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NLS: Talking Book Topics

July - August 2001

Contents

In Brief

New NLS Reference Publications

The following revised and updated publications are now available upon request from the NLS Reference Section.

Facts: Books for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals 2001, a factsheet describing the NLS program and outlining eligibility requirements, is available in regular print and in braille, and can be provided on computer diskette.

Blindness and Visual Impairments: Information and Advocacy Organizations 2001 is a circular available in large print.

Magazines in Special Media 2000 is available in large print; recorded and braille editions are planned for later in 2001.

Sources of Custom-Produced Books: Braille, Audio Recordings, and Large Print 2001, formerly titled Volunteers Who Produce Books, is available in large print; a braille version is planned for later in 2001.

All of these publications are or soon will be accessible on the NLS web site <www.loc.gov/nls>.

To obtain copies of these publications, contact the Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542.

Books for Adults

Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics 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.

Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, fill out the order form and send it to your cooperating library.

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."

Cassettes Nonfiction

William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic      RC 47225

by Alan Taylor

read by Dan Bloom

5 cassettes

portrays the life of wealthy land speculator and politician William Cooper, who rose from humble origins to prominence as the founder of Cooperstown, New York. The spectacular rise and later decline of Cooper's fortunes inspired the writings of his author son, James Fenimore Cooper. Winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize. 1995.

The American Way of Death Revisited      RC 47523

by Jessica Mitford

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

In this revision of 1963's The American Way of Death (RC 21457), the author examines corruption in the funeral industry. Presents the large chains and the myths they propagate to obtain wealth. Discusses the history of funerals, cremation, and the role of the Federal Trade Commission. Includes a directory of nonprofit funeral and memorial societies by state. 1998.

Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes      RC 47645

by Eamon Duffy

read by Don Feldheim

5 cassettes

Overview of the papacy from Saint Peter to Pope John Paul II. Traces the evolution of the institution, its influence in history, and the political and spiritual power of the office. Includes a glossary and chronological list of popes. 1997.

The Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity      RC 48040

by Richard Fletcher

read by Nanette Savard

5 cassettes

History of Christianity from its inception in the Mediterranean world of the Roman Empire to its spread across Europe. Explains how it carried Roman and Mediterranean customs and values to northwestern Europe. Asserts the ensuing merger of Christian and "barbarian" concepts founded a new civilization. 1997.

I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941      RC 48053

by Victor Klemperer

read by Michael Consoli

5 cassettes

Klemperer, a professor of Romance languages in Dresden, presents portions of the diaries he kept in his youth. Chronicles everyday life in Nazi Germany, where--even after his conversion and marriage to a Protestant--government restrictions slowly stifled his life. Describes the kindness of some Germans and being saved by the bombing of Dresden. 1998.

Honey, Hush! An Anthology of African American Women's Humor      RC 48155

edited by Daryl Cumber Dance

read by Samarra Mbenga

5 cassettes

Assemblage of wit and wisdom from various types of written and oral tradition, spanning genres from poetry to political commentaries. Relays anecdotes from personal experiences as well as fiction. Includes works of Bessie Smith, Maya Angelou, and Terry McMillan. Foreword by Nikki Giovanni. Some strong language. 1998.

Russia      RC 48604

by Michael Kort

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

Introduces the history of Russia, including its political upheavals and economic development and the impact of its transition to a free-market system on its people and future. Also contains a chronology. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998.

Zane Grey: Romancing the West      RC 48694

by Stephen J. May

read by Michael Russotto

2 cassettes

Biography of the popular author discusses how he spent his youth fishing and hunting near Zanesville, Ohio, a town named after his pioneer ancestor. Grey became a dentist at his father's insistence but later returned to his love of writing. Tells how Riders of the Purple Sage (RC 17362) became his first bestseller in 1912..Bestseller1997.

American Bandstand: Dick Clark and the Making of a Rock 'n' Roll Empire RC 48752

by John A. Jackson

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Chronicles the career of Dick Clark from a little-known radio disc jockey to the host of the national teen dance show American Bandstand. Explores Clark's nonstop pursuit of wealth, his escape from the 1959 payola scandal, and his business affairs after the popularity of the show decreased. 1997.

Garth Brooks: The Road out of Santa Fe      RC 48788

by Matt O'Meilia

read by Don Emmick

1 cassette

Former drummer in a band called Santa Fe describes the early career of the group's country western singer. O'Meilia recalls meeting Garth Brooks in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1986, appearing with him during the next year, and being impressed with the singer's determination to succeed even after a series of failures. Some strong language. 1997.

A Country of Strangers: Blacks and Whites in America      RC 49062

by David K. Shipler

read by Bob Moore

5 cassettes

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Shipler examines attitudes toward race relations in America. Explores how blacks and whites view each other, how perceptions are shaped from birth, and how interpretations of others' behavior are often based on prior assumptions, even among unbiased individuals. Also considers multiracial families and religious minorities and their reactions to social stereotypes. 1997.

To Shining Sea: A History of the United States Navy, 1775-1998      RC 49063

by Stephen Howarth

read by Ted Stoddard

5 cassettes

A history of the United States Navy from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf conflict. Includes discussion of naval adventures, strategic development, and technology as well as the relationship between the armed service and the American public. 1999.

My Experiences in the First World War      RC 49069

by John J. Pershing

read by Robert Sams

6 cassettes

Then General of the Armies chronicles the United States's involvement in the "Great War" from Woodrow Wilson's 1917 appointment of Pershing to command the American Expeditionary Forces in France through the armistice in 1918. Won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for history under the title My Experiences in the World War. 1931.

Leo Rosten's Carnival of Wit and Wisdom: Plus Wisecracks, Ad-Libs, Malaprops, Puns, One-Liners, Quips, Epigrams, Boo-Boos, Dazzling Ironies, and Wizardries of Wording, Plus Surprising Tidbits from Politics, Philosophy, Biography, and (Yes!) Gossip--from Aristotle to Woody Allen      RC 49081

compiled by Leo Rosten

read by Terence Aselford

3 cassettes

Over 5,000 items to tickle your funny bone. 1994.

The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An Experiment in Literary Investigation; Volume 1, Parts 1-2      RC 49269

by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

read by Ken Kliban

6 cassettes (Reissue)

A scathing portrayal of the Soviet prison system drawn from eyewitness accounts and the Nobel Prize winner's own recollection of his eleven-year internment in the Archipelago. Prequel to The Gulag...Volume 2, Parts 3-4 (RC 49270). Bestseller 1973.

The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An Experiment in Literary Investigation; Volume 2, Parts 3-4      RC 49270

by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

read by Ken Kliban

6 cassettes (Reissue)

Indictment of totalitarian society by the Nobel Prize-winning author who was deported from the Soviet Union in 1974. Sequel to The Gulag...Volume 1, Parts 1-2 (RC 49269). 1975.

Dancing in the Water of Life: Seeking Peace in the Hermitage; the Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 5, 1963-1965      RC 49273

by Thomas Merton

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

In these diaries the monk and author chronicles the years during which he struggled to reconcile his life of contemplation with his interest in the reform movements of the church and society. As Merton pondered the "absurdity" of worldly concerns, he continued to enjoy "dancing in the water of life." 1997.

The Puzzlemaster Presents Two Hundred Mind-Bending Challenges from NPR      RC 49284

by Will Shortz

read by Timothy Lynch

1 cassette

Audio puzzles from National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday. Includes word games that take some thought. For example, "change one letter in each word to name a color" and "every answer in this puzzle is a word or name that ends in the letters que." 1996.

The Americans: The Democratic Experience      RC 49285

by Daniel J. Boorstin

read by Robert Sams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

In this sequel to The Americans: The National Experience (RC 47247), historian Boorstin covers American history since the Civil War. He discusses how Americans found a new way of holding together through "countless little-noticed revolutions" that created "communities of consumers" touching countrymen everywhere and every day in their new democratic world. 1973.

A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam      RC 49293

by Lewis Sorley

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

Recounts the latter half of the Vietnam War, after General Creighton Abrams assumed command in 1968. Describes how Abrams abandoned the prevailing strategy of attrition in favor of protecting the South Vietnamese and bolstering their military. Asserts that America had the war won by late 1971 but failed to secure the advantage. 1999.

The Vietnam Reader: The Definitive Collection of American Fiction and Nonfiction on the War      RC 49295

edited by Stewart O'Nan

read by Steven Carpenter

4 cassettes

Depicts the American war in Vietnam through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, descriptions of films, and popular song lyrics. Collected works provide a historical reference tool and overview of the conflict and its impact on American culture. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1998.

Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov)      RC 49299

by Stacy Schiff

read by Michael Scherer

4 cassettes

The biography of Véra is largely the portrait of her fifty-two-year literary marriage with Russian author Vladimir Nabokov. Relates the main events of their relationship where she was wife, muse, editor, translator, and publishing agent. Notes her lifelong devotion to her husband's work and her preference for privacy. Pulitzer Prize. 1999.

Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections at Sixty and Beyond      RC 49319

by Larry McMurtry

read by Arnie Warren

1 cassette

Reading Benjamin's essay "The Storyteller" leads McMurtry to reflect on the decline of oral tradition in twentieth-century life. He discusses his experiences with books--as a reader, author, and bookdealer--and his feelings about his ancestors, his open-heart surgery, cowboys, and the open spaces of Texas. 1999.

Real Food for People with Diabetes      RC 49328

by Doris Cross

read by Miriam Wagner

1 cassette

Recipes by an author who had written about low-fat cookery before she was diagnosed with diabetes. In this volume, she modifies her favorites to accommodate her condition and still satisfy her family. Includes some 170 foods from appetizers to desserts. 1997.

A Tramp Abroad      RC 49345

by Mark Twain

read by Anne Hancock

3 cassettes

Mark Twain constructs a tour through Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. Integrates humor, autobiography, and history to entertain. 1880.

The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age      RC 49350

by Sven Birkerts

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

Essays exploring ways in which modern information technologies are fundamentally transforming both traditional literary culture and the general practice of reading and writing. Attests to the essential value of literature and laments its displacement by the pervasive electronic media. 1994.

Bosnia: Fractured Region      RC 49354

by Eric Black

read by Dan Bloom

1 cassette

Examines the history and culture of the former country of Yugoslavia in order to make sense of the 1990s conflicts there, some of which involved "ethnic cleansing." Discusses opposing viewpoints among its residents and assesses future prospects for the area. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

Close to the Wind      RC 49357

by Pete Goss

read by Jeremy Gage

2 cassettes

Former Royal Marine describes his work toward the goal of sailing in the Vendée Globe, a single-handed round-the-world race. During the realization of his dream, Goss risks both the race and his own life by heroically saving a fellow competitor whose boat sank in a storm. Strong language. 1998.

Shania Twain      RC 49365

by Michael McCall

read by Mary Ann Nichols

1 cassette

Biography of the Canadian country-pop singer-songwriter who, after an unspectacular 1993 debut album, gained widespread fame and awards with her second album, which was expensively produced by her now-husband Robert Lange. Details such controversies as the dismissal of her manager and Twain's initial claim of being Native American. 1999.

Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It      RC 49373

by Gina Kolata

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

A science reporter for the New York Times describes how a mysterious virus, nicknamed the "Spanish flu," killed 20-100 million people worldwide, leaving no clue to its origins. Striking during wartime in 1918, the epidemic affected young adults disproportionately. Discusses other historic plagues and the possibility of future pandemic scourges. 1999.

Peace and War: Reminiscences of a Life on the Frontiers of Science      RC 49378

by Robert Serber

read by Terence Aselford

2 cassettes

Memoir of a key member of the Manhattan Project scientific team, who assembled the bombs that were dropped on Japan in 1945. Recounts the development and testing of the atomic bomb, its use and effects on the Japanese population, and the postwar controversy that surrounded this revolutionary weapon of war. 1998.

Happy Alchemy: On the Pleasures of Music and the Theatre      RC 49381

by Robertson Davies

read by Michael Scherer

3 cassettes

Thirty-three pieces on the theater, opera, and music. Includes speeches, prologs to plays, articles, a discussion of folk song, a ghost story set to music, and ideas for a film scenario. Also contains selections from Davies's theater diaries going behind the scenes. 1997.

Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide      RC 49382

by Kay Redfield Jamison

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

Examines the cultural history of suicide, biological and psychological factors, and effects on survivors. Focuses on victims younger than forty. Includes case studies, literary quotations, and insights from the author's personal experience. Proposes ways in which society could address this increasingly prevalent problem. 1999.

Before the Storm: American Indians before the Europeans      RC 49390

by Allison Lassieur

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Based on archaeologic and ethnographic evidence, an account of the people living in North America prior to 1492. Presented by geographic area, describes what is known about the lives of the inhabitants, including their villages, foods, and societies. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Seasons of Her Life: A Biography of Madeleine Korbel Albright      RC 49511

by Ann Blackman

read by Barbara Rappaport

3 cassettes

A personal profile of the secretary of state under President Bill Clinton. Albright was born to a diplomat in Czechoslovakia whose family twice fled to avoid persecution--first from the Nazis and later from the Communists. Traces her family history, including her discovery that her grandparents perished in the Holocaust. 1998.

Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game and the Race for Empire in Central Asia      RC 49535

by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac

read by Ralph Lowenstein

5 cassettes

The authors chronicle the struggle between Great Britain and Russia over control of central Asia, beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing through the cold war. They examine the activities of adventurers, explorers, and statesmen in Tibet, Lhasa, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas, who spied for their respective countries. 1999.

Death and Dying: Opposing Viewpoints      RC 49583

edited by Paul A. Winters

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

Examines a range of perspectives and opinions on topics related to the end of life. Presents opposing outlooks on such issues as physician-assisted suicide, near-death experiences, and grief. Challenges readers to confront and understand conflicting points of view. For senior high and older readers. 1998.

Jubal: The Life and Times of General Jubal A. Early, CSA, Defender of the Lost Cause      RC 49679

by Charles C. Osborne

read by Michael Scherer

4 cassettes

Biography of Confederate general Jubal Early, concentrating on his military exploits and his rejection of reconstruction and amnesty after the Civil War. Discusses Early's personal eccentricity, his refusal to accept blame for military blunders, and his later success in promoting the myth of the "lost cause." 1992.

The Fat of the Land: Our Health Crisis and How Overweight Americans Can Help Themselves      RC 49686

by Michael Fumento

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

An overview of obesity, "the most common chronic health problem in America," affecting one-third of all adults. Examines the causes and consequences of excess body weight, debunks many popular fad diets, and denounces pro-obesity movements. Urges a commonsense approach to weight control: eat wisely and exercise. 1997.

Gray Ghost: The Life of Col. John Singleton Mosby      RC 49691

by James A. Ramage

read by Michael Russotto

4 cassettes

Biography of Confederate colonel John Singleton Mosby, who led the 43rd Battalion Virginia Partisan Rangers in guerrilla operations against Union forces in northern Virginia. Mosby, who had no military training, specialized in night raids aimed at disrupting enemy battle plans and supply trains. 1999.

From Botswana to the Bering Sea: My Thirty Years with National Geographic      RC 49705

by Thomas Y. Canby

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Memoir of a career as a National Geographic writer and science editor. Describes behind-the-scenes work at headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Canby started in 1961, and recounts some of his adventures and misadventures as a world traveler on assignment. 1998.

Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography      RC 49706

by Victoria Price

read by Mary Kane

4 cassettes

Biography of Renaissance man Vincent Price by his daughter. Traces the family history, Price's childhood in St. Louis, his time at Yale University, and his career in theater and later Hollywood. Discusses his "greylisting" during the McCarthy period and his passion for art, as well as his children and multiple marriages. 1999.

The Punic Wars      RC 49722

by Don Nardo

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Describes the three wars between Rome and Carthage during the third and second centuries B.C., which took a devastating toll on resources and manpower and ended in total annihilation of one of the powers. Includes Hannibal's crossing of the Alps in 218 B.C. For senior high and older readers. 1996.

Natural History: A Selection      RC 49728

by Pliny the Elder

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

An encyclopedic overview of Roman scientific understanding during the first century A.D. By the author's estimate, this work presents some two hundred thousand facts about astronomy, geography, zoology, botany, medicine, art, and architecture. Discussions are enlivened with anecdotes and personal commentary. 1991.

Einstein's Daughter: The Search for Lieserl      RC 49735

by Michele Zackheim

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

On the basis of the revelation in the 1980s that Albert Einstein and his Serbian first wife, Mileva, had an illegitimate daughter, Lieserl, born in 1902, the author spent five years tracking down clues to determine what became of her. Zackheim presents her findings and conclusion. 1999.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius      RC 49737

by Dave Eggers

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

An unconventional first-person account of a young man who takes on the responsibility of raising his eight-year-old brother, Toph, after both parents die of cancer. Amid frequent digressions, the author recalls their family dynamics, his aspirations to become a writer, and an experimental 'zine, Might. Strong language. Bestseller 2000.

The American President      RC 49738

by Philip B. Kunhardt and others

read by Rick Foucheux

4 cassettes

Companion to a PBS television series; a survey of U.S. presidents using a thematic, rather than chronological, approach. In ten chapters, the chief executives are grouped by campaign style, challenges faced, or other circumstances that shaped their public image. Different historical periods are represented in each category. 1999.

The Examined Life: Readings from Western Philosophy from Plato to Kant      RC 49741

edited by Stanley Rosen

read by Annie Wauters

5 cassettes

Representative texts by major philosophers grouped into six categories: social and political thought, religion, art and culture, metaphysics, epistemology, and science. Each section is prefaced with an introduction to the topic. Includes excerpts from works by Aristotle, Hobbes, Augustine, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Hegel, Wittgenstein, Descartes, Kuhn, and Ayala, among others. 2000.

Lady Bird: A Biography of Mrs. Johnson      RC 49783

by Jan Jarboe Russell

read by Jill Ferris

3 cassettes

portrait of a first lady. Examines how marriage to Lyndon Baines Johnson defined her. Discusses Mrs. Johnson's family background and her roles as wife, mother, businesswoman, and conservationist. Also relates LBJ's marital infidelities and Lady Bird's reactions to them. 1999.

The Thieves' Opera      RC 49794

by Lucy Moore

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Eighteenth-century London. Two notorious criminals operate in the seamy underground of the capital: Jonathan Wild is the "thief-taker general," whose criminal organization colludes with the corrupt police, while Jack Sheppard is a freelance robber who becomes infamous for his prison escapes and daring crimes. Some violence. 1997.

Yonder: Essays      RC 49799

by Siri Hustvedt

read by Catherine Byers

1 cassette

Six pieces by a Norwegian American novelist and poet contemplating a variety of aesthetic experiences. Reveals her thought processes while actively exploring such activities as forming memories, viewing a painting, and reading literature. 1998.

Explorer Leader Handbook      RC 49836

by Boy Scouts of America

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

Handbook for advisors and youth leaders of Explorer Scouts. Describes the role of an advisor to an Explorer post in setting up the post and training the youth leaders. Discusses the nature of Exploring and the responsibilities of officers, and tells how to plan and conduct a successful meeting. 1991.

Love's Apprentice      RC 49838

by Shirley Abbott

read by Faith Potts

2 cassettes

A woman's memoir of her introduction to the world of romance, love, and sex. Chronicles the influence of movies and literature on her early development, her sensual involvement with a college roommate, her year abroad in Paris, her marriage, and the experience of becoming a mother. Some strong language. 1998.

Summer of '98: When Homers Flew, Records Fell, and Baseball Reclaimed America      RC 49844

by Mike Lupica

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Sportswriter and his three sons eagerly follow the amazing 1998 baseball season, which included the McGwire-Sosa home run duel, David Wells's perfect game, the end of Cal Ripken's streak, and the New York Yankees' World Series victory. 1999.

Butch Cassidy: A Biography      RC 49845

by Richard Patterson

read by Rick Foucheux

3 cassettes

Separates the reality from the myths about the legendary outlaw. Contrasts his Mormon family background with his long criminal record, detailing his years with the Wild Bunch and the Sundance Kid. Discusses Butch Cassidy's supposed reappearance in the United States after the shoot-out in Boliva. 1998.

FDR and His Enemies      RC 49846

by Albert Fried

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Depicts Franklin Roosevelt's struggles to protect his progressive presidency against challenges from five powerful rivals: New York governor Al Smith, radio priest Charles Coughlin, Louisiana senator Huey Long, aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, and labor leader John L. Lewis. Avers that FDR prevailed because he better understood the needs of the American people. 1999.

The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop      RC 49855

by Gregory Dicum and Nina Luttinger

read by Michael Consoli

2 cassettes

Examines the coffee industry, from the beverage's origins up through the specialty coffee craze. Discusses aspects such as caffeine addiction, marketing techniques, working conditions for coffee farmers, and international trade. 1999.

Varsity Scout Leader Guidebook      RC 49858

by Boy Scouts of America

read by Mark Ashby

1 cassette

Qualifications and responsibilities for the adult leader of Boy Scouts ages fourteen through seventeen. Explains the program and planning objectives, discusses leadership and age-appropriate behavior, and provides a parent's guide to protecting offspring from child abuse. 1996.

Morgan: American Financier      RC 49869

by Jean Strouse

read by Lou Harpenau

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Biography of the powerful capitalist banker of the Gilded Age, who transformed the United States from an agrarian society into a powerful industrial state. Relates how Pierpont Morgan financed the robber barons and rescued the country from the panic of 1901, while amassing a huge personal art collection. 1999.

The Educated Child: A Parent's Guide from Preschool through Eighth Grade RC 49890

by William J. Bennett and others

read by Butch Hoover

5 cassettes

Maintaining that the years before high school are the most important for basic learning, the authors describe areas within core subjects that a pupil should master at each age. Suggests ways for parents to stay involved in their children's progress and to ensure they are receiving a good education. 1999.

Coming Apart: An Informal History of America in the 1960s      RC 49903

by William L. O'Neill

read by Barry Bernson

4 cassettes (Reissue)

A journalistic survey dealing with foreign relations, domestic politics, and the counterculture in the early 1960s. Though the emphasis is on political rather than cultural history, sports and pop entertainment are included. 1971.

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House      RC 49911

by Cheryl Mendelson

read by Kerry Cundiff

10 cassettes in 2 containers

Helpful hints on a range of domestic topics--planning and preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning each room in a home, preserving books and furniture, caring for pets, fire safety, and many others. Includes guidelines for both the novice and longtime housekeeper and bits of wisdom gained from older relatives. Bestseller 1999.

Shaking a Leg: Collected Writings      RC 49912

by Angela Carter

read by Jill Fox

6 cassettes

A substantial selection of Carter's journalism--articles, criticism, personal essays, and reviews--from the 1960s until her death in 1992. These cultural and social commentaries are grouped under broad categories: body languages, food fetishes, home and away, traveling, Japan, America, screen and dream, stories and tellers, writers and readers. Some strong language. 1997.

The Millionaire Mind      RC 49942

by Thomas J. Stanley

read by Ralph Lowenstein

3 cassettes

In this companion to The Millionaire Next Door (RC 43944) the author explores people with a "millionaire mind-set"--those who focus upon accumulating wealth. His nationwide survey examines such factors as academic performance, career selection, family and social relationships, lifestyle, and the ability to conquer fear. Bestseller 2000.

Floods, Famines, and Emperors: El Niño and the Fate of Civilizations      RC 49950

by Brian Fagan

read by Ralph Lowenstein

2 cassettes

Investigates the connection between deadly weather phenomena and anthropology. Discusses the historical impact of methods used by various ancient civilizations to adapt to stressful climatic changes. Describes monsoons in India; famines in ancient Egypt; droughts in the American Southwest, which destroyed the Anasazi; and "El Niño," which has serious effects worldwide. 1999.

The Code Book: The Evolution of Secrecy from Mary Queen of Scots to Quantum Cryptography      RC 49955

by Simon Singh

read by Dennis Rooney

3 cassettes

Charts the history of ciphers and the ongoing battle between codemakers and codebreakers, which has spurred corresponding technological development. Relates tales of political intrigue and historical turning points in which codes played a role. Also discusses the continuing importance of encryption in the digital world. 1999.

Fit Happens: Strategies for Living a Healthier, Happier, Fitter Life      RC 49961

by Joanie Greggains

read by Nona Pipes

2 cassettes

Host of television and radio fitness shows stresses substituting smart choices for bad habits--making positive lifestyle choices every day. She provides commonsense instructions on how to eat right and exercise enough, warning against fad diets and other fitness gimmicks. 2000.

A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal that Nearly Brought Down a President      RC 49966

by Jeffrey Toobin

read by Michael Russotto

4 cassettes

A behind-the-scenes account of the scandals surrounding President Bill Clinton. Toobin examines the Paula Jones case, Kenneth Starr's investigations, and the president's relationship with Monica Lewinsky in detail. He concludes that "Clinton was, by comparison, the good guy in this struggle," the victim of powerful forces from the right. Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.

Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941-1942      RC 49970

by William H. Bartsch

read by Steven Carpenter

4 cassettes

A history of the 24th Pursuit Group squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps, which was stationed in the Philippines when World War II broke out. Chronicles the destruction of the American-Philippine Army on Bataan and Corregidor after five months of fighting. Describes the pilots' heroism along with their fates. 1992.

Five Thousand Days like This One: An American Family History      RC 49980

by Jane Brox

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

The author depicts the lives of her parents and Lebanese immigrant grandparents, who worked as textile mill laborers before settling down on a hardscrabble farm in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. She wistfully reflects on the suffering and uncertainties of their harsh existence. 1999.

Kahlil Gibran, Man and Poet: A New Biography      RC 50020

by Suheil Bushrui and Joe Jenkins

read by Graeme Malcolm

3 cassettes

Biography of the poet, artist, and mystic. Describes his relatively short life--he was born in a Lebanese village in 1883 and died in New York in 1931. Discusses his writings and artistic temperament. Analyzes his fame in the Arab-speaking world and his popularity in the West. 1998.

A Resource Book for Senior Girl Scouts      RC 50039

by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Guidebook for Girl Scouts fourteen years and older. Explains the organization and offers suggestions for community service projects. Includes advice on physical and emotional health, career choices, and skills for living. For senior high readers. 1995.

For the Time Being      RC 50052

by Annie Dillard

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette

Reflections on the coexistence of God and evil and how an individual fits into the scheme of things. Recounts a trip to Israel, visits to an obstetrical ward, and a paleontologist's story, as well as a discussion of Teilhard de Chardin and the Baal Shem Tov. 1999.

My Garden (Book)      RC 50062

by Jamaica Kincaid

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A series of meditations and reminiscences on the art of gardening, with a little history thrown in. Kincaid, whose attachment to gardening began when her husband gave her some tools and seeds for Mother's Day, discusses the continual creation of her garden, and why it will never be the garden in her mind's eye. 1999.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!      RC 50090

by Robert T. Kiyosaki

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

Investor describes how he learned about money from his Ph.D. father, who could never retain wealth, and also from his friend's father, who was a millionaire with an eighth grade education. Explains how to make your money work for you by mastering financial literacy and taking charge. Bestseller 1997.

Essentials of Cooking      RC 50091

by James Peterson

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Rather than offering a collection of recipes, Peterson presents a series of basic instructions for various cooking methods. Includes peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables; making sauces and stews; and roasting, grilling, frying, sautéing, or poaching fruits, meats, and vegetables. Also includes kitchen notes and tips. 1999.

Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball      RC 50094

by Bob Costas

read by James Leary

1 cassette

Emmy Award-winning broadcaster outlines what he believes is wrong with baseball and offers some cures. Includes suggestions for a new contract in 2001 between owners and players, which includes revenue-sharing, salary basements and ceilings, modification of rules, and realignments of schedules. Bestseller 2000.

A Soldier's Story      RC 50099

by Omar N. Bradley

read by Lou Harpenau

4 cassettes

Memoirs of "GI's General," Omar Nelson Bradley, on his campaigns in World War II, including the conquest of Africa, the invasion of Sicily, D Day at Normandy, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and the German surrender. Discusses tactics and maneuvers, as well as fellow officers. 1951.

Star Trek on the Brain: Alien Minds, Human Minds      RC 50105

by Robert Sekuler and Randolph Blake

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Uses segments from the TV and movie series to explain brain functions and psychological phenomena. Examines nonhuman life forms and their cultural customs as a means of studying human beings from a different perspective. Contains a glossary of main characters and a list of Star Trek episodes. 1998.

Fibroids: The Complete Guide to Taking Charge of Your Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Well-Being      RC 50107

by Johanna Skilling

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Researching fibroids after her own diagnosis, the author compiled information from doctors and patients on the symptoms, treatments, and impact of having solid lumps of muscle and connective tissue growing in and around the uterus. Usually benign, the tumors affect at least 25 percent and possibly 75 percent of women. 2000.

Electro Shock! Groundbreakers of Synth Music      RC 50113

by Greg Rule

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

This survey of synthesizer music offers profiles of seventeen performers, compiled from Keyboard magazine, and discusses the electronic instruments used. Presents interviews with Nine Inch Nails, Mark Snow of the X-Files, and Depeche Mode, among others. Includes a listening guide. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

Andy Kaufman Revealed! Best Friend Tells All      RC 50114

by Bob Zmuda

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Longtime friend and writer for the late comic (who is best known for his role on the sitcom Taxi) discusses the work they did together before Kaufman died of cancer at thirty-five in 1984. Zmuda is coexecutive producer for Man on the Moon, a movie about Kaufman. Strong language. 1999.

The Simply Gourmet Diabetes Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes and Menus for People with Diabetes and Those Who Love Them      RC 50115

by Mary Donkersloot

read by Patricia McDermott

4 cassettes

A nutritionist discusses how to live well with diabetes and offers hundreds of recipes (with nutritional analyses and exchanges) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Includes suggested menus and shopping tips. 1998.

Cassette Books, 1999      RC 50116

by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

A catalog of talking books produced on cassette for adult and young adult readers during 1999. The nonfiction and fiction sections list books by subject categories. Separate listings identify books for young adult readers and for Spanish readers. 1999.

The Lost Art of Healing      RC 50125

by Bernard Lown

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

A cardiologist asserts that the medical profession has broken down because doctors are relying unduly on technology, rather than examining and listening to patients. He relates anecdotes about his elderly patients to reinforce the importance of getting to know the person behind the symptoms. 1996.

The Assault on Parenthood: How Our Culture Undermines the Family      RC 50126

by Dana Mack

read by Kerry Cundiff

3 cassettes

After interviewing parents across the country, the author asserts that millions of them believe the crisis of youth could be solved if government and social institutions allowed families to provide children the needed love, time, protection, and authoritative guidance. Included are seven pro-family proposals. 1997.

Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age      RC 50127

by Michael Hiltzik

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

An inside view of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), renowned as a Silicon Valley hotbed of technological development. Traces the facility's evolution from its inception in 1970, describing some eccentricities of the brilliant pioneers in the field of personal computers and related breakthroughs. Alleges that the corporation failed to exploit PARC's inventions. 1999.

The Sonnets      RC 50129

by William Shakespeare

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

The complete collection of 154 sonnets attributed to Shakespeare, without commentary. Sonnets 1 to 126 are addressed to a beloved friend--a young man--while Sonnets 127 to 152 are to a lady of dark beauty, and the last two poems are adaptations of a Greek epigram. 1609.

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way      RC 50133

by Susan McCutcheon

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

Describes a natural childbirth method begun in the late 1940s by Dr. Robert Bradley. Unlike the Lamaze technique, the Bradley procedure is drug free in most cases. The author, who has been teaching this method since 1970, gives detailed instructions and practice exercises for women and their coaches. 1996.

America the Wise: The Longevity Revolution and the True Wealth of Nations RC 50134

by Theodore Roszak

read by Randy Davidson

2 cassettes

A historian's optimistic outlook on the social and economic consequences of the aging of the baby-boom generation. Expresses the hope that a healthier, wealthier, better educated, and politically influential older population can help build a more humane society. Exhorts seniors to become agents of positive change. 1998.

The Plutonium Files: America's Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War RC 50138

by Eileen Welsome

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles her investigation of eighteen human subjects who were unwittingly injected with plutonium between 1945 and 1947. She depicts the cultural and political context of the era and examines the complex issues raised that go to the core of democratic society. 1999.

One Hundred Days: My Unexpected Journey from Doctor to Patient      RC 50142

by David Biro

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Biro describes how an odd flashing in his eye troubled him when he was a thirty-one-year-old neophyte dermatologist. After Biro was finally diagnosed with an unusual paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, his doctors then disagreed on the best treatment option. Choosing a bone-marrow transplant, Biro faced the critical one-hundred-day recovery period. 2000.

Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief      RC 50143

by Herbert Benson

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

The author of Beyond the Relaxation Response (RC 22254) describes how self-care can be combined with pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other procedures to help the healing process. Self-care methods include a belief in "something good," the placebo effect of "remembered wellness," and religious convictions that enhance the relaxation response. 1996.

Hiroshima      RC 50148

by John Hersey

read by Barry Bernson

1 cassette

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author's updated account of the tragedy of the world's first atomic bomb. In 1945, while the ashes of Hiroshima were still warm, Hersey traveled to Japan to interview survivors, whose narratives articulate the devastating aftermath. The last chapter was added nearly forty years later. 1985.

A Field Guide for the Sight-Impaired Reader: A Comprehensive Resource for Students, Teachers, and Librarians      RC 50149

by Andrew Leibs

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

Identifies resources available to the visually impaired student to facilitate reading. Lists appropriate agencies and publishers as well as producers of technology that assist the reader, including Internet addresses. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

The Lost Cause: The Confederate Exodus to Mexico      RC 50150

by Andrew Rolle

read by Randy Davidson

2 cassettes

A historian's account of the thousands of Confederate soldiers who, unable to accept defeat, fled abroad at the conclusion of the Civil War. Encouraged by the French puppet, Emperor Maximilian, many entered Mexico to start new colonies. Relates the struggles and failures encountered by the Southerners in a hostile and foreign land. 1965.

The Pacific Rim: East Asia at the Dawn of a New Century      RC 50174

by Elaine Pascoe

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Brief summaries of the historical, economic, and political importance of the countries that make up East Asia--principally China and Taiwan, Japan, and both Koreas, as well as mainland Southeast Asia and several island nations. Discusses their relevance to the United States and others in the West. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

The Wars of the Roses      RC 50186

by Alison Weir

read by Vanessa Maroney

4 cassettes

In this companion to The Princes in the Tower (RC 40697) Weir recounts the events that plunged fifteenth-century medieval Britain into a bloody struggle for the crown. The House of Lancaster, led by the inept King Henry VI, contended with the able duke of York, Richard Plantagenet. 1995.

Haiku: This Other World      RC 50234

by Richard A. Wright

read by Gordon Gould

1 cassette

Collection of Richard Wright's eight hundred seventeen short poems composed in the late 1950s. In his snail haiku, he depicts mankind's relationship with nature and observes the unity and harmony among things. In "Lines of Winter Rain," the author explains that beauty can be savored. 1998.

The Space between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from the Middle East RC 50238

selected by Naomi Shihab Nye

read by Yolande Bavan

1 cassette

Anthology of more than one hundred twentieth-century poems from twenty countries, some written in English and many translated into free verse. Subjects include affection for children and family, patriotic feelings, and grief over exile. Contains brief biographical notes on the contributors. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Ten Things I Wish I'd Known--Before I Went into the Real World      RC 50263

by Maria Shriver

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

1 cassette

Expands on a commencement speech given by the author. She discusses lessons she's learned since college on work, money, family, and humor. Describes life as an award-winning television journalist, author of a bestselling children's book, wife of a movie star, niece of a president, and mother of four children. Bestseller 2000.

It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life      RC 50265

by Lance Armstrong

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

The internationally recognized Texan cyclist relates how a diagnosis of testicular cancer at age twenty-five changed his priorities. Recounts the major events in his life, including the ordeals of his treatment, his comeback to win the 1999 Tour de France, and his joy in being a father. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex      RC 50271

by Nathaniel Philbrick

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes

Relying mainly on the cabin boy's journal discovered in 1960, the author recounts the disastrous 1819 voyage of the whaling ship Essex. He describes the attack of an eighty-five-foot bull sperm whale, and the ensuing starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism that befell the shipwrecked survivors. Bestseller 2000.

Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit      RC 50273

by Garry Wills

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author--for Lincoln at Gettysburg (RC 35368)--and practicing Catholic indicts the Church's hierarchy for the papal sin of deception. Calls for internal reform regarding teachings on birth control and abortion, priests' celibacy, and the ordainment of women. Challenges the Vatican's attitude toward the Holocaust. Bestseller 2000.

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys      RC 50309

by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

Case studies support this discussion of the price boys pay in a culture with rigid ideals of manhood. The authors identify what youngsters need to achieve emotional integrity, and they conclude with seven points for transforming the ways boys are nurtured to better protect their emotional lives. Bestseller 1999.

Where Did I Go Right? You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead      RC 50312

by Bernie Brillstein

read by Terence Aselford

3 cassettes

Brillstein reflects on his career as Hollywood agent, television and movie producer, studio head, and personal manager to John Belushi, Jim Henson, and other show-business successes. Discusses business relationships that went sour and client friendships that were cut short by untimely deaths. Strong language. Bestseller 1999.

The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography      RC 50313

by Sidney Poitier

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

The first African American actor to win an Oscar recalls his idyllic childhood in the Bahamas, his move to Florida at age fifteen, his early struggles to establish an acting career, and his later successes. Poitier reflects on the family values, ethics, and integrity that sustain him. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

Experience      RC 50335

by Martin Amis

read by David Cutler

3 cassettes

The innovative, controversial English writer remembers his father, comic novelist Kingsley Amis, and recalls events and influences in his own artistic development. Contains anecdotes about major literary figures--both his father's friends and his own--Philip Larkin, Saul Bellow, and Salman Rushdie among them. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III: More Stories of Life, Love, and Learning      RC 50351

edited by Jack Canfield and others

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II (RC 983540), the authors present additional stories and anecdotes written by teenagers. The inspirational themes include relationships, friends and family, and overcoming obstacles. For senior high and older readers. Bestseller 2000.

The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor      RC 50352

by Trevor Rees-Jones

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

As the sole survivor of the 1997 auto accident that killed the Princess of Wales, Dodi Fayed, and their chauffeur, bodyguard Rees-Jones offers his account of the events leading up to the crash and its aftermath. He also discusses his own efforts to cope with injuries and unwelcome notoriety. Bestseller 2000.

Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack RC 50358

by Gerald Reaven and others

read by Betty Williams

3 cassettes

Endocrinologist Reaven of Stanford explains the metabolic disorder known as insulin resistance syndrome or Syndrome X, which increases risk for heart attacks. Frequently undiagnosed, this condition is worsened by diets usually recommended for coronary health. Prescribes an appropriate nutritional plan with additional steps for reducing the syndrome's impact. 2000.

By the Color of Our Skin: The Illusion of Integration and the Reality of Race      RC 50382

by Leonard Steinhorn and Barbara Diggs-Brown

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Argues that integration between blacks and whites is a myth and not a reality, based on evaluating the ways Americans live, learn, work, and think. Notes that 70 percent of African American children attend predominantly black schools. Opines that the goal of incorporating all racial groups into society is unattainable. 1999.

Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul: Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit      RC 50391

by Jack Canfield and others

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Stories designed to deepen faith and nourish the soul, about people who have chosen hope over despair, offered a helping hand to someone in need, or put their faith in God against all odds. Includes tales of love, divine intervention, acts of kindness, the power of belief, and overcoming obstacles. Bestseller 2000.

A Week in the Zone      RC 50447

by Barry Sears

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

In this companion to The Zone (RC 42493) and others, Sears presents simplified instructions for his insulin-controlling diet, asserting that trying the "Zone" for a week will create converts. Includes new research to validate the diet, which he maintains is neither high in protein nor low in carbohydrates. Bestseller 2000.

Cybill Disobedience: How I Survived Beauty Pageants, Elvis, Sex, Bruce Willis, Lies, Marriage, Motherhood, Hollywood, and the Irrepressible Urge to Say What I Think      RC 50450

by Cybill Shepherd

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Actress recalls her professional life as a model and performer, as well as her family life, including marriages and affairs. After over thirty years in the movie business, Cybill celebrates having survived her way. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

Me Talk Pretty One Day      RC 50514

by David Sedaris

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

A comic essayist and public radio commentator recalls having speech therapy forced upon him (and other "future homosexuals" with lisps) as a child, acquiring his lifelong hatred of computers, failing in an attempt at teaching, and trying to learn French while living in France. Strong language. Bestseller 2000.

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook      RC 50515

by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

read by Barry Bernson

1 cassette

Techniques and planning for survival in emergencies. Basic rules include being mentally and physically prepared, having access to proper equipment, and refusing to panic. Covers medical crises, natural disasters, attacks by wild animals, and dangers that require fast escapes. Names experts interviewed about each situation. Bestseller 1999.

Payne Stewart      RC 50516

by Tracey Stewart

read by Pam Ward

2 cassettes

The Australian wife of the late champion golfer Payne Stewart recalls his personal and professional life, including the tournaments he participated in as well as his belief in God. She tells of the faith that sustained their family following her husband's death in a 1999 air crash. Bestseller 2000.

Take Time for Your Life: A Personal Coach's Seven-Step Program for Creating the Life You Want      RC 50519

by Cheryl Richardson

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

A personal coach describes how to eliminate energy drains and replace them with things that fuel you in the areas of relationships, surroundings, body, mind, spirit, work, and money. The author uses clients' stories to illustrate points and provides lists of resources. Bestseller 1998.

The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord      RC 50543

by T.D. Jakes

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

A Christian bishop with a weekly television broadcast exhorts women to develop their three most important relationships: with themselves, with their husbands, and with God. Suggests empowerment strategies supported by biblical verses to help promote peace and healing. Offers advice on relationships for both men and women. 1998.

Reflecting the Flame      RC 50642

edited by Marc Maurer

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

Nine stories recounting how blind adults are creating a past upon which blind children can build their futures. A lawyer gains a better understanding of her blindness while learning how to open a milk carton, and a man discusses how to deal with things done mainly for visual effect. 1999.

For Younger Readers, 1998-1999: Braille and Talking Books      RC 50716

by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

read by Jill Fox

4 cassettes

Catalog of books for readers from preschool through grade nine, produced in braille and cassette formats during 1998 and 1999. Nonfiction and fiction books are arranged under general subject headings. Also includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, and young adults. 1999.

Don't Make Me Stop This Car! Adventures in Fatherhood      RC 50765

by Al Roker

read by J.P. Linton

1 cassette

The Today show weatherman humorously describes his experiences of being a father--both to his older daughter from adoption through adolescence and to the baby conceived with his new wife after fertility treatments. Roker also reminisces about his own bus-driver father. Bestseller 2000.

Walden; or, Life in the Woods and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience      RC 50835

by Henry David Thoreau

read by Bradley Bransford

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Autobiographical record of the author's experiment in essential living at his Walden Pond retreat in the 1850s along with detailed observations of nature and his commentaries on world problems. His essay "Civil Disobedience" is a protest against government's interference with individual liberty. 1960.

India Britannica      RC 50836

by Geoffrey Moorhouse

read by Gordon Gould

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A popular history of three centuries of British rule in India. The account begins with a description of the profoundly alien country the seventeenth-century traders encountered, traces the gradual ascension of the East India Company, and concludes with the sudden disengagement under the last viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. 1983.

Another Day      RC 50838

by Eugenia Price

read by Patricia McDermott

1 cassette (Reissue)

The author shares her informal reflections and interpretations on those passages of the Bible that are most meaningful to her. 1984.

Cassettes Fiction

Pleasure of Believing      RC 47644

by Anastasia Hobbet

read by Lindsay Ellison

3 cassettes

Roberta Shea has turned her family's Wyoming ranch into a wild bird rehabilitation center. Her neighbor, sheep rancher Carl Drummond, accidently poisons some eagles while trying to rid his ranch of predatory coyotes, initiating a clash between traditional ranchers and Roberta's environmentalist friends. Based on a similar 1971 event that led to the passage of the Endangered Species Act. 1997.

The Golden Pot and Other Tales      RC 47927

by E.T.A. Hoffmann

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

Five stories written between 1814 and 1822 when the German Romantic author died. Each tale explores different relations between reality and fantasy. Ritchie Robertson provides the literary context of these tales in his introductory essay. 1992.

Tidings of Comfort and Joy      RC 48425

by T. Davis Bunn

read by Mimi Bederman

1 cassette

It was supposed to be a wonderful Christmas in Hawaii for fourteen-year-old Marissa and her family. But she has come down with a mysterious illness and must spend the holiday with Gran. As they come to terms with the change in their plans, Gran tells Marissa about a Christmas many years before. 1997.

The Smiling Country      RC 48506

by Elmer Kelton

read by Don Feldheim

2 cassettes

Texas, 1910. In this sequel to The Good Old Boys (RC 48505), Hewey Calloway settles down and, with his nephew Tommy, runs the Circle W ranch. Hewey is seriously injured trying to prove he can still break a horse. The mishap has one benefit, though; he gets reacquainted with an old girlfriend. 1998.

Complete Stories 1874-1884      RC 48593

by Henry James

read by Annie Wauters

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Nineteen short stories originally published in periodicals. Includes "Daisy Miller: A Study," in which an innocent young American tourist scandalizes Europeans by her behavior. In "The Siege of London" James continues his examination of social convention, describing a much-divorced American widow's determination to enter English high society. 1999.

The Magic Mountain      RC 48618

by Thomas Mann

read by Faith Potts

7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)

Recounts the formative years of young Hans Castorp, who travels to Davos, Switzerland, for a three-week visit with his cousin Joachim Ziemssen. Instead, Hans finds himself spending seven introspective years at the tuberculosis sanatorium. New translation of Der Zauberberg, published in 1924 by the 1929 Nobel Prize winner. 1924.

King Suckerman      RC 48674

by George P. Pelecanos

read by Chuck Young

2 cassettes

Washington, D.C., 1976. Marcus Clay owns a record store but helps his Vietnam War buddy, Dimitri Karras, deal drugs on the side. When a buy from a psychopath, Wilton Cooper, goes bad, the two flee with stolen money and Cooper's girlfriend. A showdown occurs during the city's bicentennial celebration. Strong language and violence. 1997.

In a Land of Plenty      RC 48695

by Tim Pears

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

A family saga of more than forty years. After their wedding in 1952, Charles and Mary Freeman move into Hillmorton Manor in the heart of England. Their home soon fills with four children, a nanny, servants, and an occasional relative. Generations advance, and the configuration of people changes. Then tragedy strikes. Strong language. 1997.

Wives of the Fishermen      RC 48713

by Angela Huth

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

3 cassettes

Friends Myrtle Duns and Annie Mcleoud have continued to be close since childhood despite their different personalities. Over the years their relationship is tried by jealousy and resentment but still survives. Then Myrtle's husband dies in a fishing accident, and their friendship begins to unravel. 1998.

A Wizard in Chaos: The Rogue Wizard, Book 5      RC 48804

by Christopher Stasheff

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

As Magnus D'Armand (Gar Pike) and Dirk Dulaine continue their quest of bringing justice to oppressed people, they visit a planet that has no central government. The planet has developed into a primitive feudal system in which landowners war against each other. Sequel to A Wizard in Peace (RC 48803). 1997.

The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway      RC 48939

by Ernest Hemingway

read by David Hartley-Margolin

5 cassettes (Reissue)

This edition contains forty-nine stories that first appeared in a 1938 collection plus twenty-one works written after Hemingway moved to Finca Vigia in Cuba. Includes "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," "In Another Country," and "The Strange Country." 1987.

Murder Shoots the Bull: A Southern Sisters Mystery      RC 49043

by Anne George

read by Cyn Delafield

2 cassettes

Petite Patricia Anne Hollowell and her plus-size sister, Mary Alice Crane, are thinking about getting involved in an investment club with neighbor Mitzi Phizer, when Mitzi's husband is accused of murdering his first wife. Of course the sisters feel they must help. And their own families create problems too. 1999.

Men beyond the Law: A Western Trio      RC 49047

by Max Brand

read by Phil Regensdorf

2 cassettes

A collection of three western stories originally published in the 1920s. "The Werewolf" has a spiritual element; "The Finding of Jeremy" deals with a young New Yorker seeking his fortune in the West; and "The Trail Up Old Arrowhead: A Bull Hunter Story" tells about a gentle giant of a man. 1997.

For Whom the Bell Tolls      RC 49108

by Ernest Hemingway

read by Lindsay Ellison

4 cassettes (Reissue)

American Robert Jordan has joined the Republicans fighting against the Fascists during the Spanish civil war. He is on a mission to destroy a strategically located bridge with the help of a band of guerillas. At their camp he falls in love with Maria, a young torture victim. Some violence. 1940.

All This, and Heaven Too      RC 49226

by Rachel Field

read by Lindsay Ellison

4 cassettes

Mademoiselle Henriette Desportes is serving as governess to the younger children of the Duc and Duchesse de Praslin in France. But in 1847 a tragedy occurs, putting her on trial for murder. When acquitted, Henriette travels to America, marries, and becomes known for her salon at Gramercy Park. Fictional account of the author's great-aunt. 1938.

The Broken Hearts Club      RC 49227

by Ethan Black

read by Buzz Luttrell

2 cassettes

Psychologist Ian Bainbridge is horrified when a member of his support group for men with broken hearts murders a former sweetheart. Meanwhile, the recently jilted NYPD cop who is investigating the murder suspects that his ex-girlfriend is the killer's next target. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1999.

The Fugitive Trail      RC 49230

by Zane Grey

read by Don Feldheim

2 cassettes

Falsely accused of robbing a bank, Bruce Lockheart takes to the trail with his lover, pursued by a relentless Texas Ranger. Even as Lockheart keeps his faith in justice being done, he must foreswear his oath never to kill a lawman. Some strong language. 1957.

Motherless Brooklyn      RC 49231

by Jonathan Lethem

read by Jeremy Gage

3 cassettes

Lionel Essrog, a small-time Brooklyn thug with Tourette's syndrome, seeks revenge for the murder of his boss, Frank Minna. Years ago Minna took the orphaned Essrog under his wing. Essrog now investigates a Zen temple and two aging Mafia chieftains as possible links to Minna's death. Violence and strong language. 1999.

A Fold in the Tent of the Sky      RC 49255

by Michael Hale

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes

Peter Abbott abandons his stage career to join Calliope Associates, a group of gifted psychics that does secret work for the government. When a series of mishaps befalls several Calliope members, Abbott uses time travel to alter the past but inadvertently changes the course of the world. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1998.

Lost in Translation      RC 49282

by Nicole Mones

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Alice Mannegan, the thirty-six-year-old daughter of a racist politician, flees to China, where she works as an archaeologist's translator. While on an expedition, Alice falls in love with Professor Lin Shiyang, but their private demons fetter the couple's relationship. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

Riptide      RC 49287

by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

For three hundred years a deepwater cache of pirate treasure lying off the coast of Maine has defied repeated recovery attempts. Now a modern team of high-tech explorers sets out to defeat the booby-trapped fortress that surrounds the sunken fortune. Some strong language. 1998.

Living on the Edge: Fiction by Peace Corps Writers      RC 49291

edited by John Coyne

read by Jeff Baker

3 cassettes

Stories by seventeen authors who lived in cultures ranging from the Caribbean islands to Latin America, Africa, and Asia. They portray Americans abroad, host country nationals' reactions to Americans, and volunteers' experiences living in remote societies with different customs. 1999.

Mandingo      RC 49298

by Kyle Onstott

read by Robert Sams

6 cassettes (Reissue)

Warren Maxwell and his son Hammond live on an Alabama plantation where raising and selling slaves is more profitable than cotton. Hammond's alcoholic wife seeks revenge against her unfaithful husband by seducing a handsome Mandingo slave. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1958.

Cold Hit      RC 49301

by Linda Fairstein

read by Faith Potts

2 cassettes

When the corpse of art gallery owner Denise Caxton is found in the Hudson River, New York assistant DA Alexandra Cooper of Final Jeopardy (RC 42441) teams up with detectives Chapman and Wallace to determine if Caxton's death was connected with the art world. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1999.

The Last Life      RC 49303

by Claire Messud

read by Michele Schaeffer

3 cassettes

Sagesse LaBasse, fifteen, lives in France where her exiled Algerian family owns a hotel. One night her grandfather loses control and shoots at a group of boisterous teenagers. The family, which also includes her handicapped brother, American mother, and harried father, slowly disintegrates. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1999.

Prize Stories 1998: The O. Henry Awards      RC 49332

edited by Larry Dark

read by Kimberly Schraf

4 cassettes

Twenty stories "full of life, death, love, humor, passion, hubris, blood, guts, dirt, God, war, mystery, fear, and longing." In "Boot" a Marine Corps recruit must make a profound ethical choice that will change his life forever. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1998.

The Quiet Game      RC 49340

by Greg Iles

read by Don Feldheim

4 cassettes

Widowed Houston prosecutor turned author Penn Cage returns to his Natchez, Mississippi, hometown. After stirring up trouble by commenting about an unsolved 1968 bombing of a black man, he discovers a personal reason to solve the old case. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

Hitler's Niece      RC 49344

by Ron Hansen

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

A story depicting Adolph Hitler during his rise to power, but concentrating on his unhealthy affection for his niece, Geli Raubal, who at age twenty-three is found dead in Hitler's apartment. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1999.

The Land That Time Forgot      RC 49346

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

read by Constance Crawford

3 cassettes

Three novellas including the title story as well as The People That Time Forgot and Out of Time's Abyss. Bowen Tyler Jr., with his shipmates, girl, and dog, lands on the island Caspak where time apparently stopped with the Bronze Age. There they encounter terrible animals and various orders of humans. 1924.

Cache Cañon: A Western Story      RC 49349

by Lauran Paine

read by Dan Bloom

2 cassettes

Life in Constable Charley Bent's quiet town suddenly changes because of events in a nearby cañon. Stories of hidden gold and stealthy Indians take on new meaning when three mysterious strangers arrive with surveying equipment. Then crimes begin to occur and Charley investigates. 1998.

The Meeting Place      RC 49353

by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn

read by Anne Hancock

2 cassettes

In 1753, English Catherine Price and French Louise Belleveau from neighboring colonies in Acadia meet one day in a meadow while gathering flowers for each young woman's upcoming wedding. Their friendship grows despite language differences and the prospect of war looming over the colonies. 1999.

Cecil in Space      RC 49364

by Sid Hite

read by Dan Bloom

1 cassette

Cecil Rowe, seventeen, lives in a one-horse town and has just flunked his driver's test. Worse yet, his best friend Isaac is accused of defacing the courthouse sign. Cecil has a crush on the local beauty queen and doesn't realize that Isaac's sister, Isabel, is the girl for him. For senior high readers. 1999.

Keeping the Moon      RC 49367

by Sarah Dessen

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

When Colie's overweight mother, Kiki Sparks, became a fitness guru, Colie shed her excess weight too. But taunting classmates continue to shatter Colie's self-esteem, so she spends her fifteenth summer with her odd Aunt Mira and makes her first real friends. For junior and senior high readers. Some strong language. 1999.

The Pied Piper      RC 49470

by Ridley Pearson

read by Ray Foushee

3 cassettes

Seattle detective Lou Boldt and psychologist Daphne Matthews of Beyond Recognition (RC 47587) team up to track down a serial infant kidnapper. But someone on the task force is leaking information, and Boldt's own daughter is added to the list of victims. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

Above the Law      RC 49515

by J.F. Freedman

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

Attorney Luke Garrison, last seen in The Disappearance (RC 49015), becomes a special prosecutor for former classmate Nora Ray--now a district attorney investigating a foul-up by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Digging into the case, he finds numerous sordid secrets among the northern Californians. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

City of God      RC 49517

by E.L. Doctorow

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Ruminations on finding faith in New York City lead an aspiring novelist to focus on the mysterious theft of a brass cross from a church and its use in the desecration of a synagogue. Others, including the concerned rector and rabbi, contribute to the author's jottings. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

Moonspun Magic: Magic Trilogy, Volume 3      RC 49521

by Catherine Coulter

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Cornwall, 1813. Captain Rafael Carstairs of (Calypso Magic (RC 49520) returns home and immediately finds himself rescuing Victoria Abermarle, a young woman fleeing the advances of his rapacious twin brother. Rafael takes Victoria to London for safe keeping and ends up falling in love. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1988.

The Undiscovered Chekhov: Thirty-Eight New Stories      RC 49564

by Anton Chekhov

read by David Hartley-Margolin

1 cassette

Representative pieces originally published in Russian magazines between 1880 and 1887, after Chekhov began writing in his twenties. "On the Train" describes the hazards of travel, the odd assortment of characters sharing one compartment, the corrupt conductors, and the train's poor condition--all recounted with good humor. 1998.

Mystery Midrash: An Anthology of Jewish Mystery and Detective Fiction      RC 49571

edited by Lawrence W. Raphael

read by Pam Ward

3 cassettes

Thirteen short stories with Jewish protagonists and/or issues from authors such as Faye Kellerman, Stuart Kaminsky, Toni Brill, Richard Fliegel, and others. Some violence. 1999.

A Star Called Henry: The Last Roundup, Volume 1      RC 49579

by Roddy Doyle

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Henry Smart knows he is not the first Henry. His older brother died in infancy, and his mother believes a star in the sky is her first Henry. But regardless of his beginnings, Henry becomes a street-smart kid and an active participant in Ireland's 1916 Easter Uprising. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 1999.

Dragonslayer's Return: Spearwielder's Tale, Volume 3      RC 49590

by R.A. Salvatore

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Gary Leger returned to Earth from Faerie several years ago and married Diane. But when his father dies, Gary longs to return to the land of Faerie with his wife. And the sprites of Faerie long for his return as war looms on the horizon. Sequel to The Dragon's Dagger (RC 40621). 1995.

Blackmantle: A Triumph; a Book of the Keltiad      RC 49594

by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison

read by George Holmes

4 cassettes

Orphaned at birth, Athlyn--known to all as Blackmantle--grows up to become queen. But she must risk all to retrieve her beloved Morric, poisoned by a vengeful former love Amzalsunëa. Sequel to The Throne of Scone...(RC 41301). 1997.

Colonization: Second Contact      RC 49668

by Harry Turtledove

read by Roy Avers

5 cassettes

In the aftermath of conquering most of Earth, Atvar--the leader of the alien Lizard race--awaits the arrival of the nonmilitary colonists. But the humans continue their resistance and take the struggle into space. Companion to the Worldwar series. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

The Geezer Factory Murders      RC 49669

by Corinne Holt Sawyer

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Things are looking up for retirement home Camden-sur-Mer when tenants begin transferring there from the competition, newly built Golden Years. But the murder of a recent arrival brings bad publicity and another mystery to solve for resident amateur sleuths Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate. 1996.

Where She Has Gone      RC 49672

by Nino Ricci

read by Peter Gil

2 cassettes

In this sequel to In a Glass House (RC 42929), Italian-born Victor's desire to renew ties with his half-sister Rita in Toronto results in emotional complications. When they accidentally meet in their mother's village in Italy, Victor probes their connection without reaching resolution. Some descriptions of sex. 1997.

Children of God      RC 49683

by Mary Doria Russell

read by Rick Rohan

4 cassettes

The sole survivor of the original mission to Rakhat, Father Emilio Sandoz is still recovering from the brutality he suffered and is reluctant to return. When he arrives in 2060, he learns his former torturer is now in power. Sequel to The Sparrow (RC 43892). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

My Year of Meats      RC 49685

by Ruth L. Ozeki

read by Nanette Savard

3 cassettes

American filmmaker Jane Takagi-Little shoots a Japanese television series featuring American wives preparing meat dishes until she angers producers by delving into controversial subject matter. Meanwhile the wife of the show's executive is inspired by the series, but her anorexia-induced infertility angers her abusive husband. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

Empires of Sand      RC 49688

by David Ball

read by Ted Stoddard

6 cassettes

Nineteenth-century adventurer Count Henri DeVries returns with a Saharan Tuareg wife to France, where their son, Moussa, becomes best friends with his cousin, Paul. Years later, after the DeVries have been driven back to Africa, the formerly close cousins are put at odds when French forces invade the Sahara. Some violence. 1999.

Tune In Anytime      RC 49695

by Caroline B. Cooney

read by Nanette Savard

1 cassette

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Olivette feels as if she is living in a soap opera when her father comes home with her sister's college roommate and announces that they are getting married. Her self-absorbed mom is of little help, so Sophie seeks solace with the stolid family of a classmate. For senior high readers. 1999.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason      RC 49739

by Helen Fielding

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

2 cassettes

More broad satire of the London singles scene in this sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary (RC 46267). When her affair with Mark Darcy takes a bad turn, Bridget begins a disastrous renovation of her flat and ends up in prison during her vacation in Thailand. Strong language. Bestseller 1999.

Strange Attractors: The Chaos Chronicles, Volume 2      RC 49762

by Jeffrey A. Carver

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

In Neptune Crossing (RC 39793), John Bandicut saved the Earth from a comet but lost his alien friend, Charlie, in the process. Now John awakens to find himself stranded in an artificial structure, Shipworld, with two humanoids and a new alien friend, IK, who wants John for a new mission. 1995.

The Infinite Sea: The Chaos Chronicles, Volume 3      RC 49763

by Jeffrey A. Carver

read by Christopher Walker

3 cassettes

Following the events in Strange Attractors (RC 49762), John Bandicut's next confrontation with chaos takes place underwater. Joined by his robot and alien friends, John finds himself helping the Neri, a species of humanoid amphibians whose existence is threatened by an evil force. 1996.

A Prize for Princes      RC 49773

by Rex Stout

read by David Elias

2 cassettes

American Richard Stetton rescues Aline Solini, a beautiful but evil woman, from a convent in a Balkan town that is overrun by conquering Turks in 1914. As Stetton falls in love with her, Aline tries to murder her Russian husband, who later pursues her relentlessly. First published as a serial. Some violence. 1994.

A Scientific Romance      RC 49795

by Ronald Wright

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

London, 1999. Industrial archaeologist David Lambert happens upon the reappearance of H.G. Wells's time machine. He boards the device and leaps five hundred years into the future, where he becomes a fugitive in a wild, desolate England and manages to unravel his own past. Some violence and some strong language. 1997.

Death of a Colonial: A Sir John Fielding Mystery      RC 49796

by Bruce Alexander

read by George Holmes

2 cassettes

England, 1771. Blind judge Sir John Fielding and his ward Jeremy Proctor investigate a young man's claim to the Paltrow family estate. The claimant has just returned after eight years in the North American colonies and his identity is in doubt, and the

Crown covets the disputed prize. 1999.

Days of Cain      RC 49798

by J.R. Dunn

read by John Stratton

3 cassettes

In the future when time travel is possible, time monitor Gaspar James, from planet Arpad, must prevent anyone from altering the past and thus disrupting the continuum of life. When his student, renegade Alma Lewin, travels back to 1943 to liberate Nazi death camps, James intervenes. Violence. 1997.

Blood Money: Agent Peter Ashton      RC 49807

by Clive Egleton

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

When British Secret Intelligence Service rogue operative Peter Ashton's wife and colleague, Harriet, discovers three dead agents in a safe house, Ashton feels obligated to find the killers. His investigation leads to Russians, Cubans, Muslims, and a showdown in Virginia. Some violence and some strong language. 1997.

Sappho: The Tenth Muse      RC 49809

by Nancy Freedman

read by Barbara Caruso

3 cassettes

Fictionalized life story of the sixth-century B.C. Greek poet from the island of Lesbos. Widowed after a brief marriage, she founded an academy for young women, whom she praised in her lyric poems. But it is her love for a young sailor that determines her fate. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

Tickled to Death: A Claire Malloy Mystery      RC 49814

by Joan Hess

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

Bookstore owner Claire Malloy is shocked that her friend Luanne is having an affair with a man the sheriff suspects killed two wives. Because of Claire's previous success as an amateur sleuth, Luanne asks her to come to her lover's weekend lake-front home to try to clear his name. 1994.

A Boy in Winter      RC 49832

by Maxine Chernoff

read by Mary Kane

1 cassette

A divorced mother is having an affair with her unhappily married neighbor when their two sons are involved in a tragic accident. When one of the boys kills the other with a crossbow, the survivors struggle to recover from the event. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

Six Moon Dance      RC 49833

by Sheri S. Tepper

read by Anne Flosnik

3 cassettes

On the imperiled planet Newholme, where men outnumber women two to one, the youthful consort Mouche plays a key role in recovering secrets from the past. When the six moons are in alignment, mysterious forces come into play. Some strong language. 1998.

Threshold      RC 49835

by Bill Myers

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Indiana blue-collar worker Brandon Martus is struggling to get past his grief over the deaths of his father and sister after an auto accident in which Brandon was the driver. Brandon's newfound prescience is dismissed as guilt over the tragedy, until a neurobiologist discovers paranormal causes. 1997.

Waiting in Vain      RC 49840

by Colin Channer

read by Samarra Mbenga

3 cassettes

Jamaican writer Adrian "Fire" Heath first meets editor Sylvia Lucas on the streets of New York and later she turns up at his friend's party. The two resist their growing love for each other as Fire travels to England and Sylvia dates another. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

Don't Let Me Die!      RC 49843

by Lindsay Caldwell

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

After an automobile accident, high school student Lucy St. Cloud struggles with the realization that she may never walk again. Then she is jilted by her boyfriend and subjected to painful rehabilitation therapy, but finds diversion in chatting with someone she met online. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 1998.

The Walking Tour      RC 49854

by Kathryn Davis

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

Two business partners, Bobby Rose and Coleman Snow, and their wives, Carole Ridingham and Ruth Farr, join a walking tour in Wales. A tragedy ensues, and for years Bobby and Carole's daughter Susan pieces together clues from the subsequent trial and other sources. Some strong language. 1999.

These Demented Lands      RC 49862

by Alan Warner

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

In this sequel to Morvern Callar (RC 45809) the spunky Morvern meets an air-crash investigator at an obscure and forbidding honeymoon hotel. The two join forces to deal with a series of outlandish characters, one of whom is organizing "the big one," an unprecedented rave on a remote airstrip. Some strong language. 1997.

Deadville      RC 49863

by Robert F. Jones

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

In 1833, brothers Dillon and Owen Griffith head west with a Shawnee scout to hunt beaver. Attacked by one group of Indians and rescued by another led by part African American war chief James Pierson Beckwourth, Dill and Owen find their troubles only beginning. Violence and some strong language. 1998.

Triage      RC 49887

by Scott Anderson

read by Chris Parente

2 cassettes

War correspondent Mark Walsh, wounded and traumatized in Kurdistan, returns home to New York. As his condition worsens, the grandfather of Mark's girlfriend assists his recovery with a "purifying" technique found useful in treating Franco's fascists during the Spanish Civil War. Rehabilitation leads to family reconciliation. Violence and some strong language. 1998.

The Sunbird      RC 49899

by Wilbur Smith

read by Randy Wieck

4 cassettes (Reissue)

Archaeologist Benjamin Kazin, his assistant Sally Benator, and their financier Louren Sturvesant venture to Botswana to uncover the ancient Carthaginian city of Opet. After becoming infected by a virus at the site, Sturvesant dies and Kazin falls into a coma wherein he relives the final days of the ancient civilization. Violence. 1972.

New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, 1999      RC 49909

edited by Shannon Ravenel

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Twenty stories on various themes that give insight into the culture of the American south. In "Borrowed Hearts" a retiree is beset by the sudden loss of his olfactory sense. His dreams, which are redolent of a haunting past experience, vanish after he is cured. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

Loose Lips      RC 49910

by Rita Mae Brown

read by Ann Hodapp

3 cassettes

Sisters Julia Ellen and Louise Hunsenmeir of Runnymede, Maryland, are always fighting. On April 7, 1941, they have a brawl that causes almost four hundred dollars' worth of damage to Cadwalder's drugstore. To help pay for the repairs, the two women open a beauty salon that becomes "Gossip Central." Some strong language. 1999.

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2      RC 49913

by George R.R. Martin

read by Roy Avers

6 cassettes

In this sequel to A Game of Thrones (RC 45742) a state of hostility prevails as six contenders vie for dominance over the kingdom following the death of Lord Eddard Stark. Families are torn asunder in relentless internecine combat over the throne. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

The Shadow Portrait: The House of Winslow, Book 21      RC 49918

by Gilbert Morris

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

In this sequel to The Silver Star (RC 45106), cousins Peter and Phil Winslow are in New York City. Phil, an aspiring artist, meets the reclusive Cara Lanier, also a painter. Peter, meanwhile, gets involved in auto racing and joins society's "fast set." An accident brings them all closer together. 1998.

The Dawning of the Day: Lovers Trilogy, Volume 1      RC 49921

by Elisabeth Ogilvie

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Widow Philippa Marshall has great expectations when she comes to Bennett's Island, Maine, to teach at the one-room school. But she is not prepared for the growing rivalry between the island's influential families, the reasons behind school truancy, or her feelings for Steve Bennett. Prequel to The Seasons Hereafter (RC 49922). 1954.

Stolen Gold: A Western Trio      RC 49975

by Max Brand

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Three short novels of the American west, written in the 1920s. In "Sheriff Larrabee's Prisoner," saddle tramp Jack Montagne is framed for the murder of an old miser. Montagne is pursued and captured by Larrabee's posse, but the sheriff's daughter decides to find the real killer. Some violence. 1999.

Spiderweb      RC 49976

by Penelope Lively

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

Retired social anthropologist Stella Brentwood moves to western rural England near her old school chums. Stella has lived all over the world and observed many different societies in her line of work. But once in the country, she finds it difficult to adjust--especially with a dangerous, dysfunctional family next door. 1998.

To Find a Place: Western Stories      RC 49977

by Robert Easton

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Twelve adventure stories of the American west. In "Quick and the Cat" a bounty hunter of mountain lions sets out to rid the territory of the dreaded cats. After killing a litter of kittens in their den, the hunter meets with misfortune and himself becomes the prey. Some strong language. 1999.

Until Day Breaks: A Saga of Texas, Book 1      RC 49995

by Will Cook

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

1870s. Although Tracy Cameron is a career army officer, he believes in peace more than war--especially in north Texas, with the Comanche. Backers in Washington, D.C., support Cameron, but General Sherman has other ideas. Original version of the novel for the 1961 movie Two Rode Together. 1999.

The Unexpected Guest      RC 50003

by Agatha Christie and Charles Osborne

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

On entering a country house to seek help with a car problem, Michael Starkwedder finds a corpse in a wheelchair and a woman with a gun in her hand. Although the woman, Laura Warwick, claims to have shot her husband, Michael does not immediately call the police. Adapted from the 1958 play. 1999.

Don't Look and It Won't Hurt      RC 50004

by Richard Peck

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

Carol Peterson, middle daughter of a single mother, gets the responsibilities while her older sister enjoys freedom and popularity. But Carol's difficulties also mature her so she is better able to help and understand her family. Basis for the movie Gas Food Lodging. For junior and senior high readers. 1972

The Dragon Can't Dance      RC 50053

by Earl Lovelace

read by John Stratton

2 cassettes

As carnival time approaches, residents of Calvary Hill, a shantytown in Trinidad, begin making preparations. Miss Cleothilda knows she will retain her position as queen, and Aldrick Prospect will once again be king. But other things are changing: outsiders are encroaching and the inhabitants are losing their former rebellious spirit. Strong language. 1979.

Tarzan of the Apes      RC 50056

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes

Lord and Lady Greystoke are cast ashore on the African coast after a shipboard mutiny. They later die in the jungle, but their infant son survives (nursed by a family of great apes) to become Tarzan. Originally published as a novel; subsequently became the first in the series. 1914.

Empress of the Splendid Season      RC 50057

by Oscar Hijuelos

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

The dreams and setbacks of a Cuban American family in New York City. Raul pledges to provide for Lydia, his bride and empress of the splendid season of love. But when heart disease incapacitates Raul, highborn Lydia must support the family as a cleaning woman. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

My Century      RC 50065

by Günter Grass

read by Robert Blumenfeld

2 cassettes

Günter Grass, the 1999 winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, chronicles his own and Germany's centennium through one hundred short stories, one for each year of the twentieth century. For 1989 Grass recalls a parent-teacher association's concern about a schoolteacher's "obsession with the past." 1999.

Interpreter of Maladies: Stories      RC 50087

by Jhumpa Lahiri

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

Nine tales of brief encounters with lasting effects, set in India and America. Each emphasizes cultural transition and loss. In the title piece, while American-born Mr. and Mrs. Das and their three young children are tourists in India, Mrs. Das confides a disquieting secret to their guide. Pulitzer Prize. Bestseller 1999.

The Empty Chair      RC 50088

by Jeffery Deaver

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme is in North Carolina for experimental surgery, when he and his colleague Amelia Sachs are recruited for a local case. An odd teen nicknamed Insect Boy has killed a youth and kidnapped two young women, and the cops can't find him. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2000.

Anil's Ghost      RC 50089

by Michael Ondaatje

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

Representing the Centre for Human Rights, Anil Tissera, a forensic pathologist, arrives in Sri Lanka, her birthplace, to investigate reports of political mass murders. Her task is complicated by uncertainty over the trustworthiness of her government-appointed counterpart, Sarath Diyasena, an archaeologist. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

The Run      RC 50093

by Stuart Woods

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Vice President Joe Adams suffers secretly from Alzheimer's disease when the president is incapacitated by a stroke. Georgia senator Will Lee, last seen in Grass Roots (RC 37797), sets his sights on the White House. Then scandals and blackmail surface. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

Young Wives      RC 50095

by Olivia Goldsmith

read by Annie Wauters

4 cassettes

Two friends, Jada and Michelle, lean on each other when both their marriages take frightening turns. They find additional support in recently wed Angela, an attorney who herself is reeling from a nasty marital surprise. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

The Shanghai Murders: of Love and Ivory      RC 50104

by David Rotenberg

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Shanghai police inspector Zhong Fong investigates the murder of an American policeman with the help of the slain officer's widow. Meanwhile, Fong fights his own demons when his late wife's foreign lover returns to the city. Then an African diplomat is killed. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1998.

Head over Heels      RC 50106

by Stephanie Mittman

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

Abrasive radio personality Harris Tweed announces his suspicions that the Reverend Phil Springfield siphoned church scholarship money. Driving to confront Tweed, the pastor crashes and dies. As he anonymously helps Springfield's young widow and her foster children, Tweed falls in love. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

The Best American Short Stories, 1999: Selected from U.S. and Canadian Magazines      RC 50108

edited by Amy Tan

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

In her introduction, guest editor Tan indicates she chose these twenty-one stories because they have a strong narrative voice, elements of fairy tales and the grotesque, and an exotic flavor. Includes selections by Rick Bass, Tim Gautreaux, Ha Jin, Lorrie Moore, and Annie Proulx. Some violence and some strong language. 1999.

Pride of Tyson      RC 50112

by Max Brand

read by Randy Davidson

2 cassettes

Hoping to draw New York socialite Margaret Tyson into his life, dam builder Ed Garth convinces her beloved brother Henry that working for him out west for a while will make him a man and improve his boxing. Henry thrives until he learns Ed's real motive. Some violence and some strong language. 1920.

Tomorrow's Promise      RC 50121

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

1 cassette

Nineteen-year-old Anne Ordway, shocked and disillusioned when her parents divorce, retreats to Maryland's Eastern Shore with her nurse and companion, Vicky. But she has already met Charles Patterson, also divorced, and cannot forget him. 1938.

Mistress Anne      RC 50123

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

In rural Maryland just after the First World War, Anne Warfield, a young school teacher, becomes infatuated with a doctor who returns to the area with his mother. But Richard Brooks and his wealthy New York crowd seem to belong to another class altogether. 1917.

Roc and a Hard Place      RC 50124

by Piers Anthony

read by Sharon Murray

3 cassettes

Demoness Metria has a problem that only the good magician Humfrey can help her solve. But before Humfrey will help her, she must gather together a group of people to serve as jurors in the trial of Roxanne Roc, a bird charged with an improbable offense. 1995.

Voyage: A Novel of 1896      RC 50128

by Sterling Hayden

read by Roy Avers

5 cassettes (Reissue)

The eventful story of Captain Pendleton's ill-starred voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco on the windjammer "Neptune's Car." A shipping magnate's pampered daughter looks on as the maltreated, overworked crew is driven to mutiny. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 1976.

The Dim Lantern      RC 50131

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Lively twenty-year-old Jane Barnes keeps house for her brother Baldwin in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. When Baldwin and wealthy Edith Towne fall in love, Edith's uncle Frederick pursues Jane. But Jane is drawn to neighbor Evans Follette, a depressed World War I veteran. 1923.

The Sacking of El Dorado      RC 50132

by Max Brand

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Collection of seven lively stories. Includes "Bad Eye: His Life and Letters," in which a Nevada bartender is forced to kill an obnoxious tenderfoot called Bad Eye. When a woman from the East comes looking for the dead man, the saloon owner and the bartender close ranks. Some violence and some strong language. 1920.

Her Son's Wife      RC 50135

by Dorothy Canfield

read by Terry Hayes Sales

2 cassettes

Mrs. Bascomb has lived alone for several years when her son writes that he is bringing his new wife home--to his mother's house. Mrs. Bascomb's peaceful life is soon shattered, as she tries to accept (and control) a woman who is not her idea of the right one for her son. 1926.

The Winds of Chance      RC 50136

by Rex Beach

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

When Pierce Phillips arrives in the Yukon, he finds gold and adventure, as well as many women who are drawn to his charm. One rescues him after he is wrongly accused of stealing, another offers him a "better" job, and a third will win his heart. 1918.

Wickford Point      RC 50137

by John P. Marquand

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes (Reissue)

A chronicle of everyday life in the old Brill homestead at Wickford Point, north of Boston. The stories of the members of this self-satisfied family are told by a cousin, Jim Calder, who is loyal but determined to remain outside the circle of their smothering interdependence. 1939.

Paint Me Rainbows      RC 50139

by Fern Michaels

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

After Jill Barton is left standing at the altar, she gets in her car and heads north, ending up at an artists' colony in New England. There she meets Aggie Beaumont, who helps her heal, and Logan Matthews, the owner, who steals her heart. Some descriptions of sex. 1981.

Red Devil of the Range      RC 50141

by Max Brand

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Because he has to have the big-chested stallion at any cost, Ever Winton--the only man who can ride the wild mustang Red Pacer--makes a bargain with a notorious gunman. Some violence and some strong language. 1934.

The Real Motive      RC 50144

by Dorothy Canfield

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Collection of fourteen short stories also includes three poems by Sarah N. Cleghorn. In "The Sick Physician," a newly widowed young Polish woman in an American village surprises her neighbors with her talent for singing. She transforms their lives with lessons, and appears to have moved past her own heartbreak. 1916.

Rough-Hewn      RC 50145

by Dorothy Canfield

read by Mitzi Friedlander

4 cassettes

Europe, 1909. Neale Crittenden was raised in New Jersey and led a conventional life until he was jilted and decided to travel. When he meets American Marise Allen, who has lived many years in France, they discover they each have relatives in Vermont. The two soon fall in love. 1922.

The Dark Star      RC 50151

by Robert W. Chambers

read by Janis Gray

3 cassettes

As a child, Rue Carew played with an odd chest left in her missionary father's care by a German who was killed. Later, studying art in Paris, Rue's friendship with a Russian princess makes her realize the importance of the chest's contents, and she asks a mutual friend to retrieve it. 1917.

Heart of the Sunset  &