliest large-scale interactions between Western civilians and Islam in the modern era. 2007.

Real Food for Dogs: Fifty Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome    BR 17417
by Arden Moore
1 volume
Nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals to make as a tasty substitute for commercial dog food. Includes recipes for Bow-Wow Brownies, Doggie Delights, Fruity Pup-sicles, Mutt Meatballs, Canine Casserole, Pawsitively Pleasing Pasta, Pooch Pancakes, and more. Includes sections on treats, vegetarian dishes, and diets for pets with special needs. 2001.

One Hundred Words to Make You Sound Smart    BR 17406
by American Heritage Dictionaries
1 volume
A compilation of words, from "accolade" to "zealous," that can be used to enhance everyday conversation. Provides examples of incorporating each selection into daily dialog without sounding pompous or technical. Includes etymological information on changes in usage over time. 2006.

Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream: A Day in the Life of Your Body    BR 17690
by Jennifer Ackerman
3 volumes
Author uses scientific findings to explain the intricate processes that occur inside the human body during a typical day. Topics include the effects of caffeine, the relationship between circadian rhythms and mental performance, and the role of the more than two pounds of microorganisms that the body harbors. Descriptions of sex. 2007.

Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism    BR 17756
by Timothy Keller
3 volumes
Presbyterian minister uses literature, philosophy, and pop culture to offer his reasons for believing in God unconditionally. Discusses the notion of one true religion, scientific refutation of Christianity, social injustice, and suffering. Presents justification for faith and discusses the knowledge of God and the problem of sin. 2008.

Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World    BR 17793
by Carl Anderson
2 volumes
The head of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, discusses the goals of the late Pope John Paul II and his successor Benedict XVI. Anderson uses their ideas to encourage citizens to embrace a world of love and to live in peace and happiness. Bestseller. 2008.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake: Essays    BR 17792
by Sloane Crosley
2 volumes
Autobiographical comedic essays from a contributor to the New York Times. Topics include her quest for a one-night stand, her horror over being a bridesmaid, and locking herself out of both her new and old New York City apartments on moving day. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.

Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation    BR 17787
by Cokie Roberts
5 volumes
News analyst Roberts portrays influential American women who lived between the 1797 inauguration of John Adams and that of his son John Quincy in 1825. Highlights accomplishments of first ladies, reformers, educators, writers, and explorers, including Abigail Adams and Sacagawea. Companion to Founding Mothers (BR 15555). Bestseller. 2008.


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