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Home > Talking Book Topics > September-October 2003

NLS: Talking Book Topics

September-October 2003

In Brief

New and updated publications

The following new or revised publications have recently become available:

What's New? The 2003 edition of What's New? is now available in braille, in large print, and on the NLS web site <www.loc.gov/nls/whatsnew2003.html>. The annual update describes recent developments at NLS, including new publications and reference materials and advances in automation and technological research, including Web-Braille and the Digital Talking Book Project.

Magazines in Special Media 2003 is available in large print. Recorded and braille versions are planned for production in the near future.

An annotated list of online sources for electronic texts in a variety of formats is presented in the factsheet Selected Sources for Electronic Texts (2003), available in large print and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/etexts.html>.

A fact sheet in Spanish, Libros para Ciegos e Impedidos Fisicos (2003), is available in regular print and will be available online in the near future. It is a translation of the primary NLS fact sheet Books for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals.

A technical circular titled Braille Preservation and Salvage Guidelines (03-01) is available in regular print and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/technical/circulars/braillepreservationguidelines.html>.

New magazine

NLS has selected Travel & Leisure to replace Travel Holiday, which discontinued publication after the June issue. The substitution is effective immediately.

Books for Adults

Cassettes Nonfiction

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician      RC 51541
by Christoph Wolff
read by Peter Gil
6 cassettes
A musical biography of the German composer by a Harvard professor of music. Wolff presents the "essence" of Bach's life in the absence of documented details and concentrates "on music as part of the composer's intellectual profile." Connects Bach (1685-1750) to the spirit of discovery and learning of his era. 2000.

Five Sisters: The Langhornes of Virginia      RC 51881
by James Fox
read by Conrad Feininger
4 cassettes
Lizzie, Irene, Nancy, Phyllis, and Nora, whose lives spanned a century from the 1860s to the 1960s, were siblings in a family that lost its fortune in the Civil War and regained it building railroads. Fox, grandson of Phyllis, tells of their "odyssey on both sides of the Atlantic." 2000.

A Life Is More Than a Moment: The Desegregation of Little Rock's Central High      RC 51973
by Will Counts
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
Essays and interviews recount the 1957 Little Rock Central High School desegregation crisis when nine enrolling black students faced resistance from white citizens, encouraged by then Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus. Counts reveals the changes that occurred over the course of forty years following the event. 1999.

Chester Himes: A Life      RC 52754
by James Sallis
read by Chuck Young
3 cassettes
Discusses the African American novelist's Missouri childhood, the inception of his writing career from prison, and the failure of his early works in a racially charged climate. Explains that Himes became famous writing crime stories while an expatriate in Europe. Some strong language. 2000.

Dark Remedy: The Impact of Thalidomide and Its Revival as a Vital Medicine      RC 52760
by Trent Stephens and Rock Brynner
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Scientist Stephens and historian Brynner trace the drug thalidomide's history, from its role in the 1960s birth-defect epidemic to its comeback as a treatment for leprosy, AIDS, and some cancers. Discusses the responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry, consequences to victims, intervention by regulating agencies, and ongoing revalidating research. 2001.

A Field Guide to Boys and Girls: Differences, Similarities; Cutting-Edge Information Every Parent Needs to Know      RC 52763
by Susan Gilbert
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Explains fundamental gender differences and discusses the special needs of girls and boys. Suggests that the disparity between them begins in the womb: women having their first baby often spend more time in labor with a son than a daughter. Also provides information on nurturing and discipline. 2000.

The Cat Who Covered the World: The Adventures of Henrietta and Her Foreign Correspondent RC 53178
by Christopher S. Wren
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Wren, a New York Times correspondent, relates anecdotes from everyday life as he and his family travel to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, Ottawa, and Johannesburg along with their cat, Henrietta. He tells how he reluctantly adopted Henrietta, a part-Siamese, and how she finagled her way into the hearts of people around the world. 2000.

Silent Death: The Threat of Chemical and Biological Terrorism      RC 53182
by Kathlyn Gay
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Survey of biological warfare agents, such as anthrax, plague, and food poisoning, and chemical weapons such as the nerve gases used in the Gulf War that could be employed in other world conflicts. Describes terrorist threats and the defense measures used to combat them. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

Great Presidential Wit: I Wish I Was in This Book      RC 53187
by Bob Dole
read by Gary Roan
2 cassettes
Former presidential candidate Bob Dole ranks the American presidents in terms of their senses of humor. Gives examples of their wit in the form of one-liners, wisecracks, witticisms, self-deprecations, and quips. 2001.

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats      RC 53190
by T.S. Eliot
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette (Reissue)
Fifteen poems by the Nobel Prize-winning author, written in the 1930s for his godchildren. Used later as the basis for the musical Cats, the collection features such felines as Rum Tum Tugger, the Jellicles, Old Deuteronomy, Mr. Mistoffelees, and Macavity. 1939.

"My Friend, You Are Legally Blind": A Writer's Struggle with Macular Degeneration      RC 53279
by Charles Champlin
read by Russ Weinstein
1 cassette
A journalist for fifty years relates his lifestyle accommodations after being diagnosed in 1999 with age-related macular degeneration. Describes his adjustments to being unable to drive and read, organizations and tools that have assisted him, and medical treatments he has tried. 2001.

Balsamic Dreams: A Short but Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation      RC 53282
by Joe Queenan
read by Ray DiZefalo
2 cassettes
Humorous social commentary by a New York Times columnist depicts the generation of baby boomers--himself included--as "the most obnoxious people in the history of the human race." Whenever confronted with unsettling topics, like death, baby boomers sign up for self-improvement classes. Describes how the sixties generation lost its way. 2001.

A New England Table      RC 53284
edited by Ainslie Turner
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Collection of 450 traditional New England recipes gathered from members and friends of the Mystic Seaport community. Includes recipes for crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, and other North Atlantic seafoods; for soups, stews, and chowders; for breads, biscuits, and muffins; for chicken, beef, and pork dishes; and for a variety of vegetables, fruits, and desserts. 2000.

The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis      RC 53291
selected by Caroline Kennedy
read by Barbara Caruso
1 cassette
Favorite poems of the former first lady selected by her daughter. Includes "For John F. Kennedy His Inauguration" by Robert Frost and diverse popular works from childhood on. Concludes with original works by Jackie interspersed with commentary by Caroline. Bestseller 2001.

Theodore Rex      RC 53306
by Edmund Morris
read by Peter Johnson
5 cassettes
This sequel to The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (RC 14168) concentrates on TR's two terms as president following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. Discusses Roosevelt's major achievements, including a Nobel Peace Prize, the Panama Canal treaty, and enduring antitrust and conservation legislation. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Family Estrangements: How They Begin, How to Mend Them, How to Cope with Them      RC 53654
by Barbara LeBey
read by Bruce Nelson
2 cassettes
An attorney offers advice on solving estrangements within families due to religious, racial, and sexual differences as well as those caused by divorce, inheritance, business, or conflicts with in-laws. Suggests methods for coping and ways to heal the breach. 2001.

The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed      RC 53672
by Sara Gay Forden
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Traces the business fortunes of Italy's Gucci family from its first leather shop in Florence in 1921 to the loss of the fashion conglomerate in the 1990s. Investigates events suggesting that personal and legal squabbles of the dysfunctional second and third generations culminated in the 1995 murder of Maurizio Gucci. 2000.

Walking with Dinosaurs: A Natural History      RC 53673
by Tim Haines
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Recreates the probable environment of Earth millions of years ago when huge reptiles roamed. Presents likely scenes from the dinosaurs' daily lives. Discusses debates among scientists about whether the creatures hunted alone or in packs and how they became extinct. Companion volume to the Discovery Channel series. 1999.

The Irrational Season: The Crosswicks Journal, Book 3      RC 53675
by Madeleine L'Engle
read by Barbara Rappaport
2 cassettes (Reissue)
L'Engle presents a self-exploration through the liturgical seasons of the year that combines anecdotes, poetry, letters, and a discussion of human relationships. She reaffirms her commitment to Christianity. 1977.

Disaster! The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906      RC 53784
by Dan Kurzman
read by Chuck Young
2 cassettes
Recreates the historic California catastrophe by recounting personal tragedies that occurred during the destruction of San Francisco. Describes the social scene the night before the earthquake and the reactions of citizens, government officials, and soldiers during the following three days of fire and chaos. 2001.

Hope Is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds      RC 53998
by Christopher Cokinos
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Presents the histories of six extinct North American birds: Carolina parakeet, ivory-billed woodpecker, heath hen, passenger pigeon, Labrador duck, and great auk. Discusses the people who killed these birds and those who protected them. The author describes his visits to the birds' former habitats and what he concluded from his research. 2000.

The Thirty Years' War      RC 54101
edited by Geoffrey Parker
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Essay collection recounting the European conflicts that became known as the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) between contending Protestant and Catholic regimes. Concluding chapter analyzes the struggle's effect on warfare, national economies, and the balance of power. 1984.

Believing It All: What My Children Taught Me about Trout Fishing, Jelly Toast, and Life      RC 54152
by Marc Parent
read by Marc Parent
2 cassettes
After his career as a child-welfare caseworker, described in Turning Stones (RC 43442), the author moves to the country and becomes a stay-at-home dad. He recalls the joys of raising two young sons and records their innocent observations about God, death, angels, fishing, and getting a new bed. 2001.

Between the Lines: Nine Principles to Live By      RC 54153
by Orel Hershiser
read by Orel Hershiser
1 cassette
Former major-league baseball pitcher and author of Out of the Blue (RC 29036) lists precepts that have guided him to a successful personal and professional life. Uses anecdotes from his career to illustrate how friends, mentors, and family, along with a sense of humor and positive attitude, help. 2001.

The Genesis of Justice: Ten Stories of Biblical Injustice That Led to the Ten Commandments and Modern Law      RC 54155
by Alan M. Dershowitz
read by Alan Dershowitz
2 cassettes
Harvard law professor evaluates ten characters--including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham, and Tamar--from the book of Genesis to show how the flawed behavior of human beings led to the Ten Commandments. Posits that the Bible is also a law book. 2000.

Still Woman Enough: A Memoir      RC 54166
by Loretta Lynn
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Country singer continues her autobiography begun in Coal Miner's Daughter (RC 47599). Includes reminiscences of her career and friendship with Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, and other entertainers; her stormy marriage to her late husband, Doolittle Lynn; and her relationships with her children. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Ambling into History: The Unlikely Odyssey of George W. Bush      RC 54167
by Frank Bruni
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Journalist examines Bush's personal characteristics and qualities during his progress from Texas governor to United States president and recounts anecdotes from campaign coverage. Describes Bush's reactions to the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, that changed the tenor of his presidency. Bestseller 2002.

The Age of Homespun: Objects and Stories in the Creation of an American Myth      RC 54205
by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author explores U.S. history as revealed by early New England production of household goods. Ulrich describes how these objects, treasured by nineteenth-century Americans, mark commercial progression and shares information about their creators and users. 2001.

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy      RC 54211
by Donald Kagan
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
The life and times of Greek general and statesman Pericles (499-429 B.C.), who institutionalized democracy in fifth-century B.C. Athens. Traces his career as a politician and as a soldier during the wars with Sparta, as well as his personal life and fall from grace. 1991.

The Bitter Woods: The Dramatic Story, Told at All Echelons (from Supreme Command to Squad Leader) of the Crisis That Shook the Western Coalition--Hitler's Surprise Ardennes Offensive      RC 54245
by John S.D. Eisenhower
read by Ted Stoddard
5 cassettes
Account of the Germans' last-ditch offensive in late 1944 against the Allied forces in Belgium. Includes a 1995 introduction by Stephen E. Ambrose. 1969.

America and the Sea: A Maritime History      RC 54251
by Benjamin W. Labaree and others
read by Ted Stoddard
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Relates the maritime history of the United States since colonial times. Includes commercial and naval affairs, shipbuilding, fisheries, and mariners--their unique culture and the vessels they manned. Discusses the role of women, Native Americans, and other ethnic minorities, as well as climate and other natural phenomena. 1998.

Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and Their Food, at Sea and Ashore, in the Nineteenth Century RC 54252
by Sandra L. Oliver
read by Barbara Pinolini
6 cassettes
Examines New Englanders' adaptations of European cuisine using the indigenous ingredients of their new setting. Discusses the acquisition, preparation, and preservation of food in private homes and on board ship. Includes nearly two hundred authentic Yankee recipes. 1995.

Whale Hunt: The Narrative of a Voyage by Nelson Cole Haley, Harpooner in the Ship Charles W. Morgan, 1849-1853      RC 54257
by Nelson Cole Haley
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Memoir of a young New Englander's adventures on a whaling expedition to the South Pacific. In later life, Haley, who was seventeen at the start of this four-year voyage, recalls the thrill of harpooning whales and the excitement of exotic trips among the islands of Oceania. 1990.

All This and Sailing, Too: An Autobiography      RC 54258
by Olin J. Stephens
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Successful twentieth-century American yacht designer recounts his sailing adventures: from youthful escapades with his brother, Rod, and their father, Roderick Sr., through his World War II work, to his many years with the America's Cup. 1999.

A Life in Boats: The Years before the War      RC 54259
by Waldo Howland
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Howland recalls the peak years of American yachting, the period between World Wars I and II. Traces various influences that led to his lifelong passion for sailing, small craft, and the sea. Focusing on ocean races between 1928 and 1933, he discusses Concordia designs for yachts. 1984.

The Painter of Modern Life and Other Essays      RC 54279
by Charles Baudelaire
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A selection of the nineteenth-century French poet's critical essays, including pieces on Baudelaire's favorite artistic heroes: Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Allan Poe, Richard Wagner, and Constantin Guys. Includes an introduction by the English translator, Jonathan Mayne. 1964.

A Mind at a Time      RC 54305
by Mel Levine
read by John Richardson
4 cassettes
Pediatrician and learning expert shows how parents and children can identify their strengths and weaknesses to determine individual learning styles. Levine also shows how parents and teachers can develop effective strategies to help every child succeed. Bestseller 2002.

The Johns Hopkins Consumer Guide to Medical Tests: What You Can Expect, How You Should Prepare, What Your Results Mean      RC 54349
edited by Simeon Margolis
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes
Explains more than 170 medical tests to educate patients, especially those over fifty, about their treatments. Gives the purpose, results, risks, and estimated cost of each procedure. Includes routine screenings, genetic tests, home testing, and diagnostic imaging. 2001.

The History of Ophthalmology      RC 54351
edited by Daniel M. Albert and Diane D. Edwards
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
Eighteen essays provide an overview of progress in eye treatment over the past two thousand years. Contributors discuss ancient remedies, discoveries about the eye's anatomy, improvements in scientific methodology, development of eyeglasses, and surgical procedures, among other topics. 1996.

Aquagenesis: The Origin and Evolution of Life in the Sea      RC 54352
by Richard Ellis
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes
Marine biologist traces the evolution of ocean life from the earliest microbes to the myriad species discovered in the twentieth century. Includes discussion of hydrothermal vents, land mammals that adapted to the sea, and the humans who study these creatures. 2001.

The Northern Lights      RC 54386
by Lucy Jago
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Account of the Norwegian physicist Kristian Olaf Birkeland (1867-1917), who unlocked the mystery of the aurora borealis. During an 1899 expedition to the Arctic Circle, Birkeland studied the phenomenon and presented theoretical and empirical proofs of his magnetic-field hypothesis. War, politics, and his own eccentricity affected his professional standing. 2001.

Molto Agitato: The Mayhem behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera      RC 54391
by Johanna Fiedler
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Insider's view of the Metropolitan Opera and its politics. Describes the power struggle between the creative, social, and financial forces that have shaped the opera company's history since its founding in 1883. Portrays the artistic temperaments of Arturo Toscanini, Rudolf Bing, James Levine, and other leading figures. 2001.

Non Campus Mentis: World History according to College Students      RC 54419
compiled by Anders Henriksson
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
History professor culls humorous and absurd mistakes made by students from colleges in the United States and Canada in their term papers and exams. Includes misspellings, misinterpretations, and errors that point to glaring deficiencies in a generation's education. 2001.

Slander: Liberal Lies about the American Right      RC 54437
by Ann Coulter
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Conservative commentator and author of High Crimes and Misdemeanors (RC 47084) argues that liberals control the mainstream media and use it to demonize conservatives and conservative values. Coulter identifies a "liberal catechism" that includes "a hatred of Christians, guns, the profit motive," and free speech. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich      RC 54439
by Kevin Phillips
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
Author of The Politics of Rich and Poor (RC 32071) presents the connection between big money and political power over the course of more than two centuries of U.S. history. Warns that the alliance of influential capitalists and government leaders may lead to the nation's downfall. Bestseller 2002.

The Healthy Kitchen: Recipes for a Better Body, Life, and Spirit      RC 54451
by Andrew Weil and Rosie Daley
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
Authors combine nutrition facts and advice with easy-to-follow family recipes. They discuss good health practices, stocking the pantry, and reading food-product labels. Recipes cover breakfast, beverages, appetizers, salads, soups, entrées, side dishes, desserts, and menu plans. Nutrition information (calories, fat, cholesterol per serving) accompanies each entry. Bestseller 2002.

Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done      RC 54454
by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
read by Tom Burch
2 cassettes
A consultant and a CEO team up to offer insight and practical advice on implementing decisions to build success in business. The authors emphasize that execution is a learned discipline and describe the components needed to achieve desired results. Bestseller 2002.

Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician      RC 54455
by Anthony Everitt
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Uses letters and first-person accounts to create a biography of the Roman orator and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), a fierce supporter of the republican form of government. Cicero was present when Julius Caesar was murdered and was himself assassinated a few years later. Bestseller 2001.

The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream      RC 54458
by Sampson Davis and others
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Three twenty-nine-year-old African American doctors--two physicians and a dentist--describe how their friendship helped them to overcome obstacles and to pursue their career goals. They share how they motivated each other to leave problem neighborhoods of Newark, enroll in college, and enter professions. For senior high and older readers. Bestseller 2002.

Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East      RC 54459
by Michael B. Oren
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Political background and day-by-day chronicle of the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict known to the West as the Six-Day War and to the Arabs as "the Setback." Explains how this local war transformed the Middle East and discusses its global consequences. Extensive research includes analysis of documents declassified long after the event. Bestseller 2002.

Shaking the Nickel Bush      RC 54466
by Ralph Moody
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes (Reissue)
This sequel to Mary Emma & Company (RC 43674) finds the author in 1918 diagnosed with diabetes and advised to seek a healthier climate. Raised in Colorado, nineteen-year-old Ralph looks forward to escaping Boston. He heads for Arizona, camps out, works as a stunt rider and sculptor, and travels throughout the Southwest. 1962.

The Dry Divide      RC 54467
by Ralph Moody
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Shaking the Nickel Bush (RC 54466), Ralph Moody is twenty in 1919 when he lands in Nebraska without any money. Three months later he owns eight teams of horses and falls in love. 1963.

Art: The Critics' Choice; 150 Masterpieces of Western Art Selected and Defined by the Experts RC 54489
edited by Marina Vaizey
read by Frank Coffee
3 cassettes
A brief chronological history of Western art. An introductory overview of classical and early Christian art is followed by ten essays in which period specialists discuss exemplary masterworks from the Middle Ages to the late twentieth century. Themes explored throughout include the relationships between painters and their subjects and the influence of particular works. 1999.

Robert Schumann: Herald of a "New Poetic Age"      RC 54490
by John Daverio
read by Dennis Rooney
5 cassettes
A musicologist's comprehensive reappraisal of the life and works of the nineteenth-century German composer. Daverio sets out to dispel some old myths about Schumann and portray him as "the first in Western musical history to view the art of composition as a kind of literary activity." 1997.

Girl in the Mirror: Mothers and Daughters in the Years of Adolescence      RC 54520
by Nancy L. Snyderman and Peg Streep
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Explores the relationship between teenage daughters and their mothers--especially those of middle age. Explains psychological and physical aspects of adolescence. Uses research and personal anecdotes to assist parents in achieving a positive family life through communication and the teaching of morals. 2002.

The Heidi Chronicles      RC 54526
by Wendy Wasserstein
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Award-winning play centers around art historian Heidi Holland and her evolution from college student to adoptive mother. Traces three decades of love affairs, friendships, and personal growth. Some strong language. Pulitzer Prize. 1990.

Clark Gable: A Biography      RC 54530
by Warren G. Harris
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Life of "the king of Hollywood," Clark Gable (1901-1960), covering his family background, five marriages, numerous affairs, and children. Describes the actor's professional development--beginning in theater and vaudeville and continuing in the studio system as it existed in the early days of motion pictures. Some strong language. 2002.

Peter Taylor: A Writer's Life      RC 54531
by Hubert H. McAlexander
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Biography of Peter Taylor (1917-1994), Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer best known for his short stories. Explores his work and chronicles his circle of notable literary friends such as Randall Jarrell, Robert Lowell, John Crowe Ransom, Allen Tate, Robert Penn Warren, Eudora Welty, and his wife, the poet Eleanor Ross Taylor. 2001.

The Age of Science: What Scientists Learned in the Twentieth Century      RC 54533
by Gerard Piel
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes
The founder and publisher of the magazine Scientific American presents an overview of modern scientific achievements. Writing for nonscientists, he provides historical and interpretive surveys of major twentieth-century developments in physics, chemistry, astronomy, cosmology, cell biology, evolution, geology, and physical and cultural anthropology. 2001.

The American Revolution: A History      RC 54537
by Gordon S. Wood
read by David Meyers
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, the author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution (RC 36630), explores the causes and effects of the rebellion of the North American colonies. Discusses the republican ideas, developed over the century and a half before the insurrection, that inspired the colonists. 2002.

Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam      RC 54538
by Gilles Kepel
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Professor of Middle East Studies from France theorizes that the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York was a consequence of the failure of Islamic fundamentalism to achieve its goals over the past forty years. Analyzes Islamism in Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Bosnia, and elsewhere. 2002.

The CEO of the Sofa      RC 54546
by P.J. O'Rourke
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Conservative political humorist, last heard from in Eat the Rich (RC 47385), continues ranting against Democrats, the United Nations, elections, the new economy, and midlife among toddlers. Some strong language. 2001.

Dinner at the New Gene Café: How Genetic Engineering Is Changing What We Eat, How We Live, and the Global Politics of Food      RC 54549
by Bill Lambrecht
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
Journalist explores the worldwide controversy over the implications of genetically engineered crops. Drawing on extensive research, travel, and numerous interviews, the author considers changes to the environment, the control of world food supplies, global economics, and the relationship between science and society. 2001.

Chasing Science: Science as Spectator Sport      RC 54555
by Frederik Pohl
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Prize-winning science fiction writer describes his world travels--six continents, all fifty United States, and most Canadian provinces--to indulge his infatuation with scientific experiences. He visits laboratories, observatories, volcanoes, dams, caves, and archaeological sites. Includes an appendix listing the technology centers mentioned in the text. 2000.

Special Providence: American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World      RC 54556
by Walter Russell Mead
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
Explains how America's rise to world power was guided by balancing four different schools of thought: the Hamiltonian, Jeffersonian, Jacksonian, and Wilsonian. Theorizes that American foreign policy will continue to be shaped by its "collisions and debates far into the future." 2001.

The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony      RC 54567
by Pamela Paul
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
Explores the phenomenon of the starter marriage--"one that lasts five years or less and ends before children begin." Posits that the failings of the Baby Boom generation, chiefly its high divorce rate, caused unrealistic expectations of marriage in their children that lead to disappointment and dissolution. 2002.

A Passion for the Possible: A Guide to Realizing Your True Potential      RC 54578
by Jean Houston
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
Practical guide on heightening self-awareness. Readers are escorted through the "four levels of being": sensory, psychological, mythic/symbolic, and spiritual. Based on a PBS program. 1997.

Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our Recent History      RC 54581
by Kati Marton
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Examines the marriages of twentieth-century presidents. Studies the intersection of power, love, and wedlock; the evolving role of women in society; and how the inner lives and public faces of White House marriages have influenced American history. 2001.

Divided We Stand: A Biography of New York's World Trade Center      RC 54587
by Eric Darton
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
A history of the Manhattan landscape from 1626 until 1999. Traces the political and economic forces that led to the construction and financing of the World Trade Center. Relates the involvement of David and Nelson Rockefeller, the New York Port Authority, city planner Robert Moses, and architect Minoru Yamasaki. 1999.

Virginia Woolf: A Biography      RC 54606
by Quentin Bell
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes (Reissue)
A record of the British author's artistic and personal life by her nephew. Discusses the influences on Virginia Stephen Woolf (1882-1941) in her youth as well as in the Bloomsbury years and her marriage to Leonard Woolf. Portrays the precarious mental state and the creative mind behind such works as Orlando (RC 23691). 1972.

Patti's Pearls: Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously      RC 54611
by Patti LaBelle and Laura Randolph Lancaster
read by Patti Labelle
1 cassette
Noted rhythm-and-blues singer offers inspiration using anecdotes from her life to guide others to a more fulfilling existence. Includes her favorite "sentence sayings" passed down from generations and from the Bible. 2001.

Gods of War, Gods of Peace: How the Meeting of Native and Colonial Religions Shaped Early America RC 54662
by Russell Bourne
read by Corrie James
3 cassettes
Examines the collision of Native American and European cultures in northeastern America between 1620 and 1830. Discusses the interactions of these groups and the enduring aftereffects on their religions. Portrays outstanding individuals from both sides and assesses their spheres of influence. 2002.

Sakharov: A Biography      RC 54665
by Richard Lourie
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Chronicles the career and conscience of the great Russian physicist who won the Nobel Peace Prize. Explains how Andrei Sakharov was initially valued by the Soviet Union for his work on the hydrogen bomb. But when he became a dissident and championed human rights, he was treated as a public enemy. 2002.

Edith and Woodrow: The Wilson White House      RC 54666
by Phyllis Lee Levin
read by Margaret Strom
5 cassettes
Former New York Times reporter discusses Edith Bolling Galt Wilson's role in running the country, especially after President Woodrow Wilson's 1919 stroke. Using formerly unavailable medical reports, White House memorandums, and internal documents, Levin shows how Edith made herself indispensable to her husband and destroyed his relationship with his friend and advisor Colonel Edward House. 2001.

Fire Lover: A True Story      RC 54668
by Joseph Wambaugh
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Analyzes the personality and crimes of a Glendale, California, fire investigator who was also a serial arsonist. John Orr's fingerprint on an incendiary device, a novel he wrote, and other circumstantial evidence ultimately convicted him in the deaths of four innocent victims. Strong language. 2002.

Art Lover: A Biography of Peggy Guggenheim      RC 54671
by Anton Gill
read by Anne Flosnik
4 cassettes
Portrait of an influential collector of modern art. Discusses the New York socialite's promiscuous and scandalous private life, her years in Europe among artists and intellectuals, and her promotion of abstract painters such as Jackson Pollock. 2002.

Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development      RC 54677
by George E. Vaillant
read by John Hammock
3 cassettes
Psychiatrist offers anecdotes and tips on changing one's life for the better as one ages. Uses data from a famed longitudinal study to summarize the protective factors and personal qualities that enable a person to achieve happiness in later years. 2002.

This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland      RC 54678
by Gretel Ehrlich
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
After Ehrlich first travels to Greenland in 1993 for health reasons, her euphoria in the northernmost latitudes leads to return trips. Inspired by Knud Rasmussen's expedition notes, her solo peregrinations bring her into the communal hunting culture of the Inuit. Includes luminous descriptions of her ice adventures and vivid portraits of Polar Eskimos. 2001.

Love Stories of World War II      RC 54680
compiled by Larry King
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Television host Larry King narrates true tales of romance during the Second World War. Includes diverse memories of those who rushed into marriage, of some who met while training far from home, of war brides from abroad, and of a wounded soldier and his nurse. 2001.

How Do We Know When It's God? A Spiritual Memoir      RC 54692
by Dan Wakefield
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Returning: A Spiritual Journey (RC 27597), a novelist, journalist, and screenwriter profiles his quest to discern God's plan for him. Considers the difficulties of maintaining his faith while trying to succeed in a complex, secular world. Asserts that obedience to God leads to lasting fulfillment. 1999.

Relentless Pursuit: The DSS and the Manhunt for the al-Qaeda Terrorists      RC 54693
by Samuel M. Katz
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Author of The Hunt for the Engineer (RC 49726) investigates the law enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of State, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Describes efforts to find Islamic radicals responsible for assaults on Americans and American interests, including the bombings of embassies in Africa and two World Trade Center attacks. 2002.

The Reckoning: Iraq and the Legacy of Saddam Hussein      RC 54695
by Sandra Mackey
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
Journalist describes Iraq's evolution into an authoritarian regime under Saddam Hussein. Discusses the country's earlier history as a crossroads between East and West, its emergence as a state following World War I, Saddam's rise to power, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the foreign-policy dilemma Iraq represents to the United States. 2002.

Getting the Most Out of Diabetes Camp: A Guide for Parents and Kids      RC 54696
by American Diabetes Association
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Offers insights and tips for parents and their diabetic children in selecting a suitable summer camp. Gives advice on how to choose the right place, what to expect, and how to prepare. Includes anecdotes and a list of facilities. 2002.

When Every Moment Counts: What You Need to Know about Bioterrorism from the Senate's Only Doctor      RC 54697
by Bill Frist
read by Tom Burch
1 cassette
A physician who is a senator from Tennessee offers advice on what citizens should do in case of a biological or chemical attack. Describes the steps taken when anthrax was discovered in the U.S. Capitol, the nature of various bacteria available to terrorists, and precautions to be taken in the home. 2002.

Sky of Stone      RC 54699
by Homer H. Hickam
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
The third volume of Hickam's memoirs, following Rocket Boys (RC 47833) and The Coalwood Way (RC 52009). Recounts what he learned about love and labor unions during his first summer working in the West Virginia coal mines in 1961, after his freshman year in engineering school. 2001.

When I Was a Young Man: A Memoir      RC 54702
by Bob Kerrey
read by Tom Burch
2 cassettes
Account by the former Nebraska governor, senator, and onetime presidential candidate Bob Kerrey, dealing with his tour of duty as a Navy Seal in Vietnam, where one firefight resulted in civilian deaths and another--soon after--in loss of part of his leg. Bestseller 2002.

Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam      RC 54703
by John L. Esposito
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
A professor of religion and international affairs who is the director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University discusses popular misconceptions about Islam. Answers questions about the differences between the majority of Muslims and the minority who proclaim jihad or holy war. 2002.

Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime      RC 54704
by Eliot A. Cohen
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Professor of Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins examines the issue of civil-military relations in wartime. Cohen analyzes the successes of Abraham Lincoln, Georges Clemenceau, Winston Churchill, and David Ben-Gurion to determine how they maintained control of their military commanders. 2002.

Like Sound through Water: A Mother's Journey through Auditory Processing Disorder      RC 54706
by Karen J. Foli
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
A mother's account of her family's struggle to obtain the correct diagnosis of their oldest son's rare hearing handicap--auditory processing disorder (APD). Foli's acute intuition alerted her to Ben's developmental delays from an early age, but finding help for him was a prolonged challenge. 2002.

Mending Your Heart in a Broken World: Finding Comfort in the Scriptures      RC 54714
by Patsy Clairmont
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
Instructions on using the Bible, specifically the Book of Nehemiah, to recover from pain and loss. The author includes examples from her own life for inspiration. 2001.

Colon and Rectal Cancer: A Patient's Guide to Treatment      RC 54715
by Paul Ruggieri
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Physician describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and various treatments for colon and rectal cancers. Offers information on prevention and early detection as well as emotional support during recovery. 2001.

End Times Fiction: A Biblical Consideration of the Left Behind Theology      RC 54717
by Gary DeMar
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
In this critical examination of end-time prophecies, the author challenges the theological foundation of the popular Left Behind fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. DeMar offers alternative interpretations of Bible prophecy presented in the series. 2001.

A Golfer's Life      RC 54722
by Arnold Palmer
read by David Myers
3 cassettes
Legendary golf champion recalls meaningful experiences from his private life and public career. He reminisces about other PGA tour players and outstanding matches of the 1950s and 1960s, and discusses his marriage and family and his successes and disasters. 1999.

Evil Twins      RC 54723
by John Glatt
read by Tom Burch
2 cassettes
Explores whether twins develop similar habits through nature or nurture. Glatt examines several cases of identical twins who commit violent crimes with or against each other. Explicit descriptions of sex and violence. 1999.

No Peace, No Honor: Nixon, Kissinger, and Betrayal in Vietnam      RC 54727
by Larry Berman
read by Tom Burch
3 cassettes
Using North Vietnamese and American documents declassified many years later, a history professor analyzes President Nixon's and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's conduct of the negotiations that ended American involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973. Contends that U.S. duplicity left South Vietnam vulnerable to takeover by the North. 2001.

Lung Cancer: Myths, Facts, Choices--and Hope      RC 54728
by Claudia I. Henschke and Peggy McCarthy
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer as well as risk factors and the role of heredity. Offers practical suggestions for living with the disease and optimizing the quality of life. 2002.

Empire Statesman: The Rise and Redemption of Al Smith      RC 54729
by Robert A. Slayton
read by Tom Burch
4 cassettes
The life and times of the four-term governor of New York--the "Happy Warrior" Al Smith (1873-1944). Discusses Smith's career in politics and success in reforming the largest industrial state. Analyzes his 1928 presidential bid, lost because of anti-Catholic sentiment, and his feud in later years with Franklin Roosevelt. 2001.

What to Expect When You're Expecting      RC 54731
by Heidi Murkoff and others
read by Kerry Cundiff
6 cassettes
Third edition of the classic childbirth primer. Details the physical and emotional symptoms, medical tests, and procedures women are likely to experience before, during, and after pregnancy. Includes information on postpartum depression, breastfeeding, alternative birthing, diet, and chronic health conditions. 2002.

The Surgery Handbook: A Guide to Understanding Your Operation      RC 54732
by Paul Ruggieri
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Physician describes aspects of surgery from selecting a doctor, preparing for the operation, and returning home. Includes information on pain management, risk factors, anesthesia, possible complications, and recovery. Explains how to alleviate anxiety, obtain a second opinion, and choose a hospital. 2000.

The Everything Feng Shui Book: Create Harmony and Peace in Any Room      RC 54736
by Katina Z. Jones
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Describes the basics behind the Chinese belief in balance, harmony, and peace in living space. Explains how to use feng shui to create clutter-free, positive flow in all your rooms as well as outside in the garden and in your office. 2002.

Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn      RC 54740
by Larry Colton
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
Sharon LaForge, a Native American from Montana, plays on her high school's basketball team, hoping to win a college scholarship. Explores life on the impoverished Crow Indian Reservation and describes the obstacles that Sharon and her teammates encounter. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. Alex Award. 2000.

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors      RC 54741
by Piers Paul Read
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The ordeal of sixteen young Uruguayan men who survived seventy days in the Andes after a plane crash in 1972. Facing starvation, they were forced to make an agonizing choice between cannibalism and death. 1974.

Small Time Operator: How to Start Your Own Business, Keep Your Books, Pay Your Taxes, and Stay Out of Trouble!      RC 54744
by Bernard B. Kamoroff
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
A step-by-step guide for the small-business owner starting and operating an endeavor, from location, financing, licenses, and plans to bookkeeping, partnerships, taxes, and more. Includes information on home-based businesses and use of the Internet. 2002.

The New York Times Home Repair Almanac: A Season-by-Season Guide for Maintaining Your Home RC 54745
by Edward R. Lipinski
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Describes basic repairs that should be made season by season for the safe upkeep of one's house. Includes information on annual exterior and interior work, maintenance of small and large appliances, elimination of pests, proper use of equipment, and the choice of tools. 1999.

Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War      RC 54746
by David Detzer
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Describes the events leading up to the first shots of the Civil War, fired at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Relates the role of the fort's commander, Major Robert Anderson of Kentucky, and his superiors in Washington, as well as everyday garrison and city life in Charleston, South Carolina. 2001.

The Ultimate Container Gardener: All You Need to Know to Create Plantings for Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter      RC 54750
by Stephanie Donaldson
read by Yolande Bavan
2 cassettes
Describes how to display flowers, herbs, and other plants in baskets, window boxes, or hanging containers for both inside and outside the home. Advice with instructions for year-round cultivation and selection of items for color, fragrance, and location. 2001.

Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine RC 54755
by Brian Hicks and Schuyler Kropf
read by Tom Burch
2 cassettes
Authors describe an underwater archaeological expedition off the South Carolina coast leading to the recovery of a Civil War submarine missing since 1864. Traces the history of the vessel and describes how finding it contributes to knowledge of its last encounter with a Union battleship. 2002.

Charles Dickens      RC 54762
by Jane Smiley
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Portrays the nineteenth-century English novelist from his contemporaries' viewpoint and through his literary works. Smiley's approach is "a friendly desire to get to know" Dickens and his Victorian world and to comment on the role of writing in his life. 2002.

Brown: The Last Discovery of America      RC 54763
by Richard Rodriguez
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
2 cassettes
Rodriguez explores the ways in which Hispanic people have affected life in America and the history and symbolism of brown skin. He reflects on the cultural associations with the color brown including dirt, impurity, and time. The author proposes that the concept of race implies an element of romance. 2002.

Friendship with God: An Uncommon Dialogue      RC 54766
by Neale Donald Walsch
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Author of the Conversations with God (RC 44643,     RC 44644,     RC 47255) books writes that his relationship with God has evolved into a friendship. Walsch advocates viewing God as a friend rather than as a judgmental being to be feared. Conversations Walsch has had with God are displayed in dialog format. 1999.

Koba the Dread: Laughter and the Twenty Million      RC 54814
by Martin Amis
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A review of Kingsley Amis's affiliation with Communism leads the author, his son, to a discourse on Joseph Stalin, nicknamed Koba, and his reign of terror. Amis discusses the Soviet dictator's responsibility for the deaths of twenty million people and compares his regime with Hitler's. Some violence. Bestseller 2002.

Running with Scissors: A Memoir      RC 54817
by Augusten Burroughs
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Account by a young, self-proclaimed gay of his unorthodox 1970s upbringing by his mother's psychiatrist. Describes how after her divorce his mother handed him over to the doctor's haphazard household. Conveys the traumatic repercussions of years without formal schooling or appropriate companions. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Shoot Out: Surviving Fame and (Mis)Fortune in Hollywood      RC 54818
by Peter Bart and Peter Guber
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Two production veterans recall their years in the film industry and recount anecdotes about actors, studios, directors, and popular movies. They explain how and why films are made, revealing behind-the-scenes conflicts, gripes, and confrontations. Bestseller 2002.

Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back      RC 54828
by Jere Longman
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Portrayal of the thirty-seven passengers, two pilots, and five flight attendants who thwarted the terrorists in the skies over Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Also investigates the motivation behind the four hijackers' destructive path and the possible scenario that caused the plane to crash near Shanksville. Bestseller 2002.

The Art of Travel      RC 54829
by Alain De Botton
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Taking a philosophical approach, De Botton uses literary references and personal anecdotes to explore the why and how of travel. He describes his own travel experiences and discusses responses to particular places by Charles Baudelaire, Edward Hopper, Gustave Flaubert, Alexander von Humboldt, William Wordsworth, Edmund Burke, and John Ruskin. Bestseller 2002.

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Golf      RC 54833
by Joshua Priven and others
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
Techniques and planning guides for survival when playing the game of golf. Physical dangers include being hit by a ball, lightning, alligators, and runaway golf carts, as well as the psychological hazards of worry, aggravation, and addiction. Bestseller 2002.

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: An Investigative Reporter Exposes the Truth about Globalization, Corporate Cons, and High Finance Fraudsters      RC 54835
by Greg Palast
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
A polemical analysis of instances of global corporate fraud, political corruption, and financial manipulation. Topics include policies of such entities as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization and the circumstances surrounding the contested 2000 U.S. presidential election. Some strong language. 2002.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People      RC 54837
by Toby Young
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
A British journalist's acerbic memoir of five years in New York City's magazine publishing world and his ultimate fall from grace. Hired in 1995 by Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair, Young arrived in New York eager "to plunge headfirst into the cesspool of celebrity culture." Strong language. Bestseller 2001.

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club      RC 54840
by Laurie Notaro
read by Barbara Pinolini
1 cassette
Collection of humorous autobiographical newspaper columns, which originally appeared in the Arizona Republic. Topics include class reunions, lost keys, limited-time offers at Taco Bell, drinking, ratty underwear, her long-suffering mother, and her beloved Nana. Bestseller 2002.

Dr. Eckener's Dream Machine: The Great Zeppelin and the Dawn of Air Travel      RC 54887
by Douglas Botting
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Chronicles the technological development of airships--dirigibles or zeppelins. Focuses on their champion, German entrepreneur Dr. Hugo Eckener and describes his hopes for transforming air travel, epitomized by the 1929 around-the-world trip of the Graf Zeppelin. Discusses the use of the zeppelin in military warfare and its disastrous demise. 2001.

Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam      RC 54890
by James M. McPherson
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Author of Battle Cry of Freedom (RC 27449) describes the pivotal battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862, which left over 6,000 dead. The Union victory turned the course of the Civil War and allowed Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Bestseller 2002.

Let's Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage      RC 54895
by Lisa Beamer
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
The widow of Todd Beamer, who led his fellow passengers against the terrorists on September 11, 2001, on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, describes her late husband's life. Todd, a devout Christian family man, was raised with some traditional values that enabled him to risk his life for others. Bestseller 2002.

God's Leading Lady: Out of the Shadows and into the Light      RC 54897
by T.D. Jakes
read by David Toney
2 cassettes
Using stage metaphors, the well-known pastor and evangelist encourages women to overcome imperfections and low self-esteem. Drawing on stories of women in the Bible and in contemporary life, he recommends confronting trials, recognizing the Lord's calling, and claiming one's God-determined role. 2002.

Losing My Mind: An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer's      RC 54906
by Thomas DeBaggio
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
An early-onset Alzheimer's patient writes a memoir of the development of his condition, describing its impact on his family and detailing his progressive loss of memory. DeBaggio, a commercial herbalist from Arlington, Virginia, intersperses accounts of daily life with memories of his childhood and summaries of clinical information. 2002.

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker      RC 54912
by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good
read by Barbara Pinolini
4 cassettes
More than 800 recipes for foods prepared using slow cookers, including appetizers, snacks, and spreads; breakfast foods; soups and stews; main dishes; vegetables; and desserts. Includes numerous helpful hints to aid in the use of slow cookers. Bestseller 2002.

How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Two to Teen Cope When Someone Dies      RC 54913
by Dan Schaefer and Christine Lyons
read by John Hammock
2 cassettes
Guide for parents, older siblings, and other caregivers who are helping children deal with death. This third edition includes a section on assisting children to cope with traumatic loss. Provides instructions both for specific types of loss and for children of specific ages. 2001.

Sylvia Browne's Book of Dreams      RC 54918
by Sylvia Browne
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Using "mounds of research" and accounts from hundreds of letters, Browne asserts that dreams, when put into perspective, enable people to access a new wealth of knowledge about themselves. She stresses the necessity of heeding messages in dreams, which can provide a portal to the Other Side. Bestseller 2002.

Benjamin Franklin      RC 54936
by Edmund S. Morgan
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Yale historian presents a character study of the foremost eighteenth-century American printer, diplomat, and inventor, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). Discusses Franklin's beliefs, scientific curiosity, and political leanings and his decision to "devote his life to usefulness in public service." 2002.

Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths      RC 54940
by Bruce Feiler
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
The author of Walking the Bible (RC 52171) returns to the Middle East on a personal quest to better understand Abraham, the common ancestor of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. This travelog mixed with theological meditations shows how the three religions' differing interpretations of Abraham have sparked interfaith disagreements for years. Bestseller 2002.

My Stroke of Luck      RC 55049
by Kirk Douglas
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Continuing his life story begun in Climbing the Mountain (RC 52369), the actor describes his recovery from a stroke. Douglas reminisces about his family and friends and details his struggles to overcome obstacles, despite depression and despair. 2002.

What's So Great about America      RC 55103
by Dinesh D'Souza
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Conservative scholar, former policy analyst, and author of The End of Racism (RC 43716), among other works, explains why he believes America is "the greatest, freest, and most decent society in existence." Defends the country against its critics and discusses anti-American sentiment around the globe. 2002.

Easy to Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs      RC 55122
by William Zinsser
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Celebratory survey of popular American music from 1927 to the 1960s--Broadway songs, Hollywood songs, individual hits by famous composers, and great one-shots from out of nowhere. Organized in loose chronological order around the lives of the songwriters, the book is filled with anecdotes, morsels of social history, and personal commentary. 2000.

A Promise of Justice      RC 55132
by David Protess and Rob Warden
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Chronicles the arrest, trial, imprisonment, and exoneration of Chicago's "Ford Heights Four" from 1978 to 1997. Recounts how the authors proved that these African American men were falsely convicted of a double murder, despite police misconduct, prosecutorial abuse, perjured testimony, and incorrect forensic tests. Details evidence amassed to free the men and solve the crime. 1998.

Freedom for the Blind: The Secret Is Empowerment      RC 55216
by James H. Omvig
read by Larry A. McKeever
2 cassettes
A blind attorney and rehabilitation professional draws upon his own knowledge and experience to outline some ways blind people can enrich and improve their lives and careers. Omvig promotes the development of new philosophies and strategies that challenge traditional methods of rehabilitation for blind persons in the United States. 2002.

Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order      RC 55548
by Robert Kagan
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Neo-conservative scholar analyzes the divergence in foreign policies of western Europe and the United States in the context of terrorism from the Middle East. Discusses their different perceptions of threat in terms of power and ideology. Offers steps toward reconciliation. Bestseller 2003.

Cassettes Fiction

The Furies: The Kent Family Chronicles, Vol. 4      RC 52649
by John Jakes
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Texas, 1830s. Widow Amanda Kent de la Gura, although hardened by western life, is determined to restore her family's wealth. After surviving the Alamo, Amanda and her son move to California and eventually reunite with her cousin, Jared. Sequel to The Seekers (RC 52648). Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 1976.

Gone for Soldiers      RC 52747
by Jeff Shaara
read by Michael Kramer
3 cassettes
In this prequel to Gods and Generals (RC 43292), Shaara portrays the 1846-1848 war with Mexico thirteen years before the American Civil War. Follows the actions of Major General Winfield Scott and army engineer Robert E. Lee in their battle against Antonio López de Santa Anna. 2000.

Tumbling      RC 52753
by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley
3 cassettes
African Americans Herbie and Noon move to Philadelphia from the south in the 1940s and enjoy a good life, except for a sexless marriage. They adopt abandoned newborn Fannie and, later, five-year-old Liz, and create a family with both problems and pleasures. Some strong language. 1996.

Name Dropping      RC 52757
by Jane Heller
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Nancy Stern, a thirtyish teacher at an exclusive Manhattan nursery school, has a new neighbor--a celebrity journalist with the same name. When Nancy accepts a blind date intended for the other woman, she doesn't expect to fall in love. And then the famous tenant is murdered. Some strong language. 2000.

In My Father's Court      RC 53128
by Isaac Bashevis Singer
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Stories based on Singer's childhood memories of the rabbinical court his father conducted in the family home on Krochmalna Street in Warsaw in the early 1900s. These tales reflect the importance of Jewish law and its interpretation by the rabbi in the Eastern European Jewish community. 1966.

The Peppered Moth      RC 53188
by Margaret Drabble
read by Gillian Green
3 cassettes
A family saga about three generations of women explores the impact of genetics and environment on humanity. Bessie Bawtry, born in the South Yorkshire coalfields during the early twentieth century, makes her way to Cambridge University. Her daughter, Chrissie, and granddaughter, Faro, inherit her intellectual mantle. Some strong language. 2001.

Requiem for Boone: Gene Roddenberry's Earth--Final Conflict, Volume 3      RC 53381
by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Sequel to The First Protector (RC 53380). Detective William Boone is investigating a spree of murder and computer hacking. All clues point to the alien Taelons, but Boone and his computer-expert wife uncover a conspiracy with surprising twists and turns. Associated with Earth: Final Conflict television series. 2000.

Lonely on the Mountain      RC 53566
by Louis L'Amour
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The saga of the Sacketts continues as Tyrel and Tell help cousin Logan herd eleven hundred steers across the desolate Dakota plains to the gold-mining country of British Columbia. Sequel to Treasure Mountain (RC 23518). Bestseller 1980.

Murder Boogies with Elvis: A Southern Sisters Mystery      RC 53567
by Anne George
read by Cyn Delafield
2 cassettes
Matronly sisters Mary Alice and Patricia Anne attend a benefit show where one of the Elvis impersonators is killed on stage next to Mary Alice's fiancé. Patricia Anne is arrested when the murder weapon is later discovered in her handbag. The two sleuths investigate the crime to clear their names. Some strong language. 2001.

Carter Beats the Devil      RC 53617
by Glen David Gold
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
Follows the exploits of Carter the Great--real life magician Charles Carter of San Francisco--in the early 1900s. In this story, the Secret Service is suspicious of Carter because of President Harding's death shortly after attending Carter's magic show. Carter then performs his own disappearing act. Some strong language. 2001.

Niagara Falls All Over Again      RC 53633
by Elizabeth McCracken
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Mose Sharp, the straight man to Rocky Carter in a comedy team, recounts how they became vaudeville partners, then progressed to fame in Hollywood films. Mose and Rocky swap characters in their private lives, eventually causing a rift in their partnership. Some strong language. 2001.

Ten Women Who Shook the World      RC 53636
by Sylvia Brownrigg
read by MaryBeth Wise
1 cassette
Stories featuring women who defy convention searching for love and fame. In "The Bird Chick," an entrepreneur starts out caring for the birds in a park and soon progresses to having power over them. "She Who Caught Buses" explores a librarian's prejudices toward a group of people. 1997.

Last Man Standing      RC 53640
by David Baldacci
read by Jason Culp
4 cassettes
FBI agent Web London and an inner-city boy are the only survivors when London is inexplicably paralyzed during a drug raid. The boy disappears, while London is sent to psychiatrist Dr. Claire Daniels, with whom he becomes embroiled in drug gangs and a white supremacist group. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

The Millionaires      RC 53644
by Brad Meltzer
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
Oliver and Charlie Caruso, discontented employees at a private bank for the extremely wealthy, steal unclaimed millions from a dormant account. Others with a similar criminal bent notice the theft and soon put them on the run. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Up Country      RC 53667
by Nelson DeMille
read by Scott Brick
5 cassettes
In this sequel to The General's Daughter (RC 35881), retired army investigator Paul Brenner's former boss coerces him into documenting the murder--thirty years ago in Vietnam--of one American officer by another, witnessed by an enemy soldier. The U.S. military wants the truth. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2002.

Walk in Hell: The Great War, Book 2      RC 53762
by Harry Turtledove
read by Fred Major
5 cassettes
Alternative history of World War I. In the second year of the conflict, the Confederate States deal with an African American rebellion and the United States invades Canada. Mormons in Utah also plan to secede. Sequel to American Front (RC 53761). Violence and strong language. 1999.

The Amazon Quest: The House of Winslow, Book 25      RC 53782
by Gilbert Morris
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
After World War I, James Parker is welcomed into the Winslow home under false pretenses, breaking Emily's heart when she learns the truth about him. But when Emily and her brother, Wes, travel to South America on a National Geographic assignment, she meets Ian Marlowe. Sequel to The Glorious Prodigal (RC 53781). 2001.

Sea Glass      RC 53783
by Anita Shreve
read by Judith Ann Gantly
2 cassettes
Newlyweds Honora and Sexton Beecher buy a house in New Hampshire in 1929 just before Sexton loses his sales job. He begins working at a dangerous textile mill that is unionizing. Honora makes her own friends and falls in love with another worker until tragedy strikes. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Foundation and Chaos: The Second Foundation Trilogy, Volume 2      RC 53875
by Greg Bear
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Foundation's Fear (RC 53874), Hari Seldon is on trial for treason and the Galactic Empire's migration is about to begin. But R. Daneel Olivaw, the mission's robot leader, discovers a deadly enemy, one of his own kind. 1998.

The Blackbirder: The Brethren of the Coast, Book 2      RC 53881
by James L. Nelson
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Virginia, 1702. Planter and privateer Thomas Marlowe sets out to sea with his partner, Francis Bickerstaff, and his freedman, King James. When James kills a slaver and flees back to Africa, the governor insists that Marlowe capture him. Sequel to The Guardship (RC 53880). Violence and strong language. 2001.

Horowitz and Mrs. Washington      RC 53931
by Henry Denker
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
After elderly New York widower Sam Horowitz is mugged and knifed and then suffers a stroke, his children arrange for a nurse/housekeeper to help with his physical therapy. At first Sam rejects African American Harriet Washington, but gradually he accepts her as a friend. Prequel to Mrs. Washington and Horowitz, Too (RC 52709). 1979.

The Judgment      RC 53934
by D.W. Buffa
read by Dennis Predovic
3 cassettes
Loathsome Judge Calvin Jeffries of Portland, Oregon, is murdered. Attorney Joe Antonelli suspects Elliott Winston of masterminding the crime and tries to prove it after another judge dies. Winston, a hospitalized mental patient, is a former lawyer who once attempted to kill Antonelli. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

The Short Victorious War: Honor Harrington, Volume 3      RC 53960
by David Weber
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
In this sequel to The Honor of the Queen (RC 53760), the ruling class of the People's Republic of Haven plans a short war to rally its discontented people and restore the depleted treasury. But they are up against Captain Honor Harrington. For senior high and older readers. 1994.

Field of Dishonor: Honor Harrington, Volume 4      RC 53961
by David Weber
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Honor Harrington's nemesis, Pavel Young, seeks revenge on her for having him dismissed from his military career. Sequel to The Short Victorious War (RC 53960). Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1994.

Flag in Exile: Honor Harrington, Volume 5      RC 53962
by David Weber
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Still grieving for her murdered lover, Honor Harrington, from Field of Dishonor (RC 53961), suffers self-doubt as she promotes women's rights on the patriarchal planet Grayson. A Havenite fleet arrives ready to destroy Grayson. Harrington, now an admiral, goes back to space to battle the enemy. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1995.

Masterpieces of Murder including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, And Then There Were None, Witness for the Prosecution, Death on the Nile      RC 53999
by Agatha Christie
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
5 cassettes
Four complete mystery stories from the noted British author Agatha Christie. In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, a stepson is the prime suspect in murder. In And Then There Were None, ten houseguests are slowly being eliminated by an invisible hand. 1977.

Five Complete Hercule Poirot Novels: Thirteen at Dinner, Murder on the Orient Express, The ABC Murders, Cards on the Table, Death on the Nile      RC 54003
by Agatha Christie
read by Tom Martin
7 cassettes in 2 containers
The ABC Murders involves a serial killer who leaves a railroad guide at each crime. In Cards on the Table a case is solved by observing suspects playing bridge. In Thirteen at Dinner an actress is accused of killing her husband. The other two mysteries find the Belgian private detective far from England. 1980.

The Beauty      RC 54008
by Claire Delacroix
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Scotland, 1183. In this sequel to The Countess (RC 51166), Eglantine's beautiful daughter, Jacqueline, decides to become a nun rather than marry without love. On the way to the convent, she is kidnapped by returning crusader Angus MacGillivray, who seeks revenge for his clan's destruction. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2001.

Ferdydurke      RC 54011
by Witold Gombrowicz
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
A thirty-year-old writer is abducted by a professor and turned back into a schoolboy. He uses his unprecedented new situation to give offense and admit to disreputable desires. This 1937 black comedy, a classic of European modernism, is translated into English directly from the Polish original for the first time. Foreword by Susan Sontag. 2000.

Kirkland Revels      RC 54012
by Victoria Holt
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Kirkland Revels, a magnificent manor house on the Yorkshire moors, hides many secrets from its latest resident, new bride Catherine Rockwell. When her husband supposedly commits suicide, Catherine suspects murder. 1962.

Prophecy: Child of Earth      RC 54069
by Elizabeth Haydon
read by Erin Jones
5 cassettes
Comrades Rhapsody, Achmed, and Grunthor discover what has been prophesied for them in this new world. Achmed and Grunthor search for the hidden city of the Cymrians. Rhapsody and Ashe, her new love, must find the dragon Elynsynos to save the Bolg. Sequel to Rhapsody: Child of Blood (RC 54068). 2000.

Destiny: Child of the Sky      RC 54070
by Elizabeth Haydon
read by Erin Jones
5 cassettes
Rhapsody continues her alliance with Achmed and Grunthor in the trilogy's final installment. After finishing off the sinister Rakshas in the previous volume, Prophecy: Child of Earth (RC 54069), Rhapsody and Achmed hunt for the children of the ultimate demon, F'dor. Meridion, master of the Time Editor, reveals his true role. 2001.

The Pickup      RC 54086
by Nadine Gordimer
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
A chance encounter between Julie, a privileged white South African, and Abdu, an illegal Arab immigrant car mechanic, develops into an affair. On the brink of deportation, Abdu marries Julie, who moves with him to his ancestral Muslim village. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Acorna's People      RC 54142
by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Arriving home, Acorna is welcomed by the telepathic Linyaari people. Unaccustomed to their ways, Acorna has much to learn. She still faces more danger before she can enjoy her newfound world. Sequel to Acorna's Quest (RC 54141). For senior high and older readers. 1999.

Fortress of Dragons      RC 54148
by C.J. Cherryh
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Fourth volume of the fantasy epic quartet about two friends--Tristen, a wizard's Shaping, and Cefwyn, king of Ylesuin--follows Fortress of Owls (RC 54147). As bitter winter winds blow, Tristen and Cefwyn battle against forces threatening the kingdom's stability and the line of succession to its throne. 2000.

Ship of Magic: The Liveship Traders, Book 1      RC 54149
by Robin Hobb
read by Roy Avers
6 cassettes
First of a fantasy trilogy involving sea serpents, pirates, and wizardwood trading ships that "quicken" after the proper sequence of events. The liveship Vivacia becomes the center of contention between the dastardly Captain Kyle Haven and wrongly disinherited Althea Vestrit. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1998.

Mad Ship: The Liveship Traders, Book 2      RC 54150
by Robin Hobb
read by Roy Avers
6 cassettes
Continues the tale of the Vestrit clan and their liveship Vivacia from Ship of Magic (RC 54149). The trading ship is under command of the pirate king Kennit while Captain Haven and his son, Wintrow, are hostages. Althea and her lover, Brashen, sail a "mad ship" in pursuit. Some strong language. 1999.

Courting Trouble      RC 54177
by Lisa Scottoline
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Philadelphia lawyer Anne Murphy leaves town for the Fourth of July weekend only to read in the newspaper that she's been murdered. Anne realizes that her cat-sitter must have been killed by mistake, so she remains in hiding to catch the culprit. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Demelza: A Novel of Cornwall, 1788-1790      RC 54182
by Winston Graham
read by Graeme Malcolm
3 cassettes (Reissue)
In this sequel to Ross Poldark (RC 54181), Ross is now married to his young serving girl Demelza, the daughter of a miner. His family is shocked until his cousin Verity later elopes with a sea captain. Times are changing, and money is more important than blood. 1953.

Angle of Repose      RC 54215
by Wallace Stegner
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Historian Lyman Ward, immobilized by illness and deserted by his wife, has retired to his ancestral California cabin to research his family's past. The loveless marriage of his grandparents--a cultivated eastern artist and a pragmatic mining engineer--mirrors the troubled expansion of the American West. Some strong language. Pulitzer Prize. 1971.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier      RC 54273
by J.M. Dillard
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
Based on the motion picture, this Star Trek adventure finds Captain Kirk and crew attempting a dangerous rescue of the planet Nimbus III, the site of hoped for cooperation among the galaxy's major powers. 1989.

The Fifth Queen      RC 54280
by Ford Madox Ford
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
Historical fiction portraying Katharine Howard, who catches the eye of Henry VIII and becomes his fifth queen. She arrives at a court rife with corruption and intrigue and soon, fighting for political and religious change, engages in battle with Thomas Cromwell, the Lord Privy Seal. 1906.

Foul Matter      RC 54284
by Joan Aiken
read by Lisette Lecat
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Clytie, a talented British writer, recalls her many love affairs, all of which ended tragically. She is especially haunted by the memory of the husband who drowned himself on their wedding day, and of his young son, who may still be alive. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1983.

Devil's Bride      RC 54296
by Stephanie Laurens
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
Cambridgeshire, England; 1818. Honoria Wetherby, beautiful and spirited governess, envisions a life of adventure and travel that excludes marriage. Devil Cynster--of the wild and noble Cynsters--resolves to make her his wife. Cynster deviously uses the compromising circumstances of their meeting to win Honoria. Followed by A Rake's Vow (RC 54297). Descriptions of sex. 1998.

Cordina's Royal Family      RC 54302
by Nora Roberts
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Three stories concerning the royal family of Cordina. In "Affaire Royale," Princess Gabriella has amnesia after a kidnapping attempt and falls for her bodyguard. In "Command Performance," Crown Prince Alexander meets an American. In "The Playboy Prince," Prince Bennett succumbs to a scholar's charms. Followed by Cordina's Crown Jewel (RC 54303). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1986.

Cordina's Crown Jewel      RC 54303
by Nora Roberts
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Cordina's Royal Family (RC 54302), Camilla, the daughter of Princess Gabriella and an American father, leaves her public life for a more peaceful existence. She meets archaeologist Delaney Caine in Vermont and the two gradually fall in love. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

To Kiss a Spy      RC 54311
by Jane Feather
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
London, England; 1552. Widowed Lady Pen, from The Widow's Kiss (RC 54310), never believed that her baby died at birth two years ago. When Owen D'Arcy, a French spy, approaches her for information, she enlists him to investigate her son's disappearance. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Three Weeks in Paris      RC 54312
by Barbara Taylor Bradford
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Although they were once friends, Alexandra, Kay, Jessica, and Maria graduate from a Paris design school, parting as enemies. After seven silent years, they reunite to celebrate the birthday of their beloved teacher. The women examine their past feud and reveal their troubled love lives. Descriptions of sex. 2002.

Precursor      RC 54313
by C.J. Cherryh
read by Kimberly Schraf
4 cassettes
Bren Cameron, a human trained in the art of atevi relations, is sent into space to conduct a tense three-sided negotiation on the starship Phoenix among the Pilot's Guild, the atevi, and the Mospheirans, human colonists the starship abandoned in the atevi's world. Sequel to Inheritor (RC 46397). Some strong language. 1999.

Defender      RC 54314
by C.J. Cherryh
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Bren Cameron severs his alliance with Mospheira, the land of his birth, and now exclusively represents Tabini's interests in space. Tabini, leader of the atevi Association, sends Cameron to find out about the welfare of the residents on the space station Phoenix. Sequel to Precursor (RC 54313). Some strong language. 2001.

The Emperor of Ocean Park      RC 54326
by Stephen L. Carter
read by Gregory Gorton
5 cassettes
African American law professor Talcott Garland is drawn into a political conspiracy after his father--a disgraced former Supreme Court nominee--dies suddenly. Apparently the judge left clues leading to evidence of crimes by former colleagues in high places and wants his son to exact revenge. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Grave Secrets      RC 54330
by Kathy Reichs
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Forensic specialist Dr. Tempe Brennan is in Guatemala identifying the bodies of victims of political massacres committed decades earlier. She is called to the capital city to assist in a case involving missing young women, among them the Canadian ambassador's daughter. Violence and strong language. 2002.

Space: Manifold Trilogy, Volume 2      RC 54341
by Stephen Baxter
read by Gary Tipton
4 cassettes
2020. At the solar system's far edge, Reid Malenfant discovers a gateway that allows instantaneous virtual travel through vast interstellar space. While he's finding what's on the gateway's other side, Japanese scientist Nemoto searches for life on the moon. Sequel to Time (RC 54340). Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Origin: Manifold Trilogy, Volume 3      RC 54342
by Stephen Baxter
read by Gary Tipton
4 cassettes
2015. Reid Malenfant explores the possibilities of human evolution across space and time. When he and his wife, Emma Stoney, are flying over South Africa in a T-38 training jet, the reckless flight sends them colliding with a great wheel in the sky. Sequel to Space (RC 54341). Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Killing Floor      RC 54358
by Lee Child
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes
Transient Jack Reacher, a former military cop, is arrested in Margrave, Georgia, as a suspect in a double homicide. He learns that one of the victims is his brother, a U.S. Treasury Department agent. After being cleared, he stays in town to seek revenge. Violence and strong language. 1997.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich; The Cossacks; Happy Ever After      RC 54364
by Leo Tolstoy
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Three stories by Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). The Death of Ivan Ilyich is the classic novella of a dying man's reflections on a life he comes to believe may have been wasted in materialistic pursuits. The other two tales are largely autobiographical. 1960.

I, Roger Williams: A Fragment of Autobiography      RC 54406
by Mary Lee Settle
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
Chronicle of the life of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island and champion of freedom of conscience, told as if Williams himself is looking back. Relates, in seventeenth-century vernacular, his abilities at impassioned speech. His struggles and triumphs under the tutelage of Sir Edward Coke figure prominently. 2001.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan      RC 54436
by Sophie Kinsella
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
British financial expert Becky Bloomwood has a TV show, a businessman boyfriend, and an obsession with shopping, especially in New York stores. Despite her banker's warnings, Becky continues her impulse buying and jeopardizes her career and her relationship. Sequel to Confessions of a Shopaholic (RC 54435). Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Sula      RC 54438
by Toni Morrison
read by Gail Nelson
1 cassette (Reissue)
In Medallion, Ohio, African American girls Sula and Nel grow up in the Bottom during the 1920s and 1930s. Nel follows the traditional route of marriage and children, while Sula ventures out into the world. Traces their friendship and estrangement through the years. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1973.

Thieves' Paradise      RC 54440
by Eric Jerome Dickey
read by Bill Quinn
3 cassettes
When Dante is laid off and Jackson is ordered to pay child support, they hook up with con man Scamz to make some money. Dante brings actress/waitress Pam in on the deal to swindle some Hollywood types. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

The Dream of Scipio      RC 54443
by Iain Pears
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Three men in different eras confront threats to their civilizations. In the fifth century, Manlius Hippomanes pens a philosophical manuscript as barbarians invade Provence. Olivier de Noyen uncovers the work in the fourteenth century at a time of plague and anti-Semitic persecutions. And Julien Barneuve rediscovers it during the Nazi occupation of France. Bestseller 2002.

Three Fates      RC 54462
by Nora Roberts
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Irish siblings Malachi, Gideon, and Rebecca Sullivan seek the return of a family heirloom--a small antique statue--and the whereabouts of its matching pieces. During their dangerous quest, they manipulate suspects but also fall in love. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2002.

Smuggler's Moon      RC 54474
by Bruce Alexander
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
England, 1772. Blind judge Sir John Fielding is sent to the coastal town of Deal to investigate local magistrate Albert Sarton, who is suspected of aiding and abetting smugglers. With Sir John are his assistants, seventeen-year-old Jeremy and fifteen-year-old Clarissa. Once there, they all become embroiled in intrigue. 2001.

From the Heart of Covington      RC 54508
by Joan Medlicott
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Gardens of Covington (RC 52824), Grace, Hannah, and Amelia continue their saga of retirement life in North Carolina. Hannah's daughter Laura moves in to recuperate from an accident, Grace copes with her newly diagnosed diabetes, and Amelia pursues her photography hobby. 2002.

Picture Maker      RC 54509
by Penina Keen Spinka
read by Erin Jones
4 cassettes
Pre-Columbian saga of a Native American woman, Picture Maker, whose drawings foretell the future. Depicts Picture Maker's longhouse clan, the Algonquins who capture her, and the Naskapi, Inuit, and Norse people she meets journeying through eastern North America. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2002.

Sweet Nothings      RC 54513
by Catherine Anderson
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Molly Wells steals a valuable racehorse from her ex-husband after he abuses it. She takes the animal to the ranch of "horse whisperer" Jake Coulter in Oregon for help. There Molly remains in hiding. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.

The Restless Sex      RC 54518
by Robert W. Chambers
read by Janis Gray
3 cassettes
New York City, early 1900s. Lonely after his wife's death, wealthy John Cleland lives for his only son, a teenager away at prep school. After reading of an abused girl in the paper, Cleland is moved to adopt the orphan. Her ancestry surfaces to disrupt the happy threesome. 1918.

Mutant      RC 54519
by Peter Clement
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
A physician and a geneticist join forces to prevent the devastating results of improperly controlled bioengineering. Their dangerous quest spans the globe and involves corporate crimes, biological weapons, and love. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Three Times a Lady      RC 54522
by Niobia Bryant
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
African American mystery writer Jordan Banks has five adopted children who are determined to find him a wife. When workaholic investment banker Mia Gordon moves in next door in Newark, New Jersey, the kids put their plan into action. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Minutes to Burn      RC 54523
by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz
read by Erin Jones
3 cassettes
Earthquakes and hurricanes threaten the Western Hemisphere in 2007. Scientists, led by Rex Williams as well as Cameron and Justin Kates and other Navy SEALS, are sent to the Galápagos Islands to set up monitoring equipment. There they encounter mutant insects and a virus. Violence and strong language. 2001.

Hurts So Good      RC 54527
by Olivia Rupprecht
read by Sharon Murray
1 cassette
Journalist Andrea Post moves to New Orleans and takes a job in a restaurant owned by jazz legend Neil Grey. She investigates the star's past, hoping for an exclusive article, but instead falls in love. Now her betrayal may doom them both. Descriptions of sex. 1992.

Castle Barebane      RC 54529
by Joan Aiken
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes (Reissue)
1880s. Valla Montgomery leaves her job and fiancé in New York City when her half-brother Nils Hansen asks her to care for his children in England. Valla slowly discovers the awful truth about her deceitful brother and his association with a serial murderer. For senior high and older readers. 1976.

Brightly Burning      RC 54532
by Mercedes Lackey
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Lavan Chitword, a youth with special gifts, emerges as Valdemar faces war with its powerful enemy, Karse. Lavan's trainers are daunted by his fire-starting abilities, but Companion Kalira sees potential. Lavan becomes Firestorm, the most notorious Herald of all. Companion to the Heralds of Valdemar series. 2000.

Date with the Devil      RC 54536
by Olivia Rupprecht
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Librarian Diedre Forsythe and martial arts expert Sterling Jakes are marooned on an island after a shipwreck, surviving only because of Jakes's skills, and they fall in love. They are rescued by his fiancée. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1991.

Without Fail      RC 54539
by Lee Child
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes
After an assassination attempt, Jack Reacher is hired by U.S. Secret Service agent M.E. Froelich to assess the protection of vice-president-elect Brook Armstrong. Reacher is assisted by his former colleague, Frances Neagley, but they can't stop additional attempts. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2002.

Hook: A Meg Gillis Crime Novel      RC 54551
by C.J. Songer
read by MaryBeth Wise
2 cassettes
Former LAPD cop Meg Gillis serves divorce papers to the abusive husband of a female acquaintance of Mike Johnson, Meg's business partner. This simple favor leads to a world of danger, deception, and murder, and Meg must protect the people she loves. From the author of Bait (RC 49569). 1999.

Sisters of Cain: Cain Trilogy, Book 1      RC 54568
by Miriam Grace Monfredo
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Seneca Falls, New York; 1862. Glynis Tryon's niece, Bronwen Llyr, leaves home to join the Treasury Department as a Union spy. Her sister, Kathryn, volunteers as a nurse, while brother Seth joins a local regiment. Bronwen is sent undercover to Virginia to determine the enemy's strength. Sequel to Must the Maiden Die (RC 52076). 2000.

Captain Saturday      RC 54571
by Robert Inman
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
Will Baggett--Raleigh, North Carolina's favorite television weatherman--falls apart when the station is sold and he is fired. His wife leaves him and he's arrested for possession of marijuana--his son's. While in jail, he reassesses his life and decides to make changes--both professionally and personally. Strong language. 2002.

Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington      RC 54585
by Mary Higgins Clark
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
The book opens on preparations for John Adams's inauguration, with George Washington reminiscing about his career and family life--specifically his successful marriage to widow Martha "Patsy" Custis. He continues the story as he and Patsy retire to his Mount Vernon, Virginia, estate. Bestseller 1968.

Bad Heir Day      RC 54592
by Wendy Holden
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Fledgling London writer Anna Farrier takes a job as an assistant to inebriate bestselling romance writer Cassandra Knight and her lecherous washed-up rock star husband. Then Anna discovers that she's really been hired to be the nanny to the couple's fiendish eight-year-old, Zak. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

Swift as Desire      RC 54598
by Laura Esquivel
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
As her father, Júbilo, lies on his deathbed, Lluvia tries to unravel the secret behind his estrangement from her mother, Lucha. This is the tale of Júbilo's career as a telegraph operator in Mexico and his gift for communication with everyone except his wife. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery      RC 54603
by Joanne Fluke
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Bakery owner Hannah Swensen of Lake Eden, Minnesota, discovers the body of the local dairy delivery man in her alley. Although her brother-in-law, Bill Todd, is a deputy sheriff, Hannah does some sleuthing of her own. Then another murder occurs. Includes cookie recipes. 2000.

A Line in the Sand      RC 54604
by Gerald Seymour
read by Chuck Benson
3 cassettes
Frank Perry once spied for the British as an engineering equipment salesman in Iran. Now his assumed identity in a Suffolk village is compromised and terrorists are after him. The villagers have turned against his family and the secret service uses him as a decoy. Violence and strong language. 1999.

The Fountain Overflows      RC 54605
by Rebecca West
read by Jill Ferris
4 cassettes (Reissue)
London, early 1900s. In this tale of eccentricity in an artistic family, the father is a writer and failing provider for his family. The mother, a former pianist, insists that music play an integral part in her children's lives, even though one of them proves not to be gifted. 1956.

The Body in the Bonfire: A Faith Fairchild Mystery      RC 54609
by Katherine Hall Page
read by Barbara Caruso
2 cassettes
Caterer Faith Fairchild agrees to teach cooking at the local boys' boarding school to find out who's been anonymously harassing an African American student. The remains of a student are discovered in the ashes after the annual fall bonfire. Some strong language. 2002.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?      RC 54649
by Philip K. Dick
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
In the year 2021 Rick Deckard is employed as a bounty hunter on a dying Earth. He seeks androids that look like humans and destroys them. Basis for the 1982 movie Blade Runner. 1968.

Brothers of Cain: Cain Trilogy, Book 2      RC 54655
by Miriam Grace Monfredo
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
1862. Glynis Tryon's nieces, Bronwen and Kathryn Llyr, of Seneca Falls, New York, volunteer as nurses following the southern rebellion. Bronwen, a spy, learns that their brother, Seth, is to be hanged for espionage in Richmond, Virginia, and plots to free him. Sequel to Sisters of Cain (RC 54568). 2001.

Miracle at St. Anna      RC 54657
by James McBride
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Italy, Tuscan mountains; 1944. Buffalo soldier Sam Train saves a traumatized Italian boy from the Germans only to become stuck behind enemy lines--with peasants, partisans, and three of his buddies. The men learn of a massacre and uncover a traitor before the enemy's Christmas offensive. Violence and strong language. 2002.

You Never Can Tell      RC 54658
by Kathleen Eagle
read by MaryBeth Wise
2 cassettes
Journalist Heather Reardon wants to tell the story of former Indian rights activist Kole Kills Crow, her goddaughter's father. Falsely accused of murder, Kole has been in hiding for years. When Heather tracks him down, he is forced to confront the demons from his past. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Rainbow Mars      RC 54659
by Larry Niven
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
The thirty-first century. Six linked tales written over a thirty-year time span by Hugo award-winning author, featuring klutzy time-traveling Hanville Svetz. Svetz and some members of the Institute for Temporal Research must do the bidding of a latter-day UN secretary-general, travel to a past Mars, and solve the mystery of the space Beanstalk. 1999.

Deadly Embrace      RC 54663
by Jackie Collins
read by Barbara Pinolini
3 cassettes
Madison Castelli, last seen in Lethal Seduction (RC 50871), digs into her mobster father's past to uncover the truth about her mother's death. Michael Castelli has disappeared after being charged with a double homicide. Madison's and her half-siblings' lives are also in danger. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2002.

Gangster      RC 54669
by Lorenzo Carcaterra
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
As a ten-year-old New York orphan, Gabe was befriended by crime boss Angelo Vestieri and gradually learned the trade. As Angelo lies dying, Gabe, now in middle age, learns of his long life as a "made man." Ironically, Angelo's father came to America to escape involvement with the Neapolitan Mafia. Violence and strong language. 2001.

The Rock: A Tale of Seventh-Century Jerusalem      RC 54670
by Kanan Makiya
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Historical fiction incorporating Judaic, Christian, and Muslim traditions about the rock enshrined by Solomon's temple and later by the Dome of the Rock mosque. Narrated by Ishaq, who designed the dome--the first monument of Islam--as he explores the meaning of this site and its holiness shared by the three great monotheistic religions. 2001.

The Cloud Sketcher      RC 54672
by Richard Rayner
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
Disfigured boy develops architectural ambition that grows with his love of the unattainable daughter of a Russian aristocrat, whom he first encounters in a remote Finnish village in 1901. He strives to win her through audacious building design in 1920s New York. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

Tucker Peak      RC 54675
by Archer Mayor
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Joe Gunther of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation travels to a failing ski resort that has been plagued by a series of robberies. Once there, his team uncovers embezzlement, destructive environmental activists, and murder. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

Turbulence      RC 54676
by John J. Nance
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Meridian Air is noted for horrible customer service that causes passenger rage. Mutiny aboard Flight 6 gains momentum after the captain makes an emergency landing in Nigeria. No one in the plane is aware that the CIA believes terrorists are on board. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

The Shadow of Ararat: The Oath of Empire, Book 1      RC 54684
by Thomas Harlan
read by Fred Major
5 cassettes
Combines fantasy with an alternate history of the epic war between the Roman Empire and Persia in A.D. 600. Dwyrin, a sorcery student in Upper Egypt; Ahmet, his teacher; Thyatis, a female Roman centurion; and Maxian, a Roman sorcerer and the emperor's younger brother, are the major characters. Followed by The Gate of Fire (RC 54685). 1999.

Summer in Eclipse Bay: Eclipse Bay Trilogy, Volume 3      RC 54691
by Jayne Ann Krentz
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Gallery owner Octavia Brightwell hides her family history when she moves to Eclipse Bay, Oregon--so when a painting is stolen, townfolk suspect her. Crime-writer Nick Harte helps find the true culprit and the painting. Sequel to Dawn in Eclipse Bay (RC 52286). Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

The Lovely Bones      RC 54698
by Alice Sebold
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Susie Salmon, a fourteen-year-old girl murdered by a neighbor, watches over her family and friends from heaven. While adjusting to a new habitat, she reaches out to them as she observes their struggle to survive their grief. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Breakthroughs: The Great War, Book 3      RC 54700
by Harry Turtledove
read by Fred Major
4 cassettes
Third volume of Turtledove's alternative history of World War I. The U.S. is at war on two fronts in 1917: with the Confederate States and with the British. A punishing peace treaty with the defeated Confederacy promises future conflict. Sequel to Walk in Hell (RC 53762). Violence and strong language. 2000.

Hold onto the Night      RC 54701
by Shauna Michaels
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Geologist Dr. Kathleen Dawson doesn't believe in the Jaguar Man, who natives say rules the South American jungle. Rescued from drowning by a black jaguar, Kathleen finds herself in the cave of Guerriro, a muscular wild man, who warns her to stay away. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.

Le Grand Meaulnes      RC 54705
by Alain-Fournier
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
A tale of friendship, adventure, and romanticism recounted by François Seurel, whose father runs a French village school where seventeen-year-old Augustin Meaulnes comes to board. Variously translated as The Lost Domain and The Wanderer. 1912.

Puzzled to Death      RC 54707
by Parnell Hall
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Cora Felton of Bakerhaven, Connecticut, is reluctantly cohosting a charity crossword tournament when a local housewife is murdered. Cora, with the help of her niece, Sherry Carter, sleuths around town--but then more murders occur, including a contestant's. Sequel to Last Puzzle and Testament (RC 52268). 2001.

Cold      RC 54709
by John Smolens
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Michigan prison escapee Norman Haas stumbles into widow Liesl Tiomenen's cabin during a blizzard, needing help so he can seek revenge against his ex-fiancée and his detested brother. When Liesl betrays him, Norman runs from the law again. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

The Best of C.L. Moore      RC 54710
by C. L. Moore
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
Ten science fiction stories including "Shambleau," a reworking of the Medusa myth in a futuristic setting; "The Black God's Kiss," showing the depths of a woman's revenge; and "No Woman Born," about a beautiful dancer reborn in the body of a cyborg. Includes an introduction by Lester Del Rey. 1933.

Term Limits      RC 54711
by Vince Flynn
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
After assassinating three powerful and corrupt politicians, a paramilitary group demands that the U.S. president and Congress reform the government or face more deaths. Freshman congressman and former marine Michael O'Rourke correctly guesses the identity of the group's leaders and tries to stop them. Violence and strong language. 1997.

Pearl Harbor, 1941      RC 54712
by Nancy Holder
read by Janis Gray
1 cassette
Hawaii, 1941. Bekah Martin meets navy ensign Scott DeAngelo while returning to her native Hawaii and falls in love, although she is already engaged to another. When Bekah is visiting Scott on his ship December 7, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

The Chinese Fire Drill      RC 54716
by Les Roberts
read by Alec Volz
1 cassette
Bestselling novelist Anthony Holton, living in Bangkok, receives word that his friend, actor Jake McKay, is missing in Hong Kong. Holton travels there and becomes involved with Jake's roommates, lovers, business associates, and the underworld. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001.

Miss Julia Throws a Wedding      RC 54718
by Ann B. Ross
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes
Widow Julia Springer of Abbotsville, North Carolina, insists on planning a wedding for attorney Binkie Enloe and her fiancé, deputy Coleman Bates. But Miss Julia really wants her friend Hazel Marie to get hitched to her live-in lover as a good example to Hazel's young son. 2002.

The Border Legion      RC 54720
by Zane Grey
read by Janis Gray
3 cassettes
Twenty-year-old Joan Randle has always considered herself a daring, self-reliant horsewoman familiar with the southern Idaho wilderness. She needs all of her resources when she is abducted by a band of desperados, winding up in the clutches of Jack Kells, an educated but menacing gunfighter. 1916.

Raiders of Spanish Peaks      RC 54721
by Zane Grey
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Hoping the climate will be better for his health, John Lindsay buys a ranch and moves his family out west to Colorado. But when they arrive, they find they actually own a deserted military post where ranchers and cattle rustlers battle for control of the land. Some strong language. 1931.

Shadow Valley Rising: A Western Story      RC 54724
by Stephen Overholser
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Colorado territory, 1860. One night, Ella Mae Campbell is dragged from the safety of a wagon train by a native Indian raiding party. Her rescuers, including her father, ride into a deadly ambush. Only preacher Peter Howell is left to save her. Some strong language. 2002.

The Yokota Officers Club      RC 54726
by Sarah Bird
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Okinawa, 1960s. Hippie Bernadette Root returns to her large, nomadic, air force family after a year stateside at college. She wins a dance contest that allows her to perform on tour throughout Japan, during which she looks up her family's former maid and discovers past secrets. Strong language. 2001.

The Cabinet of Curiosities      RC 54730
by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
read by Jill Fox
4 cassettes
Archaeologist Nora Kelly of the Museum of Natural History in NYC joins forces with FBI agent Pendergast and newspaper reporter Bill Smithback to find a murderer who's mimicking a nineteenth-century serial killer. This felon needs live victims to produce a life-extending elixir. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Riders by Night      RC 54733
by Nelson Nye
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
When Kurt Cardigan leaves his horse-thieving gang in order to go straight, the men double-cross and frame him. Cardigan wants the law to prove his innocence, but a posse is already after him for more serious charges. 1950.