Braille Book Review, Vol. 65, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1996 Braille Book Review January-February 1996 Volume 65, Number 1 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists braille magazines and books available through a network of cooperating libraries. The braille edition also lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations. News about library services is featured in both editions. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. These books will continue to be available from your cooperating library and will be listed again in _Braille Books 1995-1996_. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. To order books or to change your subscription or address, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to: Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. Library of Congress, Washington 1996 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Handcopied Braille--Other Agencies Braille Magazines _In Brief_ Changes in _Braille Book Review_ In response to requests and suggestions from patrons, three changes are introduced to _Braille Book Review_ beginning with this issue. 1. As explained in previous issues, the braille edition no longer contains the recorded discs with the complete text of _Talking Book Topics_. The short descriptions of recorded books and the order forms for recorded books are still included. If you would like to receive as a separate subscription the complete _Talking Book Topics_ on disc or cassette, please contact your local cooperating library. 2. As a pilot project, a computer diskette with both _Braille Book Review_ and _Talking Book Topics_ on it is now available to NLS patrons. The diskette contains _Braille Book Review_ and _Talking Book Topics_ as two separate ASCII text files on one 3-1/2-inch IBM-compatible diskette. The data is readable by nearly all editing or file-reading software. Each file consists of the "In Brief" section, the book listings complete with annotation, and a magazines listing. Indexes and order forms are not included. This format is already available through the Internet by accessing LC MARVEL. Each diskette is packaged in a standard diskette mailer and sent directly to patrons who subscribe. You will receive the diskette around the same time as you receive other formats of _Braille Book Review_ and _Talking Book Topics_ to which you currently subscribe. You will continue to receive these formats also during this pilot project, unless you request a change. The diskette is to be kept, not returned to the producer or your library. If you would like a subscription to this diskette, please contact your local cooperating library. 3. Beginning with this issue, the "In Brief" section of _Braille Book Review_ also includes information from the "In Brief" section of the current issue of _Talking Book Topics_. _Braille Books 1993-1994_ Produced in Braille _Braille Books 1993-1994_, a catalog listing braille books produced by NLS during 1993 and 1994, has recently been issued in braille. Books in this catalog are listed by subject category, and there are sections for bestsellers, young adult books, and foreign-language books. Readers who ordered _Braille Books 1993-1994_ on their annual order forms should automatically receive their copies in the mail. Others may request this catalog from their local cooperating libraries. NLS Publishes Bibliographies NLS has recently published two new bibliographies listing books available in recorded and braille formats. _Romances and Love Stories_ features selected novels taking place in various time periods and settings. The bibliography lists gothic romances, Harlequin novels, and Regency stories by many authors, including Janet Dailey, Janette Oke, Danielle Steel, and Phyllis A. Whitney. _Pioneer and Frontier Stories_ lists selected books dealing with the lives of the people who blazed trails westward and settled the land. The bibliography includes descriptions of autobiographies of Buffalo Bill and General Custer and also of cowpunchers, cooks, and gold miners. Authors as diverse as James Fenimore Cooper, Willa Cather, Larry McMurtry, and Edna Ferber have all set novels on the frontier. Both publications are available in large print, and _Romances and Love Stories_ is available in audio cassette format and in braille. _Pioneer and Frontier Stories_ will be produced early this spring on audio cassette and in braille. The large-print editions contain titles available on cassette and in braille. The recorded editions list only cassettes and the braille editions list only braille. Patrons who requested the publications on their annual order form will receive them automatically. If you did not order but would like a copy, contact your cooperating library. Unrequired Reading To restore reading for fun as a part of campus life, colleges have begun offering students lists of important, enjoyable books as "unrequired reading." One such list--from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island--contains the following books in the NLS braille collection. Animal Dreams BR 8406 by Barbara Kingsolver 3 volumes Codi returns to Arizona to teach high school and care for her aging father. Her life is complicated by efforts to save the town from environmental catastrophe and by the renewal of an old love affair with a Native American man. Meanwhile, her sister Hallie, in Nicaragua helping peasant farmers in their fight for social justice, is captured by the Contras. Their story is one of commitment and suspense. Beloved BR 7074 by Toni Morrison 3 volumes Related in kaleidoscopic fashion and set in rural Ohio during the period immediately following the Civil War, this chronicle of slavery and its aftermath traces the life of Sethe, a former slave. Sethe has a secret in her past so horrific that it has alienated the community, driven off her two sons, isolated her surviving daughter, and threatened her new, loving relationship with Paul D., also a former slave. Bestseller. The Brothers Karamazov BR 6803 by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; translated by Constance Garnett 8 volumes Complex psychological novel by the nineteenth-century Russian master of realism. The main plot involves a depraved father and his four sons, one of them a bastard. Through the murder of the father and the false conviction of one of the sons, the novel explores at length the dual nature of man. Like Water for Chocolate BR 9187 by Laura Esquivel; translated by Carol and Thomas Christensen 2 volumes When Pedro asks Mama Elena for the hand of her youngest daughter, Tita, he is offered her sister instead. By family tradition, Tita is to remain unmarried to care for her mother. Tita, a magical cook, shares recipes that, seasoned by her emotions, have an extraordinary impact on the events that follow her mother's decision. Descriptions of sex. Bestseller. The Little Prince BR 1431 by Antoine de Saint-Exupery; translated by Katherine Woods 1 volume The narrator's plane was forced down in the African desert where he met the little prince from Asteroid B-612 who freely shares his experiences with the fascinated pilot. For children and adults. The Magic Mountain BR 6190 by Thomas Mann; translated by H.T. Lowe-Porter 8 volumes A young German engineer visiting his cousin in a Swiss tuberculosis sanatorium ends up remaining for seven years, caught up in the "magic" of life on the mountain. A symbolic and philosophical treatment of such concepts as relativity, dogmatism, and liberalism. The Stranger BR 1185 by Albert Camus; translated by Stuart Gilbert 1 volume An existential novel, set in Algiers, about a man who resists any commitment, rendering his own life meaningless. He does not react to his mother's death, nor to a killing he commits, and becomes a placid prisoner, convicted of murder. His own impending death, however, leads him to some realizations. To Kill a Mockingbird BR 9237 by Harper Lee 3 volumes Scout Finch is an outspoken and literate six-year-old tomboy when she begins her tale of growing up in a small Alabama town with her brother Jem and her attorney father Atticus. The children's intense curiosity about a reclusive neighbor is eclipsed by Atticus's attempt to defend a black man against charges of raping a white woman. For senior high and older readers. Pulitzer Prize winner. _Books for Adults_ Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." _Nonfiction_ West of the Thirties: Discoveries among the Navajo and Hopi BR 9606 by Edward T. Hall 2 volumes In 1933 anthropology student Hall was asked to be a camp manager for the Indian equivalent of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Although the rest of the West was "thoroughly settled," time seemed to have stood still on the Hopi and Navajo reservations. For four years Hall learned of the area cultures from the Native Americans who shared their oral history and from the trader who took him under his wing. 1994. The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell, 1903-1959 BR 9657 by Bertrand Russell 8 volumes Selections from Russell's publications in philosophy, psychology, history, mathematics, and analyses of international affairs, and miscellaneous works such as essays, short stories, and autobiographical asides. 1961. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body BR 9718 by Susan Bordo 4 volumes Collection of essays examining eating disorders and body image in terms of contemporary culture, consumerism, and women's experiences in other areas. Bordo, a philosophy professor, backs up her analysis with the history of society's attitudes toward women's bodies, from ancient Greece through the Victorian age. 1993. How to Keep Your Savings Safe: Protecting the Money You Can't Afford to Lose BR 9723 by Walter L. Updegrave 3 volumes Editor of _Money_ magazine and specialist in personal finances warns about risks of investing in once rock-solid financial institutions. Updegrave discusses how to evaluate the safety of money that one cannot afford to lose, suggests when to use a commercial rating service, and lists what he considers the safest institutions, such as savings banks and insurance companies. 1992. Working Women Don't Have Wives: Professional Success in the 1990s BR 9785 by Terri Apter 3 volumes Apter contends that women in the world of work are at an unfair disadvantage because, as a general rule, they don't have what their male counterparts do: "a partner who looks after their domestic needs, cares for their children, accommodates their changing occupational needs, and puts family responsibilities first and foremost." She discusses how to counter this lack by combining changes at home and in the workplace. 1993. Mother Father Deaf: Living between Sound and Silence BR 9805 by Paul Preston 3 volumes The son of deaf parents, Preston uses the stories of others like him to describe how exposure to the "deaf culture" within the "hearing culture" shapes lives. He has written this book "as much as possible in the Deaf way," interweaving fragments of his informants' stories and using repetition for emphasis, because "Deaf storytelling does not boil down to a punch line. It is in the telling." Some strong language. 1994. Shakespeare BR 9821 by Germaine Greer 2 volumes The author contends that Shakespeare did much to shape the values we consider to be typically English. Greer argues that the basis for understanding the Bard's art and thought is to be found in the interaction between the text of his plays and the reaction of the audience. She touches on aspects of the playwright's life, philosophy, and politics and offers an essay on his social values, especially his belief in the importance of marriage. 1986. Successful Job Search Strategies for the Disabled: Understanding the ADA BR 9834 by Jeffrey G. Allen 3 volumes Allen addresses the more than forty million Americans who are disabled, sixty percent of whom are unemployed. He offers advice on finding a job, gives an overview of the ADA, and discusses topics such as where jobs are, self-assessment for a job, what to disclose regarding a disability, interview guidelines, accommodations, and enforcement of the ADA guidelines. 1994. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook BR 9835 1 volume More than seventy-five shrimp recipes from _Southern Living_ and reflections ("Bubba was my best good friend, and even I know that's something you can't just find around the corner") from a Winston Groom novel that became a popular movie about a very simple, very likable person--Forrest Gump, who started the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Includes shrimp dishes to bake, barbecue, boil, fry, saute, and combine with sauce or slaw. 1994. The Family Heart: A Memoir of When Our Son Came Out BR 9844 by Robb Forman Dew 2 volumes Novelist Dew describes the stages she and her family went through after learning her oldest son, Steve, was gay. Although both parents immediately proclaimed acceptance of Steve's sexual orientation, they unintentionally hurt him with some of their actions and statements. Not wanting to burden Steve with the responsibility for her happiness, Dew soon shed her self-pity. Some strong language. 1994. Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day BR 9845 by The Moosewood Collective 4 volumes The eighteen members of the Collective have created a combination of tested recipes using minimal equipment; fresh, tasty ingredients; time-saving tips; and planning ideas to make cooking fast and easy. These meatless dishes include soups, dips, quick breads, sauces, main-dish salads, grains, pasta, stir-fries, pizzas, and desserts. 1994. When Women Played Hardball BR 9846 by Susan E. Johnson 3 volumes Author Johnson was a fourteen-year-old fan when the All-American Girls Baseball League died in 1954 after a twelve-year span. To recreate the spirit of the league that fascinated her, Johnson interviews twenty-six of the women who played for the 1950 Rockford Peaches and Fort Wayne Daisies. Their recollections of the 1950 series are supplemented by newspaper accounts of each of the seven games. 1994. The Frontiers of Meaning: Three Informal Lectures on Music BR 9848 by Charles Rosen 1 volume Three lectures by the National Book Award-winning author of _The Classical Style (BRA 16615)_. In "The Frontiers of Nonsense," Rosen claims that understanding music is a matter of feeling comfortable with it. In "How to Become Immortal," the author suggests that Beethoven's international fame was already in place during his lifetime. And in "Explaining the Obvious," Rosen discusses why he writes about music. 1994. Marx BR 9854 by Peter Singer 1 volume Introductory biography of the nineteenth-century philosopher. In an effort to explain the central vision of Marx's thought, Singer discusses Marx's early writings and his materialist concept of history and economic theory of capital. He also assesses Marx's relevance in the late twentieth century. 1980. A Family Place: A Man Returns to the Center of His Life BR 9858 by Charles Gaines 2 volumes Writer Charles Gaines and his wife Patricia had once before healed their marriage by traveling to Nova Scotia and temporarily escaping their fast-paced lives. When the relationship again hits troubled times, Charles and Patricia purchase a remote parcel of Nova Scotia land and call upon their now-grown children to help them build a cabin and rebuild the family in this "last best place." Some strong language. 1994. 84, Charing Cross Road BR 9859 by Helene Hanff 1 volume Hanff tells how her love of old books sparked a twenty-year transatlantic correspondence between herself and Frank Doel of Marks and Company, Booksellers, London, England. Their correspondence began in 1949 when Hanff read an ad indicating that Marks and Company specialized in out-of-print books. The friendship lasted twenty years even though Hanff and Doel never met in person. 1970. Cities of Gold: A Journey across the American Southwest in Pursuit of Coronado BR 9871 by Douglas Preston 5 volumes The author chronicles his journey on horseback retracing the path of sixteenth-century Spanish explorer Francisco V squez de Coronado across the American Southwest in search of the seven cities of gold. Woven into the narrative are natural history; stories heard from cowboys, Native Americans, and ranchers; and an account of the original expedition. Strong language. 1992. Braille Books 1993-1994 BR 9873 by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 2 volumes A catalog of braille books produced during 1993 and 1994 by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Separate sections list fiction and nonfiction subject categories. Young adult books are also included. 1994. Answering the Call: Telephone Pioneer Talking-Book Machine-Repair Program 1960-1993 BR 9882 by Ruth Nieland and George Thuronyi 1 volume The Telephone Pioneers of America is an association of telephone workers and retirees organized in chapters, councils, and clubs throughout the United States and Canada. Long involved in community service projects, the Pioneers began repairing talking-book machines for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in 1960. 1994. _Always a Reckoning_ and Other Poems BR 9887 by Jimmy Carter 1 volume Poems about people, places, politics, and private lives by the thirty-ninth president of the United States. In "Rachel," Carter reflects on his tender feelings toward a neighbor when he was a child. In "My First Try for Votes," a constituent humbles and amuses the candidate in one bold stroke. And in the title poem, an autobiographical narrative, he speaks of learning the need in "all things . . . to balance out." 1995. Flat Rock Journal: A Day in the Ozark Mountains BR 9991 by Ken Carey 2 volumes Since buying his piece of Ozark wilderness twenty years ago, writer and environmentalist Carey has learned to open his mind and heart to the renewing energies of spring. He describes the annual day-long trek he takes through the land. Interspersed are recollections of the almost magical happenings that led him and his family to this place and the difficult but rewarding life they have lived since. 1994. Lincoln: In His Own Words BR 9994 edited by Milton Meltzer 2 volumes Quotes from letters, speeches, court papers, and articles create this portrait of Lincoln. Meltzer traces the life of the sixteenth president, from his childhood to his career as a lawyer and his role as commander in chief of the armed forces during the Civil War. The author sets the stage by commenting on the political forces at the time and by introducing contemporary figures. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1993. Before You Hire a Contractor: A Construction Guidebook for Consumers BR 9996 by Steve Gonzalez 1 volume A registered contractor uses his twenty years of experience to guide consumers through hiring someone for a home constuction project. He discusses how to research, write specifications, avoid scams and problems, choose a contractor and negotiate contracts, and become familiar with consumer rights and laws regulating construction. 1994. Autobiography of a Face BR 10051 by Lucy Grealy 2 volumes In fourth grade, the author had a toothache that turned out to be cancer. A portion of her jaw was eventually removed, leaving her face misshapened. Grealy describes her growing awareness that she was now odd-looking and her attempts to come to terms with people's reactions. After a series of failed surgeries, she had her jaw reconstructed as an adult, but she learned her belief that "when my face gets fixed, then I'll start living," was too simplistic. 1994. Toothpaste and Railroad Tracks BR 10131 by Kenneth Jernigan 1 volume "Details of everyday life as blind persons live it." Members of the National Federation of the Blind, including Kenneth Jernigan and Mark Maurer, contribute essays. Jernigan explains his methods of shaving and brushing his teeth. Barbara Walker discusses her daughter's attitude about her mother's blindness. Patricia Maurer describes learning to read and write as a teenager in a rural community. 1995. _Fiction_ The Temptations of St. Ed and Brother S BR 9601 by Frank Bergon 3 volumes In the 1990s many people are concerned about the environment, as are St. Ed and Brother S, the only monks at the Hermitage of Solitude in the Desert. Now there is a nuclear waste dump planned for nearby land, and both monks, as well as the Shoshone Indians, object. The monks also face temptations, including lust and the desire for fame. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1993. Wings of the Morning: The Kensington Chronicles, Volume 2 BR 9604 by Lori Wick 2 volumes For twenty-three years, Victoria (Smokey) Simmons's life has been spent on board her father's ship the _Aramis_. Now he is dead and she is captain. Dallas Knight, captain of the _Zephyr_, often arrives at a port too late to pick up cargo because the _Aramis_ has gotten there first. He will not be happy to find out that the _Aramis_'s captain is a woman. Sequel to _The Hawk and the Jewel (BR 9603)_. 1994. Justice for Some BR 9728 by Kate Wilhelm 2 volumes Sarah Drexler takes a break from filling her deceased husband's judgeship in Oregon and travels to California for a family reunion. There she finds her son, her daughter, and her father are all very secretive. After her father's body is found floating in the pool, Sarah learns that he had hired a detective. When the detective is found murdered, Sarah's entire family begins to look suspicious. Some strong language and some violence. 1993. The Simeon Chamber BR 9729 by Steve Martini 3 volumes Attorney Sam Bogardus's irritation over his mother's "referring" another client to him turns to interest when he hears Jennifer Davies's story. Her father had been one of a two-man crew that disappeared from a naval blimp. Years later, Jennifer has received pages from a pirate's journal with a note implying that her father is still alive. Sam's investigation quickly turns ugly: he is attacked and his partner murdered. Strong language and violence. 1988. The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of _The Lord of the Rings_ BR 9749 by J.R.R. Tolkien 5 volumes In this third volume of the Ring trilogy, Frodo and Sam bear the ring to Mount Doom. The War of the Rings, fought between the forces for good and the Dark Lord of evil, is ended. Sequel to _The Two Towers (BR 9747)_. 1955. The Mandarins BR 9769 by Simone de Beauvoir 7 volumes Set in Paris after World War II, this novel won the Prix Goncourt, the most coveted literary prize in France. The author draws upon her intellectual circle, which includes Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, for a portrait of the philosophical and political climate of the period. 1954. A Map of the World BR 9800 by Jane Hamilton 4 volumes School nurse Alice Goodwin and her dairy farmer husband, Howard, are never truly accepted by the small community of Prairie Center. When the daughter of Alice's one friend, Theresa, dies after falling in the Goodwin's pond, the town turns vicious. Alice is accused of sexually molesting a troubled young boy in her school. As Alice awaits trial in jail, Theresa helps a stunned Howard cope at home. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1994. Promise Me Anything BR 9802 by Meryl Sawyer 4 volumes When his uncle dies, Alex Savich inherits the failing British diamond company that his uncle sank all of their savings into. As Alex tries to save the firm by sneaking diamonds smuggled by his uncle onto the market, he fights a wild attraction to jewelry designer Brett Lamont. Just as their relationship begins, Brett's missing lover returns and Alex is caught up in Russian political intrigue. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. The Catswold Portal BR 9804 by Shirley Rousseau Murphy 3 volumes A fantasy set in 1957 Earth and in the Netherworld or world of faerie. Queen Siddonie, pretender to the throne of faerie, plans to conquer the Netherworld--an act that would profoundly affect the upper world. The true queen, seventeen-year-old Melissa, has been transformed into a calico cat and has taken up residence with artist Braden West, who lives near the portal between the two worlds. For high school and older readers. 1992. Firefall BR 9806 by Ed Ruggero 4 volumes Operation Solid Steel is supposed to be a series of practice maneuvers between U.S. Army Rangers led by Major Mark Isen and the German army. The Rangers have parachuted into German territory near the North Sea, where they are to engage the so-called enemy. But instead of the friendly Germans they expect, they are confronted by the ultra-rightist German People's Union--and the Rangers have no live ammunition! Violence and strong language. 1994. The Hellion BR 9807 by LaVyrle Spencer 2 volumes Tommy Lee Gentry is known as a hellraiser in his hometown of Russellville, Alabama. He has been married three times, drives fast cars, drinks, and almost always has a woman with him. He has never been happy, but there is a chance for things to change. Rachel, his childhood sweetheart, is free again. Descriptions of sex. 1984. Degree of Guilt BR 9811 by Richard North Patterson 5 volumes Distinguished attorney Christopher Paget is raising his fifteen-year-old son Carlo. Carlo's estranged mother, television journalist Mary Carelli, is in town to interview novelist Mark Ransom but instead is accused of his murder. Not only does her story of Ransom's rape attempt have some inconsistencies for Paget and his assistant to sort out, it also involves a surprising group of well-known people. Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1992. Sons and Lovers BR 9812 by D.H. Lawrence 5 volumes Restored text. Story of Paul and William Morel, brothers who bear witness to the tensions of their working-class parents. William adopts the bitterness that his father expresses too freely. Paul, the younger, finds one woman appealing and another exciting, but can elicit for neither the sensitive feelings he has for his mother. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1913. A Hovering of Vultures BR 9813 by Robert Barnard 2 volumes The Sneddon Fellowship is having its inaugural weekend bash at the Sneddon farmhouse in West Yorkshire. The late Sneddons were brother and sister authors, and Joshua Sneddon was said to have killed Susannah in a jealous snit and then killed himself. Elderly attendee Mrs. Farraday, a former resident, is shocked to find that her ancient, obnoxious mother is not only still alive but remembers something crucial about the elusive Sneddons. 1993. Doctor Zhivago BR 9814 by Boris Pasternak 5 volumes The story of a Russian physician and poet during the early decades of the twentieth century. Yurii Zhivago, an individualist and something of an outsider, is separated from his wife by the Bolsheviks and falls in love with Lara, the wife of another man. Pasternak's portrait of Russian life during the post-revolution years includes an epilogue expressing hope for liberation and freedom in the future. 1958. The Track of Real Desires BR 9815 by Beverly Lowry 2 volumes Ten days before her scheduled breast biopsy, fiftyish Leland Standard visits her hometown of Eunola, Mississippi, with her gay son, Toby. They stay with Leland's friends Mell and Baker Farrish, who are still reeling over the suicide of their daughter. As other friends bring their troubled lives to the welcome-home dinner party, they all ponder how they got so far off the track of real desires. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. Floating City: A Nicholas Linnear Novel BR 9818 by Eric Lustbader 4 volumes Floating City, in the Vietnam jungle, is controlled by Rock, an American who has created a powerful nuclear weapon, the Torch. It is up to Nicholas Linnear to locate Rock and destroy the Torch. Linnear gets help from his friend Lew Croaker but must face demons from his past before he can complete his mission. Sequel to _The Kaisho (BR 9447)_. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. The Palace Thief BR 9819 by Ethan Canin 2 volumes The title story tells of the conflict between a history teacher in a private boys' school and one of his students. The "dullard" son of a senator, Sedgewick Bell cheats at an oral exam, only to be foiled by a trick question. Years later, Bell demands another chance. In other selections, men reflect on the past, one character wondering why, "of all the lives that might have been mine, I have led the one I have just described." Some strong language. 1994. The Bridges of Madison County BR 9823 by Robert James Waller 1 volume Robert Kincaid, a photographer for _National Geographic_, arrives in Madison County, Iowa, on August 16, 1965, to photograph covered bridges. He stops at the home of Francesca Johnson to ask directions, but stays for four wonderful days--days that awaken within them a deep and abiding love, which creates another being called "us." But she is married, and they must let go of one another. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1992. Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend BR 9824 by Robert James Waller 2 volumes Michael Tillman is a middle-aged college economics professor in Cedar Bend. He first meets Jellie Braden, forty, during a reception at the dean's home. They are immediately attracted to each other, but she is married and Michael does have some scruples. When Jellie unexpectedly returns to India, Michael follows, and learns of a secret that has haunted her for a long time. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1993. Eyes of a Child BR 9825 by Richard North Patterson 5 volumes Attorney Terri Peralta leaves her emotionally abusive husband, Ricardo Arias, and begins a relationship with her boss, Chris Paget. Unemployed Arias demands custody of daughter Elena and accuses Paget's son Carlo of sexually abusing Elena. When Arias is found dead, police suspect Paget, whose campaign for the Senate would have been ruined by Arias. Some violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. Tunnel Vision BR 9826 by Sara Paretsky 4 volumes Investigator V.I. Warshawski agrees to find out why low-income housing planned by a women's trade collective is blocked. She also worries about a homeless family living in the basement of her condemned office building. When a shelter board member is found murdered in V.I.'s office after offering to help the family, all three concerns merge into one. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 1994. The Book of Dreams BR 9838 by Craig Nova 3 volumes Marta works at the Hollywood _Romance Advertiser_. When an errand for her boss ends in murder, Marta's ex-con neighbor, Victor, who has been secretly following her, insists Marta help him in a blackmail scheme. Cleaning offices, Victor has stumbled upon tapes of a movie star's therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Victor loses the boy he is assigned to as a Big Brother, and a wealthy man falls for Marta. Strong language and some violence. 1994. To Dance with the White Dog BR 9839 by Terry Kay 2 volumes Sam Peek's entry in his journal says simply, "Today my wife died. We were married fifty-seven good years." His children gather and begin to discuss what is to be done. Eventually Sam finds himself alone, except for a mysterious white dog only he can see--to the consternation of his children. Although somewhat incapacitated by a bad leg, Sam remains independent until he joins his wife in death. The dog then appears to his family. Some strong language. 1990. Water BR 9840 by Sue Thomas 2 volumes Professor Ruth Murdoch's husband, Simon, left her for another woman when their daughter, Julie, was three. After one heartbreaking affair, Ruth settles for an imaginary lover. Dismayed at the havoc Simon has wreaked on their lives, Julie eventually has the opportunity to confront him. Although Julie hates to swim, water surfaces again and again throughout the story. Some strong language, some violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. _Stripping_ and Other Stories BR 9841 by Pagan Kennedy 1 volume In the title story, retired school teacher Nan decides to discuss with her cousin Henry the day he watched his older brother rape her. In "Shrinks," Sara's mother congratulates her for having consulted thirty therapists in as many years. "It shows how serious you are about solving your problems." A shy girl in "Camp" meets an even shyer boy and lets him believe she is popular. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue: The Poor Relation, Volume 5 BR 9849 by Marion Chesney 1 volume The owners of the Poor Relation hotel are in dire straits. Colonel Sandhurst has been sent to collect an unpaid bill from Sir Randolph Gray. But rather than returning with money, he arrives with Miss Frederica Gray, who is running away from home to avoid a forced marriage to the elderly Lord Peter Bewley. As is typical at the Poor Relation, romance takes over and all works out for the best. Sequel to _Sir Philip's Folly (BR 9567)_. 1994. Guppies for Tea BR 9850 by Marika Cobbold 2 volumes After her husband dies, Selma is put into a nursing home by her son, who then leaves the country. Although troubled with senility and incontinence, Selma is adamant about leaving the home. Her daughter, Dagmar, is too busy obsessively avoiding germs, so Selma's only chance at freedom comes from her granddaughter, Amelia. As Amelia's personal life crumbles around her, she tries to do right by Selma. Some strong language. 1993. The Return of Mr. Campion BR 9852 by Margery Allingham 2 volumes A collection of mystery stories that feature sleuth Albert Campion. The author admits that she knows little about her protagonist other than that Campion is an assumed name for a man whose business card proclaims, "Coups neatly executed; nothing sordid, vulgar or plebeian; deserving cases preferred; police no object." Born in 1900, Campion ages from story to story until he is in his sixties. Includes a tribute by Agatha Christie. 1989. Dark Apprentice: The Jedi Academy Trilogy, Volume 2 BR 9872 by Kevin J. Anderson 3 volumes Despite their past victories, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia are faced with increasing losses in the ongoing war with scattered remnants of the Empire. Luke knows that lasting peace can be achieved only through the creation of a new generation of Jedi knights, but when one of his students delves into the dark side of the Force, the greatest evil of all is unleashed. Bestseller 1994. Dead End Game BR 9875 by Christopher Newman 2 volumes The night before the most important World Series game, Kansas City Royals pitcher Willie Cintron foolishly brings a woman back to his New York hotel room. Before the night is over, she has injected a drugged Cintron with a fatal dose of heroin. Hearing about Cintron's death, a friend refuses to believe the ballplayer returned to the "dead end game" of his old New York crowd. And NYPD lieutenant Joe Dante agrees. Violence and strong language. 1994. A Time to Kill BR 9876 by John Grisham 4 volumes In Clanton, Mississippi, black, ten-year-old Tonya Hailey is raped, tortured, and left for dead by two white men. She survives and identifies her abductors, who are quickly arrested. Tonya's father, Carl Lee Hailey, takes matters into his own hands, shooting and killing the two prisoners. As his attorney prepares Carl Lee's case, the town is overrun with reporters and avenging Klansmen. Violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1989. Good Girls Don't Wear Trousers BR 9878 by Lara Cardella 1 volume In Sicily young Annetta dreams of being able to wear trousers. She decides to become a nun, thinking they wear trousers under their habits like the priests. Then she tries to become a boy but learns it isn't physically possible. Next she attempts to become a slut because then she can wear what she wants. Sent by her enraged parents to live with the uncle who molested her as a child, Annetta finds a friend in her unhappy aunt. Some descriptions of sex. 1989. "K" Is for Killer BR 9880 by Sue Grafton 3 volumes P.I. Kinsey Millhone is hired by Janice Kepler to investigate the death of her daughter Lorna after the police all but give up on the baffling case. The body is so badly decomposed that it is impossible to determine if Lorna has been murdered. Kinsey shifts to night hours to find a motive when she learns that Lorna's part-time job and crude cabin belied a high-dollar hooking career and large savings account. Some strong language. Bestseller 1994. Fanfan BR 9888 by Alexandre Jardin 1 volume Descended from Robinson Cruso‚, Alexandre is not like other men. When he discovers his parents' infidelities, Alexandre dreams of a romance of perpetual expectation and vows to discipline his urges and be monogamous. He becomes engaged to stable, if boring, Laure, and then meets Fanfan, who seems to share his dream. But anticipation of a half-century of unconsummated seduction is threatened by Fanfan's libido. Some strong language. 1990. I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This BR 9898 by Jacqueline Woodson 1 volume Twelve-year-old Marie is a popular eighth grader in a predominantly African American class when Lena, a poor white girl, arrives. Because both girls have lost their mothers, they are soon drawn to one another. Then Lena reveals that her father is molesting her. Marie refuses to believe her, but once Marie gets over the shock, she begins to ask questions and to try to help Lena find a way out of her tragic situation. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1994. Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me BR 9998 by Julie Johnston 2 volumes Sara Moone's adoptive parents died when she was three. Since then, she has shuttled from one foster home to another, refusing to make friends and dreaming of quitting school at sixteen. But at fifteen she is placed with the Huddlestons, where she reluctantly develops some relationships and comes face to face with her birth mother. Sara writes about her jumbled feelings in her computer journal. For junior and senior high readers. 1994. Out of Control BR 10096 by Norma Fox Mazer 1 volume High school football star Rollo, student senator Candy, and honor society president Brig are inseparable. So when Brig teases art student Valerie, the other two go along. But when the three fondle her in the hall and Valerie goes to the principal, Rollo becomes confused. He tries to make Valerie see that he's really a nice guy but begins to see himself through her eyes. Some strong language. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1993. The Mysterious Island BR 10097 by Jules Verne 2 volumes During the Civil War, Northerner and engineer Cyrus Smith is a Southern captive. He escapes by hot-air balloon with three other men, a boy, and a dog. A storm blows them to an island, but Smith is lost at sea. Later the others find him, but no one can explain how he reached land. Mysterious events and resourcefulness help them survive the next four years. Sequel to _Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (BR 9469)_. For high school and older readers. 1870. _Books for Children_ Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. To order books, contact your cooperating library. _Nonfiction_ Doodle Dandy! The Complete Book of Independence Day Words BR 9864 by Lynda Graham-Barber 1 volume Describes, explains, and provides historical information on a myriad of words and customs associated with America's Independence Day. Included are such words and phrases as "justice and equality," "wave the flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "barbecue," and "picnic." For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1992. What's Your Story? A Young Person's Guide to Writing Fiction BR 9877 by Marion Dane Bauer 1 volume The author states that stories help one understand the world, teaching about possibilities and the achievements of those who struggled before. An award-winning novelist, Bauer describes how to write fiction and systematically discusses its various components, including plot, character, focus, dialogue, tension, and revisions. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1992. In the Eyes of the Cat: Japanese Poetry for All Seasons BR 9931 by Demi 1 volume Classical poetry translated from Japanese about cats, horses, deer, birds, frogs, ducks, and other animals. Selections are divided into groups for the four seasons. A spring poem, "Puppy," celebrates the beloved pet. Summer poems like "Joyful Crickets" and "In the Forest" relate to outdoor joys. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 1992. Bats: Mysterious Flyers of the Night BR 9993 by Dee Stuart 1 volume The shy, gentle bat is one of the most misunderstood creatures. Bats are more helpful than harmful, eating tons of insect pests each night. Others pollinate plants while eating fruit and nectar. Only the vampire bat drinks blood, by making small cuts in other animals. Bats feed at night, using their ears to "see." One kind of bat is as small as a jellybean. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 1994. A New Frontier: The Peace Corps in Eastern Europe BR 9997 by Brent Ashabranner 1 volume The Peace Corps has been helping people since 1961, mostly in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. When the Soviet Union broke up, former Communist-bloc countries began asking for help and soon more than 500 Americans were working in Eastern Europe. The author describes the volunteers and the jobs they do in places such as Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1994. _Fiction_ Park's Quest BR 9816 by Katherine Paterson 1 volume Like the knights in his Arthurian fantasies, Park has a quest--to find out about his father who was killed in Vietnam. The Vietnam War Memorial arouses his need to know, and he goes to visit his father's family at their Virginia farm. There he finds a disabled grandfather, an uncle, a Vietnamese girl, her mother, and a host of other surprises. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1988. Snow Treasure BR 9836 by Marie McSwigan 1 volume The boys and girls of a Norwegian village on the sea risk their lives to help smuggle a fortune in gold past the Nazi soldiers guarding their town. For grades 4-7. 1942. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings BR 9857 by Ursula K. Le Guin 1 volume Sequel to _Catwings Return (BR 9141)_. Alexander, the oldest kitten in his family, decides to explore the world. Soon he is threatened by a truck, chased by dogs, stuck up a tree, and lost. Then Jane, a little black kitten with wings, comes along. Alexander follows her home and meets more winged cats. Now he wants to find a way to repay the Catwing family for their kindness. For grades 2-4. 1994. Missing May BR 9884 by Cynthia Rylant 1 volume Orphaned at six and raised by an elderly West Virginia aunt and uncle with more devotion than money, Summer is twelve years old when Aunt May dies. While Summer's grief is profound, Uncle Ob seems absolutely unable to go on living without his beloved May--that is, until he decides her presence lingers nearby and that somehow he can contact her. Disappointed in his efforts, Uncle Ob comes to choose living over mourning. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 1992. The Fear Place BR 9995 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 1 volume Doug is camping with his geologist parents and his hateful brother Gordon in Colorado for the summer. When their parents have to fly out for an uncle's funeral, the brothers argue until Gordon stalks off to camp by himself on his favorite ridge. Days pass and Gordon doesn't return, so, despite his fear of the ridge, Doug is forced to look for his brother. A surprisingly friendly cougar helps him face the "fear place." Some strong language. For grades 4-7. 1994. Ned Feldman, Space Pirate BR 9999 by Daniel Pinkwater 1 volume Ned Feldman is home alone one day when he hears a noise under the kitchen sink. When Ned summons enough courage to check it out, he discovers Captain Lumpy Lugo aboard a spacecraft that looks just like the sink. Inviting Ned aboard, the Captain announces that he is Bugbeard the Pirate, famous for doing bad things. Ned goes along and soon they land on the planet Jivebone where they encounter giant space chickens. For grades 3-6. 1994. _Handcopied Braille--Other Agencies_ The following books have been hand transcribed for the library indicated with each entry and are available from that library for circulation throughout the country. Please write or call directly to the library indicated. LLB Lutheran Library for the Blind 1133 South Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122 314-965-9000, 800-433-3954 _Adult Nonfiction_ Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs: The People's Bible Commentary LLB by Roland Cap Ehlke 5 volumes A Bible study commentary written for lay readers. No Wrinkles on the Soul LLB by Richard L. Morgan 3 volumes A book of readings for older adults. Meditations to use as daily devotions or for small group devotional use. _Adult Fiction_ Shooting Star: Saga of the Sierras LLB by Brock and Bodie Thoene 4 volumes Set in the California gold rush days. Western adventure with a historical background. _Braille Magazines_ The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that sends you braille materials. Asimov's Science Fiction (monthly plus mid-December) Better Homes and Gardens (monthly) Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Journal of Physiotherapy (British monthly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Braille Variety News (monthly) Children's Digest (for children, 8 issues) Consumers' Research (monthly) Cooking Light (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6]) Fortune (biweekly plus specials) Inside Sports (monthly) Jack and Jill (for children, 8 issues) Journal of Rehabilitation (quarterly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Madam (British monthly) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) New Beacon (British monthly) The _New York Times_ Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC/Computing (monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (monthly) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Progress (British monthly) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens, monthly) Update (NLS quarterly) The _Washington Post_ Book World (weekly) The following sports schedules are also available: American Baseball League Schedule National Baseball League Schedule National Basketball Association Schedule National Football League Schedule National Hockey League Schedule *** 1/4/96 (gft)*** Comments to: lcmarvel@loc.gov