NLS: Talking Book Topics

by E. Barrie Kavasch and Karen Baar

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

History and uses of Native American healing practices. Examines major stages of an individual's life from different tribal perspectives. Describes rituals and the herbs, fungi, and other materials used for rites of passage, illness prevention, and healing. Contains more than sixty easy-to-prepare American Indian-inspired recipes. 1999.

by Robert V. Hine and John Mack Faragher

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

In this updated version of The American West: An Interpretive History (RC 23190), the authors extend their research to include further material on Native Americans, women, and the environment, as well as the development of Silicon Valley. Reevaluates many of the myths and assumptions about the West. 2000.

by J.W. Schultz

read by Chuck Benson

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Autobiography of a trader and rancher who married a Piegan woman and moved to the Blackfeet reservation in 1886. He recalls his adventures in the Montana Territory, where he learned the customs, language, and traditions of his wife's people--participating in buffalo hunts and enjoying the wilderness. 1907.

by Gregory A. Freeman

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Using FBI case notes, newspaper articles, and court documents, a journalist recalls the practice of peonage. Asserts that such "debt bondage," forcing African American men into indefinite servitude, was widespread in the South. Details the 1921 case of a Georgia plantation owner and his overseer accused of killing their farm laborers. 1999.

by Wendy Northcutt

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Compilation of bizarre anecdotes from a popular Internet site commemorating individuals whose actions have lethal personal consequences, thereby removing them from the gene pool. Award-winners include tourists who locked themselves out of their car in a tiger grotto and a terrorist who opened his returned letter bomb. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by Ian Kershaw

read by Roy Avers

6 cassettes

Evaluates the conditions that facilitated the relatively unknown Adolf Hitler's rise to power in German society during the post-World War I era. Investigates the originating motives, adroit manipulations, and sheer luck that led from Hitler's early successes to the creation of an aggressive superpower. Prequel to Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis (RC 51684). Violence. 1998.

by Neil Hanson

read by David Cutler

2 cassettes

Drawing from newspaper accounts and court proceedings, a journalist depicts the 1884 Mignonette journey and the ensuing case in English court that made cannibalism a felony. Shipwrecked and wandering the seas in a lifeboat without food and water for several days, the crew killed and ate its youngest member. Some violence. 1999.

edited by A.J. Russell

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A book of daily Christian inspirations and devotions compiled by two women who chose to remain anonymous and who maintained that the messages were channeled through them by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 1933.

by Salima Ikram and Aidan Dodson

read by Madelyn Buzzard

4 cassettes

Examines funerary beliefs and customs through three thousand years of Egyptian history. Discusses what is known about mummies, from preservation of the body to modern DNA tests. Covers immediate appurtenances, including adornments, amulets, and jewelry, as well as containers for bodies and body parts, such as coffins, sarcophagi, and canopic jars. 1998.

by Hannah Green

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

An American writer describes her spiritual awakening in Conques, a village in southern France, where the remains of a fourth-century martyr, twelve-year-old Sainte Foy, are venerated. Green intermingles history, biography, spiritual meditation, and personal experience to describe the life and times of the girl who is the village's patron saint. 2000.

by David Levering Lewis

read by Jake Williams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Lewis narrates the story of Du Bois's life between 1919 and 1963. Analyzes the competing racial, political, and cultural ideologies of the time and explains the interplay among events, Du Bois's writings, and his fight for equality and justice for African Americans. Sequel to W.E.B. Du Bois: Biography of a Race, 1868-1919 (RC 40267). 2000.

by John Aloysius Farrell

read by Robert Sams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

The life and times of politician Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill (1912-1994), whose career spanned fifty years and culminated in five terms as Speaker of the House. Describes O'Neill's family history as well as the changing fortunes of the Democratic party during the course of the twentieth century. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Laura Hillenbrand

read by Annie Wauters

3 cassettes

Recounts the rise of an "undersized, crooked-legged" thoroughbred horse that in 1938 was the year's number one newsmaker over Franklin Roosevelt, Hitler, and Lou Gehrig. Hillenbrand tells Seabiscuit's story through the three men who made a true long shot into a winner: owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, and jockey Red Pollard. Bestseller 2001.

by Herbert Marder

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

Examines the last decade of the British writer's life--from 1930 until her suicide in 1941. Discusses Woolf's writing and her viewpoints in the context of social and political events of the times; explores her fascination with drowning and death. Includes excerpts from her diaries and letters. 2000.

by Richard D. Smith

read by Michael Scherer

3 cassettes

This biography of Bill Monroe (1911-1996) explores his musical genius and reveals his character flaws. Examines the long-running feud between Monroe and his former band members Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and discusses the debate about the origins of bluegrass and Monroe's place in the American music pantheon. 2000.

by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison

read by Kerry Cundiff

4 cassettes

Award-winning authors present more than three hundred recipes reflecting over four centuries of the culinary innovations and adaptations of immigrants and natives. The collection focuses on what's "flavorful, fun, and practical" and on the use of fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques. Includes appetizers, sandwiches, soups, meats, vegetables, grains, desserts, drinks, and cooking technique tips. 1999.

by Susan M. Love

read by Madelyn Buzzard

5 cassettes

Revised edition of RC 36430 discusses breast anatomy, variations in development, and common problems such as infections and lumpiness. The surgeon also discusses diagnostic tools, prediction and prevention of cancer (including the author's research on ductal lavage), treatment, and living with breast cancer. 2000.

edited by Richard Rhodes

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

A chronological presentation of texts about technological change, spanning the twentieth century, includes Henry Ford's concept for a horseless carriage, H.G. Wells's prediction of atomic bombs, Arthur C. Clarke's vision of geosynchrony, Murphy's Law, the silent spring of Rachel Carson, and E.F. Schumacher's reminder that small is beautiful. 1999.

by A.J. Langguth

read by Steven Carpenter

6 cassettes

Former war correspondent describes thirty years of U.S. and North Vietnam foreign relations politics. Compares presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford with their Communist counterparts and discusses events in the fighting field and in the capitals. Violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Bertrand Russell

read by Geoffrey Sherman

7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)

Nobel laureate examines philosophy as "an integral part of social and political life," from the rise of Greek civilization, through the era of Catholic dominance to the Renaissance, to the twentieth century and the emergence of modern philosophy. 1945.

by Francis Mark Mondimore

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

A guide to the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and causes of the psychiatric illness formerly known as manic depression. Discusses variations of the illness as manifest in youth and women; both traditional and nontraditional treatment options; advice for coping and handling emergencies; and other resources. 1999.

by Gerald Astor

read by Richard Hauenstein

4 cassettes

Accounts of World War II aerial battles mounted from Britain by the newly formed Eighth Air Force of the U.S. Army Air Corps against the German Luftwaffe. Based on diaries, journals, and letters of pilots, navigators, and crew members, including those of the P-51 Mustang fighter and the B-17 Flying Fortress. 1997.

by Marc Freedman

read by David Myers

3 cassettes

Discusses how extending life expectancy has produced an ever-increasing group of older Americans whose experiences and talents are untapped resources that could benefit society. Citing examples of people who continued working after their first retirement, the author describes existing and potential programs that can create opportunities for aging citizens. 1999.

by Robert N. Rosen

read by Roy Avers

4 cassettes

A history of the participation of southern Jews in the Confederate effort during the American Civil War. Rosen estimates that more than 2,000 Jews, comfortably assimilated in religiously tolerant southern society, went into battle under rebel colors. Presents numerous anecdotes and portraits of southern Jewish loyalists, some of whom even held slaves. 2000.

by Joel Brinkley and Steve Lohr

read by Randy Davidson

3 cassettes

Two New York Times reporters present consolidated two-year coverage of the antitrust case brought by the U.S. against Microsoft in 1998. They explore the government's claim that the software giant prodded computer companies to develop systems around its programs, and they provide background information on the attorneys, Microsoft, and the trial judge. 2001.

by Neil Howe and William Strauss

read by Gary Tipton

4 cassettes

Using statistics and testimonials, examines the generation of Americans born between 1982 and 2000. The authors argue that since birth the "millennials" have been spurred toward achievement at home and in school and that they are more culturally diverse, hardworking, and effective as community builders than any age group since the Second World War. 2000.

by Ira B. Black

read by Fred Major

3 cassettes

A neuroscientist and cell biologist chronicles a half century of research that led to a reexamination of the functioning and treatment of the brain. Employs a fictionalized account of a banker's battle with Alzheimer's disease to explain unfolding discoveries. Observes that environmental factors can cause the brain to grow and change. 2001.

by Seymour Martin Lipset and Gary Marks

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Two political sociologists explain the rejection of the socialist movement in the United States. Observing the emphasis on economic centralization in many democratic countries, they attribute its relative insignificance in America to the overall prosperity of the working class, the operations of the two-party system, and legal constraints. 2000.

by Herbert P. Bix

read by Lou Harpenau

5 cassettes

Explores Emperor Hirohito's role in twentieth-century Japanese politics and developments. Asserts that the monarch helped advance the country's nationalistic agenda. Argues that he actively participated in developing policies guiding the Asia-Pacific war, including the Pearl Harbor campaign and negotiations when Russia attacked Manchuria. National Book Critics Circle Award. 2000.

by James Bamford

read by Lou Harpenau

5 cassettes

In this sequel to The Puzzle Palace (RC 19096), the author pursues his investigation of the National Security Agency--"the largest, most secret, and most advanced spy organization on the planet." Bamford analyzes the agency's Vietnam and cold war activities, technological capabilities, and personnel, and argues the need for congressional oversight. Bestseller 2001.

by Bill Sammon

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Partisan analysis of the 2000 U.S. presidential election crisis when, for thirty-six days, the results of the race were contested by Democratic candidate Al Gore. Describes how the Gore campaign's efforts in Florida came to an end when George W. Bush's electoral victory was ensured by a Supreme Court decision. Bestseller 2001.

by Evan Thomas

read by Terence Aselford

5 cassettes

Newsweek editor assesses the life and career of the New York senator who was attorney general in the 1960s administration of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. Thomas relies on interviews, personal files, and declassified national security documents; argues that courage and determination contributed to his success; and explores the relationship between the two men. 2000.

edited by Paul K. Longmore and Lauri Umansky

read by Jake Williams

3 cassettes

Fourteen essays examine disability in the social context of American history. Several essays discuss attitudes toward deafness and blindness specifically, including Kim Nielsen's "Helen Keller and the Politics of Civic Fitness." The collection ends with Richard K. Scotch's historical overview of "American Disability Policy in the Twentieth Century." 2001.

by Godfrey Hodgson

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

Presents an account of the popular senator's life as a politician who championed both liberal and conservative causes. Traces Moynihan's difficult childhood, his educational path, and his varied career in government. Discusses the philosophy behind his landmark 1965 report on African American families. Some strong language. 2000.

edited by Dick Schaap

read by Erik Sandvold

3 cassettes

Twenty-three pieces celebrating both traditional and fringe sports. Includes "Storm Warning," about yachting; "Enter the Chicken," about cockfighting; "Bottom of the Ninth," about Tiger Stadium; and "How I Won the Minnesota Statehouse, by Jimmy (Big Boy) Valente as Told to Garrison Keillor," about a wrestler who becomes governor. Some strong language. 2000.

by Ralph Nader

read by Jake Williams

4 cassettes

Four decades of essays from the consumer advocate and the 2000 presidential nominee of the Green Party. Includes Nader's views on the government, corporations, world trade, consumer rights, legal reform, the media, and citizen action. 2000.

by Natalie Cole

read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona

2 cassettes

Grammy Award-winning singer reveals the hardships and blessings in her life. Recounts her privileged childhood as the daughter of Nat King Cole, her marriages, her substance abuse, and difficulties with her mother. Also relates details about her career and her successful rehabilitation. Some strong language. 2000.

by James Atlas

read by Bill Wallace

5 cassettes

Authorized biography of novelist Saul Bellow, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976. Covers his development as a writer, relationships with other literary figures, and five marriages. Offers insights into Bellow's novels, including The Adventures of Augie March (RC 15751), Herzog (RC 22553), and Ravelstein (RC 50448). 2000.

by Graham Robb

read by Robert Blumenfeld

4 cassettes

Biography of the nineteenth-century French Symbolist poet who abandoned poetry by the age of twenty. Discusses his originality, homosexual affair with Paul Verlaine, self-exile to East Africa, early death, and influence as a rebel artist. Provides insight into his poems, available in Complete Works: Arthur Rimbaud (RC 50570). 2000.

by Philip Short

read by Peter Johnson

6 cassettes

Chronicles the life and times of the Chinese leader Mao Zedong (1893-1976). Highlights the turmoil of decades of civil war and power struggles within the Communist Party and examines the subsequent failures of the "Great Leap Forward" and the Cultural Revolution. Analyzes the leader's achievements and his continuing legacy. Some strong language. 1999.

edited by Bill Henderson

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

Anthology of sixty-two selections from alternative literary presses. Contains Amitav Ghosh's essay "The March of the Novel through History: The Testimony of My Grandfather's Bookcase"; the poem "Also Love You," by Reginald Shepherd; and Pam Houston's wistful tale "The Best Girlfriend You Never Had." Some strong language. 2000.

by Wendell Berry

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Farmer, poet, novelist, and critic Berry speaks out against exaggerated deference to empiricist science in a concise rebuttal to Edward O. Wilson's Consilience (RC 46359). Berry argues that Wilson is actually proposing a subjugation of art and religion by science rather than the "reconciliation" he claims. 2000.

by Sandra Dalka-Prysby

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes

Author describes how, at forty-eight and 310 pounds in 1993, she asked Family Circle magazine to help her lose 150 pounds and stop smoking. She includes journal entries from the following five years to illustrate her slow but certain progress and the effect it has had on her physically and emotionally. 1999.

by William J. Weiner and others

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

Three medical specialists provide up-to-date information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and management of this progressive neurological disease. Covers the different stages of the illness, the motor and nonmotor problems, drug therapy, and the emerging role of surgery. Includes a question and answer chapter. 2001.

by Shunryu Suzuki

read by John Polk

1 cassette

Informal talks on Zen meditation and practice, presented originally by Suzuki in California in 1970. Introduces attitudes and concepts encouraging the Zen way of living. Discusses posture and breathing, non-duality, emptiness, and enlightment, using examples from everyday living and common sense. 1999.

by Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

read by Tom Burch

2 cassettes

A journalist details the activities of fundraisers and describes donors' impact on American politics. Birnbaum argues that the small elite group has had an increasingly large say in the way the government is run and asserts that the American Association of Retired Persons is the most effective fundraising organization in the nation. 2000.

by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham

read by Tom Burch

2 cassettes

Describes the beliefs behind Alcoholics Anonymous that do not rely on any specific religious doctrine. Asserts that the twelve-step program evokes "the spiritual realities of humility, gratitude, tolerance, and forgiveness." Explores ancient traditions and cultures that deal with a higher power. 1992.

by Esther Knudson Tipps

read by Kerry Cundiff

1 cassette (Reissue)

Cooking methods and techniques developed through research at the Texas School for the Blind. In addition to recipes, the book gives basic principles of meal planning, marketing, food preparation, table service, and food storage. 1986.

by Don Vandervort

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Provides solutions to more than four hundred home problems and advice on handling emergencies; appliance repair information; house maintenance tips on plumbing, electrical, and cooling/heating systems; interior and exterior surface problems; doors and windows; and when to call for an expert. 2000.

edited by Bill Bryson

read by Barry Bernson

3 cassettes

Twenty-five selections from the travel essays and articles published in the year 2000. Each describes a specific moment in time--taking the first drink of the day, breaking down in the middle of the desert, picking up hitchhikers in Cuba, and becoming a hostage while on safari. Some strong language. 2000.

by Roger Lowenstein

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Chronicles how a private Wall Street hedge fund firm developed computer models to deconstruct and minimize investment risk, convinced that its stock market success would never fail. Explains why the Federal Reserve rescued the firm from bankruptcy in 1998. 2000.

by Vincent Crapanzano

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

An anthropologist and cultural critic examines the pervasiveness of fundamentalism in American society, focusing on literalist interpretations of the Bible and the Constitution. Argues that narrow construction of religious and legal documents tends to erode citizens' freedoms and basic rights. 2000.

by Bruce P. Rosenthal and Kate Kelly

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Dr. Rosenthal, the chief of Low Vision Programs at Lighthouse International, and coauthor Kelly provide a resource guide on age-related macular degeneration. Includes research-based information on the disease, services and assistive technology available, and adaptive techniques and devices for use in everyday life. 2001.

by Paul Klebnikov

read by Steven Carpenter

3 cassettes

A Russian expert at Forbes profiles Yeltsin's controversial adviser Berezovsky, the business magnate and suspected assassin. Discusses Berezovsky's role among others who profited in the rampant corruption and violence during the 1990s as Russia declined from a nuclear superpower to an impoverished state. 2000.

by Harry Wu and Carolyn Wakeman

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

Personal account by a survivor of nineteen years in Chinese labor reform camps. Wu recalls his childhood in Shanghai, his arrest in 1960, and the physical and mental hardships of his imprisonment. Describes the plight and reactions of fellow prisoners. 1994.

by Frank Rich

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

A former theater critic of the New York Times reminisces about his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area in the 1950s and 60s. Recalls how his love for the stage developed and how he coped with family problems by taking refuge in theater productions. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by James Merrill

read by Rick Foucheux

4 cassettes

A collection of most of the poetry published in his lifetime by the award-winning American poet James Ingram Merrill (1926-1995), excluding his epic work The Changing Light at Sandover. Contains his earliest poems from 1951, all the poems in the ten trade volumes, his translations from several languages, and his final pieces. 2001.

by Frances FitzGerald

read by Nanette Savard

6 cassettes

Examines President Reagan's world view and the origins of his "Star Wars" missile defense initiative. Documents the clashes between Secretary of State George Shultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger concerning the program. Concludes with a report on missile defense research after the Reagan years. 2000.

by Steven A. Holmes

read by Bob Moore

3 cassettes

Traces Ron Brown's youth in Harlem; his years at Middlebury College; his positions as chief lobbyist of the National Urban League, partner in the Patton Boggs law firm, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and secretary of commerce; and his untimely death. Discusses his efforts to expand America's export market. 2000.

by P.G. Wodehouse

read by David Cutler

5 cassettes

Collection of stories by the British humorist, featuring golf, the Drones Club, Mr. Mulliner, Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, and Jeeves. Also includes the novel Quick Service. 1960.

by Alan Murray

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Wall Street Journal Washington bureau chief asserts that the globalization, information explosion, deregulation, and digitization embodied by the Internet have produced a new economic system in the United States. Includes tips on how to thrive in the altered environment, which features individual empowerment, greater consumer clout, and business accountability. 2000.

by Sandra Tsing Loh

read by Nanette Savard

2 cassettes

Downwardly mobile thirty-five-year-old's witty account of a year in suburban Van Nuys, California. Through four seasons, from the "Winter of Our Discontent" to the "Fall of Our Dearest Expectations," she muses on her brushes with fame, a $300-an-hour therapist, a too-thin and well-off sister, and her musician spouse. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by M. David Stone and Alfred Poor

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

Basic information on diagnosing and solving common personal computer problems. Provides information on crashing systems, disk drives, display screens, joysticks, error messages, startups, keyboards, and printer and mouse difficulties. Published by Microsoft. Explains reinstalling Windows. 2001.

by Matthew Danda

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Advice on safeguarding one's privacy and security while using the Internet. Although the author concentrates on Microsoft products, a general overview of the concepts discussed may be drawn from the information provided. Covers viruses, online shopping, e-mail and chat rooms, downloading, securing and backing up files, and spamming. 2001.

by Robert D. Putnam

read by Butch Hoover

5 cassettes

Harvard professor asserts that citizen reluctance to join community organizations and volunteer groups has caused the decline of civic engagement in the U.S. Putnam presents statistical data supporting his analysis and gives recommendations for rebuilding social bonds. 2000.

by Patrick Tierney

read by Bruce Huntey

4 cassettes

An indictment of anthropologists and the media who have exploited the native Yanomami people of Brazil and Venezuela. Claims that ethnographer Napoleon Chagnon, who has published provocative accounts of the rainforest dwellers, unethically disrupted their culture and heedlessly introduced infection. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Pamela Reed Gibson

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

4 cassettes

Defines the illness called multiple chemical sensitivity, chemical illness, environmental illness, or total allergy, among other names. Discusses symptoms, conventional as well as alternative treatments, food, and environmental concerns. Looks at psychological factors, practical considerations, and disability issues, including a discussion of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contains information on "Gulf War illness." 2000.

by Melanie Astaire Witt

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

A guide for job-seekers with disabilities who, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, are entitled to compete for jobs on an equal basis with the nondisabled. Witt offers suggestions on identifying suitable jobs, uncovering marketable skills, creating standout resumes, understanding accommodation requirements, and interviewing successfully. 1992.

by Piri Thomas

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Thirtieth-anniversary edition of the classic autobiography about growing up in New York's Spanish Harlem during the depression. Poverty led Piri into a life of drugs, crime, and prison. After being rehabilitated, he dedicated his life to helping similar youth. Afterword (1997) by the author. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1967.

by Joan Mactavish

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

Biography of Mae Brown (1935-1973), who was the first deaf-blind person to graduate from a Canadian university and a counselor at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Her college tutor chronicles Brown's family, education, social and professional life, and triumphs and disappointments. 2000.

by David Lindley

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

A portrait of the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann (1844-1906), a pioneering proponent of atomic theory. Describes the controversy provoked by his perspectives, including the opposition of philosopher and physicist Ernst Mach, who denied the existence of atoms. Examines Boltzmann's legacy to modern theoretical physics. 2001.

by Joe Martin and Ross Yockey

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

The author, after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), offers inspirational advice on living with this condition. With a deep faith in God and the help of his friends and family, Martin raises money for research and continues to work. 2000.

by Aphrodite Jones

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

Account of a gruesome homicide in central Florida. When Rick and Ruth Wendorf were murdered in November 1996, sixteen-year-old Rod Ferrell, the leader of a gothic vampire cult, was charged. Among the four teenage followers arrested with Ferrell was the Wendorfs' daughter, Heather. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Karl Maier

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

A journalist describes how Africans are responding creatively to changing socioeconomic challenges, observing that, from the vantage of the late 1990s, "sub-Saharan Africa . . . looks and feels very different" than it did ten years ago. Depicts the lives of ordinary people whose efforts are reforming the continent. 1998.

by George Gilder

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

A Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute predicts a revolutionary era of unlimited bandwidth, or a "world enabled and defined by unfamiliar communications technology." Gilder foresees the end of the computer age and anticipates how additional communication designs would affect the global community's social and economic wealth. 2000.

by Rebecca Walker

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

The daughter of divorced African American author Alice Walker and Jewish civil rights lawyer Mel Leventhal recalls her unhappy childhood. Shuttled between two homes and cultures and feeling neglected, Rebecca turned to drugs and sex for comfort before escaping to Yale University. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Michael Farquhar

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

This provocative look into the private lives of public figures offers a collection of vignettes on royal misbehavior through the ages. Includes such figures as Peter the Great, Louis XIV, Henry VIII, Queen Mary, Tiberius Caesar, and several popes. Bestseller 2001.

by Louis Menand

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

An English professor and journalist explores the origin and development of American pragmatism. Menand charts the lives and ideas of William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and John Dewey and explores the consequences for American culture of pragmatism's central tenet--that experience is the decisive test of truth. 2001.

by Frank Castelluccio and Alvin Walker

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A biography of the nightclub singer and stage actress who became famous for her role as Lucille Ball's sidekick on the I Love Lucy television series. Documents her personal life and extensive acting experience before her small-screen debut and her relationship with the well-known cast. Foreword by Robert Osborne. Some strong language. 1998.

by Charles P. Pierce

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Sportswriter and National Public Radio commentator's articles about athletes and a variety of sports. Includes a notorious 1997 piece on Tiger Woods, father and son football players Peyton and Archie Manning, hockey towns, jewelry worn by men, outspoken mothers, and tragic accidents. Foreword by Roy Blount Jr. Some strong language. 2001.

by Mark Twain

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Letters, sketches, and satirical pieces written throughout Twain's career and published posthumously after approval from his daughter, Clara, was granted in 1962. Includes a letter from Satan describing the new creation called Earth, a children's story titled "A Cat-Tale," and a description of a nightmare in "The Great Dark." Some strong language. 1939.

by Chaim Potok

read by Ken Kliban

4 cassettes (Reissue)

A panoramic account of four thousand years of Jewish history. The author, an ordained rabbi and bestselling novelist, draws on the Bible; writings of the ancient scribes, poets, and chroniclers; and findings of archaeologists. Potok's work demonstrates the vigor and rich variety of Jewish life. Bestseller 1978.

by Diana Childress

read by John Horton

1 cassette

An account of English society during the fourteenth century, when Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?-1400) wrote The Canterbury Tales (RC 31894). Describes everyday life, including school, family, science, religion, amusements, and clothing, as well as war and politics and the effects of the Black Death. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Constance Curry

read by Jill Ferris

2 cassettes

A legal scholar weaves interviews, letters, and public documents to record the ordeal of the Carter family, who sent seven of its thirteen children to desegregate an all-white school system in 1965. She examines the African American sharecroppers' courage and endurance against the background of their racially charged Sunflower County, Mississippi, home. 1995.

by Garrett Epps

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Chronicles a conflict between the Native American Church's use of the mood-altering drug peyote in religious rituals and state and federal narcotics statutes. Examines the court decisions involving a Klamath Indian who lost his job and was denied unemployment benefits after participating in the contested ceremonies. 2001.

by John F. Kennedy

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A selection of President Kennedy's speeches and pronouncements, arranged chronologically and by subject, on such diverse topics as peace, Latin America, civil rights, and other domestic issues. Includes Kennedy's undelivered Dallas address. 1964.

by Adrian House

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

House portrays the life of the medieval Italian saint Francis of Assisi, chronicling his youth, his conversion, and his establishment of the Franciscan Order. Discusses Francis's ability to communicate with birds, the appearance of the stigmata on his body, and his relationship with St. Clare. 2000.

by Aldo Leopold

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

The "father of wildlife conservation" in America describes his family's relationship to their Wisconsin acreage in this collection of sketches and essays. A forester by training, Leopold calls for land reform and conservation. He examines the ethics of ecology, and urges protection of wildlife and respect for the environment. 1949.

by Craig Childs

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

A desert born and bred naturalist explores the meaning of water in the southwestern United States. On a series of treks, he examines landscapes carved by flash floods in a region where people can die of thirst or drowning. 2000.

by Pierre Blet

read by Frank Coffee

3 cassettes

An account of Pope Pius XII's role and relationship with the contesting world leaders during World War II. Using primary sources from the Vatican's diplomatic archives, the author describes the pontiff's private maneuvering, public statements, and efforts to protect Jews and other threatened peoples. 1999.

by Wendy Swallow

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

A journalist portrays the difficulties of her divorce after twelve years of marriage and a child-custody battle over her two sons. Recalls her happy dreams as a newlywed, her fantasies about divorce, the actual destructive process, and her adjustment to joint custody and single parenthood. Some strong language. 2001.

by Jill Brooke

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

The author advises overcoming grief by transforming it into positive action. Discusses how children, men, and women mourn differently; explains when to seek professional help; and offers suggestions for remembering a loved one. 2001.

by Alan M. Dershowitz

read by Barry Bernson

2 cassettes

A prominent attorney comments on the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore that stopped the contested vote-counting in Florida and settled the 2000 election. He criticizes the decision as partisan, discusses the justices' motives, and looks at some of their earlier opinions, which he maintains contradict their arguments in this one. Bestseller 2001.

by Denise Chong

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

The life of Vietnamese Kim Phuc, who at age nine was nearly killed by a misdirected napalm air strike by U.S. forces in 1972. Asserts that a much-publicized photograph of the fleeing, terrified girl--with skin and clothing incinerated--helped turn public opinion against the war in Vietnam. 1999.

by Melissa Etheridge

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

The autobiography of a rock star, born in Kansas in 1961, who began writing songs at the age of ten. Describes her career as well as her personal life, which includes coming out as a lesbian and the birth of her partner's two children, fathered by singer David Crosby. Bestseller 2001.

by Leonard Koppett

read by Bruce Huntey

4 cassettes

A revised edition of the 1967 baseball classic explains the principles of pitching, batting, game tactics, and strategies, and the relationships between players, spectators, and the press. Koppett has added discussion of team expansions, playoffs, designated hitters, unions, cable television, and night games. 2001.

by Witold Rybczynski

read by Barry Bernson

1 cassette

The author recalls the process of determining which tool should be designated the best of the millennium for an essay in the New York Times. After he settled on the screwdriver, invented around 1800, his curiosity propelled him into further research on an earlier creation, the screw itself. 2000.

by Gary Smith

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Sports Illustrated articles about the personal lives of sports figures. In "Ali and His Entourage," Smith interviews people who traveled with the boxer. In "Shadow of a Nation," he chronicles the comeback of an alcoholic Crow basketball player. Some strong language. 2000.

by Hugh Brody

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes

An anthropologist's impassioned account of the world's few surviving hunting cultures. Drawing on works of linguists and historians and recalling personal experiences living among indigenous societies in Arctic Canada, Brody uses the Book of Genesis as a paradigm to explain the practices and systems of belief that distinguish hunters from farmers. 2000.

by Eugenia Price

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Advises women to cope with difficult situations by thinking them through and trusting in God. Illustrates eight common problems and offers possible solutions. Offers advice on achieving inner peace. 1962.

by Stanley Williams and Fen Montaigne

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

The volcanologist who led the expedition to the Columbian volcano Galeras when it erupted in 1993 recounts his personal perspective of events and the subsequent physical and mental effects. An experienced field worker, Williams discusses procedures and his team members, six of whom died in the blast. 2001.

by Hugh Merrill

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

A biography of the prolific author John D. MacDonald (1916-1986), creator of the character Travis McGee. Following trends in the publishing industry, MacDonald's work first appeared in pulp magazines, then as original paperbacks, and finally as bestsellers. Traces his development as a writer as well as his private life. 2000. Bestseller 2000.

by Lillian Hellman

read by Terry Hayes Sales

2 cassettes (Reissue)

In this follow-up to her memoir An Unfinished Woman (RC 25375), playwright Hellman reminisces about men and women who influenced her intellectual development. One of the portraits, "Julia," celebrates the moral courage of a beloved friend who worked to save victims of the Nazis in 1937 Europe. 1973.

by Bonnie Angelo

read by Kerry Cundiff

3 cassettes

Biographical sketches of mothers credited with shaping the characters of eleven twentieth-century U.S. presidents. Includes Mattie Truman, a Confederate who refused to sleep in Lincoln's bedroom; Dorothy Ford, who saved her infant son from an abusive father; and the flamboyant Virginia Clinton Kelley, whose "life was too much like a country song." 2000.

by Madeleine L'Engle

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes (Reissue)

L'Engle describes her ninety-year-old mother's plunge into senility during her final summer at Crosswicks, the family home. As she recalls this fourth four-generation season, L'Engle reviews her parent's rich life and shows how her mother influenced the entire family. 1974.

by Stephen G. Bloom

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

A study of misunderstandings and turmoil that followed the 1987 establishment of a kosher slaughterhouse in rural Iowa by a group of Hasidic Jews. Bloom, a secular Jew from San Francisco, sees human foibles on both sides as he explores the gradual accommodation between local farmers and newcomers. 2000.

by Carl Sagan

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

The astronomer and exobiologist writes about the Earth, the solar system, and beyond in a series of anecdotal essays published in 1973. His message is that humans are not the only intelligent beings in the universe. Epilog by David Morrison from NASA; additional commentary by Freeman J. Dyson and Ann Druyan. 2000.

by Steve Allen

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

The acclaimed comedian, entertainer, and early talk show host relates his favorite jokes, one-liners, anecdotes, limericks, quotes, and zingers gleaned from a career spanning more than fifty years in radio, film, and television. 2000.

by Jason Epstein

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

A former editor at Doubleday and Random House recounts the development of publishing during his fifty-year career and recalls authors and publishers he has known personally. He also discusses the challenges the industry faces in the future, including the effects of the Internet. 2001.

by Carlos Castaneda

read by Chris Parente

2 cassettes

A record of the author's initiation into the mysteries of sorcery through the teachings of Don Juan, the Yaqui Indian sorcerer. Castaneda tells of approaching wisdom through hallucinogens and physical and mental exercises, and describes some of his visions and insight. 1972.

by Albert Einstein

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Scientist Albert Einstein presents his theory of relativity--the measurement and study of space and time--for the layman who "is not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." Originally published in 1916. This fifteenth edition includes five appendixes. 1952.

by Simon Winchester

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

The author of The Professor and the Madman (RC 46906) examines the struggle of William Smith to publish the first geological map of England in 1815 and the delayed recognition of his feat because of class discrimination. Discusses Smith's singular contributions to science and the hardships he endured. Bestseller 2001.

by Stephen E. Ambrose

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

A historian describes the B-24 bomber missions over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, recounting the training of the crews and celebrating their skill. Ambrose highlights the pilots' contribution to the Allied victory, focusing on 1972 presidential candidate George McGovern's experiences as a B-24 pilot in the last months of the war. Bestseller 2001.

by Bruce Wilkinson

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette

Offers spiritual counsel for teenagers. Links an Old Testament prayer to Christian teaching, explaining how the prayer can enrich daily life. For junior and senior high readers. Bestseller 2001.

by Carolly Erickson

read by Suzanne Toren

3 cassettes

An account of the Russian empress who was the granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Describes Alexandra's unhappy childhood; her determination to marry Nicholas, the man she loved; her struggle to support him emotionally; her desire to produce a healthy male heir; and her connection with Rasputin. 2001.

by Christopher Andersen

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

Portraits of the princes William and Harry, with and without their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Andersen describes the boys' development from hellions to seemingly well-adjusted adolescents, and the roles of Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and Camilla Parker Bowles after Diana's death. He also looks at the women in William's life. Bestseller 2001.

by Nancy Selfridge and Franklynn Peterson

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

The authors, fibromyalgia patients, posit that this medical condition that affects muscles, ligaments, and tendons is a mind-body disorder that can be alleviated using mental exercises. Suggestions include meditating, journaling, and other stress-reducing activities. 2001.

by Avery D. Faigenbaum and Wayne L. Westcott

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

How to assist children from ages seven to fifteen with strength-building exercises using free weights, weight machines, rubber cords, medicine balls, and body weight to develop every muscle group. Emphasizes sound training principles, injury prevention, and nutrition. Offers age-group programs and sports conditioning for specific games. 2000.

by John Mulholland

read by Rick Foucheux

3 cassettes

Explains how to perform dozens of simple magic tricks developed by the author. Suggests pleasing an audience by using psychology, props, and trained assistants. Includes tricks specifically for entertaining children. 1963.

by Alliance for Technology Access

read by Erik Synnestvedt

3 cassettes

Provides an overview of the hardware, software, and other considerations surrounding computer resources for people with disabilities. Includes personal stories about using technology in daily life. Discusses braille displays, braille embossers and translators, and speech synthesizers, among other products. Foreword by Stephen Hawking. Third edition. 2000.

by Ben Crenshaw

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

A champion golfer from Austin, Texas, reminisces about his life on the course and off. Describes his early mentors, family life, and career from the 1970s to the 1990s, culminating in his captaincy of the American team in its 1999 Ryder Cup victory at Brookline, Massachusetts. 2001.

compiled by Tavis Smiley

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Talk-show host and national radio commentator Smiley presents a collection of essays from twenty-eight black celebrities, addressing issues they view as vital to the African American community. Suggests a variety of solutions and challenges concerning family, responsibility, education, health, economics, the church's role, and the establishment of a legacy. 2001.

by Mary Anne Weaver

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A journalist with more than twenty years of experience in the Middle East, Weaver provides insights into the public and private aspects of a society where militant Islam is on the rise. Contains observations on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, and the Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. 1999.

by Rick Bragg

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist continues the personal history he began in All Over but the Shoutin' (RC 46142). Focuses on his mother's disadvantaged childhood in Appalachia during the Great Depression and recounts the life of her beloved father, Charlie Bundrum, still vividly remembered by relatives. Bestseller 2001.

by Henry Kissinger

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

The Republican Party's elder statesman surveys and critiques U.S. foreign policy around the world in chapters devoted to geographical sectors: Europe and Russia, the Western Hemisphere, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Discusses the politics of globalization, NAFTA, and traditional American stands on peace and justice. Bestseller 2001.

by Ann G. Gaines

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

Focuses on terrorism in the Middle East and how it affects the United States. Discusses the origins and motivations of the organizations and individuals involved. Explores how America can combat violence without impinging on traditional freedoms. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Harold S. Kushner

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

The author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People (RC 48900) recommends that people stop judging success by fame, power, and wealth, and measure their achievement by the positive difference they make in the world. Advises finding a meaningful life through family, friendship, and acts of generosity. Bestseller 2001.

by Mick Foley

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

Continues superstar wrestler Foley's account of his career and personal life, begun in Mankind, Have a Nice Day! (RC 49315). Discusses his role as a World Wrestling Federation commissioner and some of the problems in the sport, including "backyard wrestling" and drugs. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Veteran folksinger Seeger and poet Jacobs offer advice on becoming a storyteller by embellishing old stories, historical tales, and songs, as well as anecdotes from one's own personal history. Includes examples from Seeger's vast repertoire. 2000.

by Penn Jillette

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

A pair of professional illusionists intersperse descriptions of how to perform magic tricks, practical jokes, and pranks throughout this travelog of their favorite wacky tourist attractions. Some strong language. 1997.

Cassettes Fiction

by Caroline B. Cooney

read by Margaret Strom

1 cassette

After her "father" is incapacitated by a stroke, Janie feels betrayed on discovering that he has been sending money to his real daughter, Hannah, who kidnapped Janie years ago. Janie is determined to find and confront Hannah about the past. Sequel to Voice on the Radio (RC 47855). For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

by L.E. Modesitt

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Anna, a sorceress and regent of Defalk, copes with challenges to her leadership and tries to resolve some noblemen's distaste for obeying a woman. She must also decide whether to support the rightful heir to the throne. Sequel to The Spellsong War (RC 51114). Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Ethan Black

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes

Wealthy sex crimes detective Conrad Voort is investigating New York City's first female serial killer. Even his ex-girlfriend Camilla, a television journalist, is a suspect. And Voort himself is an unwitting target. Sequel to The Broken Hearts Club (RC 49227). Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Juan Goytisolo

read by Peter Gil

2 cassettes

The author, considered one of Spain's great modern novelists, creates a deranged exile's stream-of-consciousness diatribe against his homeland under Franco. The protagonist, obsessed with the legendary Count Julian who betrayed his homeland to the invading Moors in the Middle Ages, dreams of another invasion in which destruction will be total. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1974.

by Ken Wells

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Fifteen-year-old Emile "Meely" LaBauve leads an adventurous life in the bayous with his beloved gator-hunting Cajun daddy. But Meely ends up in jail and his father on the lam after the latest of their numerous run-ins with the law. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Mohsin Hamid

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

When Daru's childhood friend Ozi and his wife Mumtaz return to Pakistan from New York City, the friendship dissolves. The affluent Ozi is moving with the elite while Daru is spiraling downward--losing his bank job, using and dealing drugs, and having a reckless affair with Mumtaz. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Kathryn Harrison

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Shanghai, 1899. Beautiful Chinese courtesan May marries Arthur Cohen after he becomes fascinated with her bound feet. Arthur's young niece Alice soon takes the place of the daughter May has given up. But Alice's mother resents her opium-smoking sister-in-law's influence. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2000.

by Karen Robards

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

England, 1810. Lady Gabriella Banning learns her half-brother, Marcus, is dead. She fears she and her sisters will become destitute because their cousin inherits the title. Gabby develops a scheme to save them. Then someone shows up claiming to be Marcus. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Jude Deveraux

read by Colleen Delany

2 cassettes

New York, 1909. Temperance O'Neil, twenty-nine, has become quite famous for her work as a women's rights activist. But suddenly she finds herself forced to move to Edinburgh, where she will serve as housekeeper for her new stepfather's nephew while she also finds him a wife. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by Rose Tremain

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

In 1629, English lute player Peter Claire, twenty-seven, arrives in Denmark to become part of King Christian IV's Royal Orchestra. When Peter falls in love with the king's estranged wife's handmaiden, he realizes he has come to a place where light and dark, good and evil, and music and silence wage war. Whitbread Award. 1999.

by Elizabeth Knox

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

France, 1808. Denied marriage to the woman he loves, Sobran Jodeau takes two bottles of his family's wine and heads for the hills. There he meets Xas, a male "fallen angel," and concludes that Xas has been sent to guide him. But Xas falls in love with Sobran. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Dan Simmons

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

Ernest Hemingway sets up a counterespionage ring, the Crook Factory, in Cuba in 1942 and uses his boat, Pilar, to lure submarines. These fictionalized World War II adventures related by FBI agent Joe Lucas are eventually linked to Hemingway's suicide in 1961. Strong language. 1999.

by Catherine Cookson

read by Corrie James

3 cassettes (Reissue)

In northern England at the turn of the century, sixteen-year-old Emily's kindly widowed employer--and suitor--dies suddenly, and the girl must take a housekeeping post to support her consumptive sister. Although Larry Birch abuses his invalid wife, Emily comes to care for him. And she becomes entangled in the family secrets. Some strong language. 1976.

by J.F. Freedman

read by Faith Potts

4 cassettes

Santa Barbara private investigator Kate Blanchard is hired by Laura Sparks to solve the mystery surrounding the death of her lover while he was in jail. But uncovering secret schemes in Laura's wealthy, politically powerful family puts Kate's life in danger. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996.

by Al Lacy

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Quiet Thunder (RC 52053), John Stranger is in Butte City, Montana, where three years ago Payton Sturgis was hanged for murder. Sturgis had vowed to return and kill all who brought him to justice. Now those people are dying. Bible-toting Stranger is their only hope. Some violence. 1997.

by Perri O'Shaughnessy

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

Lake Tahoe attorney Nina Reilly is defending her son's birth father, Kurt Scott, against a homicide charge. Coincidentally, Nina once worked for Kurt's first wife, filmmaker Terry London. Now Kurt is the main suspect in Terry's murder. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1996.

by Elizabeth Gaskell

read by Barbara Caruso

6 cassettes

Hollingford, England; 1800s. When the village doctor, Mr. Gibson, decides to remarry, his only daughter, Molly, is resentful but becomes friends with her stepsister, Cynthia. The two young ladies' social circle includes the family of Squire Hamley, who has two sons--Roger and Osborne. 1866.

by Madison Smartt Bell

read by Frank Coffee

6 cassettes

Three years into the 1790s Haitian slave revolt, Toussaint L'Ouverture rises through the ranks, becoming the island's supreme military commander. Episodes from the lives of ordinary Haitians caught in revolutionary turmoil punctuate the chronicle of Toussaint's struggle. Sequel to All Souls' Rising (RC 42403). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Diane Mott Davidson

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

To escape from her abusive ex-husband, caterer Goldy Bear accepts a summer job cooking for a retired general. After one of her suitors dies in a car accident, she joins another, Detective Tom Schulz, in the investigation. And soon her son, Arch, is in danger. Some violence and some strong language. 1992.

by Don Coldsmith

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes

A series of historical vignettes portrays the challenges faced by pro-slavery and pro-emancipation settlers in the Kansas Territory before the Civil War. The connected episodes present a saga of westward expansion through 1876. Sequel to Tallgrass (RC 46545). 1998.

by Halldór Laxness

read by Bruce Huntey

4 cassettes

A saga of Icelandic peasant life in which Bjartur, a stubborn sheep farmer, struggles to buy and maintain his own land. An independent man, he outlives several wives to raise his brood, including an adopted daughter. By the 1955 Nobel Prize winner. Some strong language. 1946.

by Rosalind Laker

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Carpenter's apprentice Thomas Chippendale first met Isabella Woodleigh when he made a chair for her to use while convalescing in Yorkshire. Each had a dream of the future: he to become a renowned carpenter; she to become his patroness. Neither foresees the heartache they will endure. Some descriptions of sex. 1982.

by Dorothy Simpson

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Detective Inspector Thanet and his partner, Lineham, investigate the death of the wife of ambitious barrister Ralph Mintar, whose daughter also disappeared under curious circumstances four years ago. The two policemen soon uncover extramarital affairs, incest, blackmail, and more murders among the wealthy. Meanwhile, Thanet becomes a grandfather. 1999.

by Parnell Hall

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Puzzle Lady Cora Felton is judging a crossword contest devised by a now-deceased heiress to make her repugnant relatives compete for her fortune. As the rivals scramble to solve clues, two murders occur. It falls to Cora's niece, Sherry, to find the killer. Sequel to A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (RC 49605). 2000.

by Lalita Tademy

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

Tademy's fictionalized account of her maternal ancestors, from 1834 to the 1950s, begins with her enslaved great-great-great-great-grandmother Elisabeth and continues with three generations of successively lighter descendents. She describes these women's struggle for freedom and justice on a Creole plantation in Cane River, Louisiana. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Elizabeth George

read by Mitzi Friedlander

6 cassettes

Is there a connection between a woman killed in a hit-and-run accident on a rainy night in London and a violinist who has recently lost his ability to play? It is up to Detective Inspector Lynley to solve the mystery. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Miriam Grace Monfredo

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Seneca Falls, New York; 1861. Librarian Glynis Tryon's niece Bronwen joins Pinkerton's Detective Agency and is sent to Montgomery, Alabama. Undercover, Bronwen overhears a plot to assassinate newly elected president Abraham Lincoln in Baltimore. She escapes and telegraphs her aunt for help. 1998.

by Maggie Osborne

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

1897. Three wealthy spinsters--Juliette, Clara, and Zoe--vow revenge when they discover that their new husband, Jean Jacques Villette, is a bigamist who absconded with each of their fortunes. But while tracking the scoundrel to Alaska, each of them finds her true love. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by William Safire

read by Jim Zeiger

4 cassettes

Political scandals of the late eighteenth century are revealed by James Thomson Callender, a Scottish fugitive and journalist hired to write incendiary articles regarding men of power. Selecting Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson as his primary targets, he describes their alleged sexual indiscretions. 2000.

by Bruce Alexander

read by George Holmes

2 cassettes

London, 1772. A rash of home invasions and murders occurs, apparently committed by black men. After blind magistrate Sir John Fielding is wounded, his assistant, Jeremy Proctor, tracks down the gang with the help of the Bow Street Runners. 2000.

by Peter S. Beagle

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Arriving in England to live with her new family on a rundown farm, thirteen-year-old Jenny encounters the ghost of a young girl who has haunted the ancient estate for many years. Before she can help the ghost find rest, Jenny faces danger that changes her life. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Barbara Vine

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Young Clodagh Brown loves heights but suffers from claustrophobia. As a teenager she climbed electrical pylons until an accident claimed her boyfriend's life. While in London, Clodagh joins a group of eccentrics who enjoy climbing rooftops. But tragedy strikes again. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by David Eddings and Leigh Eddings

read by J.P. Linton

5 cassettes

Althalus, an unrepentant rogue, accepts employment from a stranger to steal a book from the House at the End of the World. But when he encounters a goddess in the form of a cat, he learns that he must save humanity from a god determined to destroy the universe. 2000.

by Jean Plaidy

read by Jill Ferris

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Thomas More, a scholarly lawyer, reluctantly answers the call to serve King Henry VIII. But the king decides to divorce, initiating a religious conflict that resounds throughout the country. The More family receives riches and honors, but Thomas cannot forsake his conviction that divorce is a sacrilege. 1954.

by Kathleen Winsor

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

6 cassettes (Reissue)

England, 1660. Beautiful, young, illegitimate Amber St. Clare falls in love and flees to London with Lord Carlton. Pregnant and abandoned, she embarks on a life of ill repute--eventually becoming King Charles II's mistress. But she never forgets Carlton. 2000 foreword by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1944.

by John Irving

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Television journalist and addicted womanizer Patrick Wallingford loses his left hand to circus lions in India, on camera. But it is a trip to Japan that changes his life--that and having a hand-transplant with visitation rights for the donor's widow. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Jeff Shaara

read by Robert Sams

5 cassettes

Historical fiction about the American Revolution, covering the period from the Boston Massacre in March 1770 to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the summer of 1776. Events are told from the viewpoint of Benjamin Franklin, John and Abigail Adams, British general Thomas Gage, and George Washington. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Steve Martini

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Attorney Paul Madriani and his San Diego partner, Harry Hinds, defend David Crone, a genetic research physician accused of murdering his beautiful African American rival at the university. Their case is threatened, however, when the main witness for the defendant commits suicide. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by C.J. Cherryh

read by Rick Rohan

3 cassettes

In a universe of warring interstellar empires and powerful nanotechnology, ruler Ila sends rebel warrior Marak to seek the source of his visions. Marak journeys into the desert accompanied by other divinely mad people. Some strong language. 2001.

by Emma Donoghue

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

London, 1760s. Mary Saunders loves fine lace and linens. But unlike her seamstress mother, Mary wants to own them. Unfortunately, her desire for finery leads to a fateful mistake, and Mary becomes a prostitute. Even when she later tries to reform, her love for beautiful fabrics leads to disaster. Descriptions of sex and some violence. 2000.

by Perri O'Shaughnessy

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Lake Tahoe attorney Nina Reilly is hired to help a young woman who has won millions in a casino but who can't reveal her true identity. Nina's sometime lover, Paul van Wagoner, helps to investigate even as witnesses are being murdered. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Elliott Roosevelt

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes

Washington, D.C.; 1943. When an armed White House lawyer is discovered murdered in the Lincoln Bedroom, it is up to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Captain Ed Kennelly to quietly find his killer. The president and his generals are secretly planning the invasion of Europe and cannot be disturbed. 2000.

by Greg Egan

read by John Polk

3 cassettes

It is the end of the second millennium and the planet has evolved into a network of probes, satellites, and servers. Humanity, also, has reconfigured itself into three groups: software, robots, and fleshers. When a cosmic disaster occurs, the various units form an alliance to explore the universe. 1998.

by Dorothea Benton Frank

read by Erin Jones

3 cassettes

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Growing up in the 1960s, Susan Hayes had a relatively average childhood, but now in the 1990s her life is falling apart. She and her sister take an introspective look at their past, which involved family secrets and betrayals. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

edited by Larry Dark

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

These twenty short stories selected from magazines include first, second, and third prize-winning entries by Peter Baida, Cary Holladay, and Alice Munro. In a "A Nurse's Story," Mary McDonald helps her colleagues organize a union for her patients' sake. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Dorothy Simpson

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes (Reissue)

British inspector Luke Thanet delves into the murder of pretty Julie Holmes. His investigation uncovers the story of a disturbed young woman who witnessed an unsolved murder as a child. Thanet suspects Julie's killer is the same person she saw long ago. But some clues point to her husband. 1981.

by Barbara Freethy

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Widow Phoebe MacGuire has a string of pearls she needs to complete before she dies. She wants her two granddaughters, who may still love the same man, to find that one last pearl. She believes that only then will they find happiness in love. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Evan Hunter and Ed McBain

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

While in New York City on business, Los Angeles sex addict Ben Thorpe pursues his hobby relentlessly. He becomes a prime suspect, however, when a hooker he visited is murdered. Detectives Emma Boyle and Jimmy Morgan collaborate on the case. (Coauthors are the same person.) Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2001.

by Bruce Sterling

read by Alec Volz

2 cassettes

It's 1999, and Leggy Starlitz, a shameless entrepreneur, believes that he can use his all-girl fake band to smuggle lip gloss and pantyhose into the Islamic world. But there are conditions for his partners--the scheme should end before the year 2000 and none of the girls must die. Strong language. 2000.

edited by Larry Dark

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

Culled from magazines, these twenty short stories represent the best of the year. Includes first, second, and third prize-winning entries by John Edgar Wideman, Beth Lordan, and Mary Gordon. In "The Gilgul of Park Avenue," a financial consultant suddenly discovers his Jewish soul. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Patti Berg

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Samantha Jones's life has been one tragedy after another. But all that changes when she delivers a tuxedo to millionaire rancher Jack Remington. He is in Palm Beach to attend his sister's engagement party, and he needs a fiancée. Samantha is the perfect candidate. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Mary Jo Putney

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

Divorcée Kate Donovan and ex-husband Patrick inherit her father's demolition company--but only if they live together for a year. Both love the business, so they reluctantly agree. Kate also discovers that her father's death might not have been an accident. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Ha Jin

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

A dozen short stories set in China, by the winner of the National Book Award for Waiting (RC 49107). In "Flame" head nurse Nimei, married to a lackluster man, receives a letter from her spurned first love, Hsu Peng, who is now a high-ranking officer. Some strong language. 2000.

by Pankaj Mishra

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Samar, a sheltered Brahmin student of modest means, moves to bustling Benares, India, where he encounters corruption and Westerners for the first time. He is captivated by Catherine, a sophisticated young French woman, whose ultimate betrayal causes him great emotional turmoil. Some strong language. 2000.

by Andre Norton

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

After the Dark returns, a Wizard seizes control of the Valley, thus placing the balance between good and evil with a pair of twins. The sorcerer seeking to establish tyranny raises the male infant to do his bidding, but the denizens shelter the boy's sister in a nearby Forest. 1999.

by Les Standiford

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Miami builder John Deal wins a large contract but later learns of organized crime connections. He also discovers that his late father had custody of a missing fortune. Now the mob, the owner's son, and a corrupt government official are demanding payment. Violence and strong language. 2001.

by Thomas Perry

read by Ray Foushee

3 cassettes

Security advisor Max Stillman takes young insurance analyst John Walker with him to investigate the misconduct of Walker's ex-lover, agent Ellen Snyder. Snyder approved a twelve-million-dollar payout to a bogus claimant and then disappeared. Stillman and Walker crisscross the country unraveling the lucrative scheme. Strong language and some violence. 2001.

by Margaret Lawrence

read by Annie Wauters

3 cassettes

New York state, 1809. In this sequel to The Burning Bride (RC 50538), midwife Hannah Trevor dies, leaving her grown deaf daughter, Jennet, destitute. Meanwhile, surveyor John Frayne returns, wealthy, to reclaim his late Tory father's house. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by R.A. Salvatore

read by Michael Scherer

4 cassettes

Despite the dactyl's demise, Pony rejects offers to become a baroness or an abbess of the Abellican Church. Plague is killing a large portion of Corona's population and a despised heretic is performing magic. So she must reconsider her decision. Sequel to The Demon Apostle (RC 49339). 2000.

by Alan Furst

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Paris, 1938. Hungarian Nicholas Morath owns an advertising agency in Paris and enjoys the bohemian life. His uncle, diplomat Count Polanyi, requests favors from time to time, and these errands become increasingly dangerous as the Nazis begin their conquest of Europe. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Stephen White

read by Colleen Delany

3 cassettes

Single mom Peyton Francis is lucky to meet former hit man Carl Luppo in a witness-protection program, because she's in desperate need of his expertise. Their Boulder psychologist Alan Gregory and his pregnant assistant-D.A. wife Lauren risk danger by offering additional help. Violence and strong language. 2001.

by Richard Russo

read by Christopher Walker

4 cassettes

Empire Falls, Maine, was once a thriving town with three mills. But the owners, the Whitings, have allowed their vast holdings to become decrepit real estate. Miles Roby, who runs the Empire Grill for Mrs. Whiting, recounts the tale of this dying town with bemused regret. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Harlan Coben

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

New York City pediatrician David Beck's wife and lifelong sweetheart, Elizabeth, was tragically murdered eight years ago by a serial killer. Or so he thought. But the young doctor suddenly begins receiving mysterious e-mails containing information only Elizabeth would know. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by James D. Doss

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Shaman Daisy Perika predicts the giant arachnid that lives beneath Lake Navajo will attack. Her hunch appears true when two men--one a government research scientist and the other a Native American truck driver--disappear from the lake's shore. Daisy's nephew, Ute lawman Charlie Moon, isn't buying it. Some strong language. 2001.

by Susan Merrell

read by Faith Potts

3 cassettes

The Latham family from Sag Harbor, New York, adopts a toddler from Romania. Over the next few turbulent years, they learn that Michael has attachment disorder. His aggressive behavior threatens their marriage and their older daughter. But can they give him up? Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Nancy Werlin

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

High school senior David Yaffe is exiled to his uncle's house after being acquitted of murder. There he is haunted by his dead cousin, Kathy, and harassed by her eleven-year-old sister, Lily. He learns there is another killer in the house. For senior high readers. 1998.

by Samuel Beckett

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

An anguished, disembodied voice expresses a grim, fragmentary vision of human life stripped to its essence in this experimental fiction by the Irish-born winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Originally written in French in 1961 and translated into English by the author. Some strong language. 1964.

by Paula Volsky

read by Anne Flosnik

5 cassettes

The republic of Vonahr needs a magical weapon to annihilate the imperialistic Grewzians, who threaten to conquer the world. A young Vonahrish adventuress must win the "Grand Ellipse" race to obtain an audience with the king who controls the arsenal. 2000.

by Sarah Dessen

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

Sixteen-year-old Caitlin and her family feel betrayed when Caitlin's "perfect" older sister runs away. Caitlin tries to fill the void but drifts into a relationship with an abusive, drug-dealing older boy. It takes a near tragedy for her parents to rally around her. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2000.

by Jill Marie Landis

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

New Orleans, 1816. After Celine Winters kills a wealthy man in self-defense, she trades places with a desperate girl who wants to avoid an arranged marriage. Celine thus weds handsome but troubled Cord Moreau, who is returning to his Caribbean island plantation. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

by Louis L'Amour

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette (Reissue)

To forget the death of his family, Ronan Chantry goes west. He joins trappers and meets Lucinda Falvey, who's looking for lost treasure. Together they fight for their lives against hostile Indians and thieves. Sequel to North to the Rails (RC 33979). Some violence. 1973.

by P.C. Hodgell

read by Barbara Caruso

5 cassettes

Contains God Stalk and its sequel, Dark of the Moon. Jame Talissen--possessing the strange powers of her ancient race, the Kencyr--suffers amnesia and exhaustion after fleeing her enemies. She arrives in the mazed city Tai-tastigon, searching for her brother Tori to give him their father's sword and ring. 2000.

by P.C. Hodgell

read by Barbara Caruso

4 cassettes

Before Jame has time to reconnect with her brother Tori, she winds up in the Women's Halls at Gothregor. She doesn't conform well to their constrictions and soon is off on another perilous adventure. Sequel to Dark of the Gods (RC 52635). 1994.

by A.J. Cronin

read by Tom Martin

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Scotland, 1919. In this sequel to The Green Years (RC 32524), Robert Shannon completes his medical training and dedicates his life to research. He falls in love with Jean Law, one of his students, but religious differences keep them apart. 1948.

by Nora Roberts

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Companion to Considering Kate (RC 51947) consisting of two novels. Reflections focuses on Nick Davidov's star ballerina, Lindsay Dunne, who returns home to care for her mother and opens a studio. Dance of Dreams features Lindsay's student, Ruth Bannion. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 1983.

edited by Carlos Fuentes and Julio Ortega

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Anthology of thirty-nine short stories from various Latin American countries. Includes old masters of the form such as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, and Gabriel García Márquez and recent authors Fernando Ampuero, Juan Villoro, and Rodrigo Fresán. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1998.

by Garth Nix

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Lirael, on her fourteenth birthday, despairs of ever receiving the gift of Sight--seeing into the future. But when a dangerous necromancer threatens to unleash a long-buried evil, it is Lirael who must undertake a mission to save the Old Kingdom. Sequel to Sabriel (RC 44682). For junior and senior high readers. 2001.

by Thomas Hardy

read by Graeme Malcolm

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Clym Yeobright returns to barren Egdon Heath and, against his mother's advice, marries the willful Eustacia Vye. Later, disenchanted, Eustacia begins seeing Damon Wildeve, her former lover, who is married to Clym's cousin. Includes a glossary of unfamiliar regional terms as well as the author's later prefaces and postscripts. 1878.

by Jean M. Auel

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

4 cassettes (Reissue)

After her people perish in an earthquake during the Ice Age, Cro-Magnon woman Ayla is adopted by a beetle-browed Neanderthal clan. Banished several times for flouting taboos, Ayla finally realizes that she must leave the group, doomed to extinction, and seek out her own kind. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1980.

by M.C. Beaton

read by Jamie Horton

1 cassette

Awakened with an agonizing toothache, Scottish police constable Hamish Macbeth seeks out the nearest quack, who would rather pull teeth than save them. But when Hamish arrives, the dentist is dead, with all his teeth drilled. And it turns out that the denti