Eels; An Exploration, From New Zealand To tthe Sargasso, Of The World's Most Mysterious Fish

By James Prosek
"Ask your average North American: eels, those slimy snakelike creatures, are generally held in poor regard. For nature writer Prosek (Trout; Fly-Fishing the 41st), however, they are a compelling mystery, and in his riveting synthesis of cultural, geographical, and botanical sleuthing, he investigates their reputation at home and abroad. The author--for whom the eel was once merely bait for bass--delves into the closely held traditions of the Maori of New Zealand, where eels are revered; into the beliefs of the Micronesian island of Pohnpei, where eels are considered members of a tribal clan; into the heart of the largest seafood market in the world, in Japan, a nation that consumes more than 130,000 tons of eels each year; into the reclusive world of Eel Weir Hollow in the Catskills, where fisherman Ray traps and smokes as much as one ton of eels a season; and to the fabled Sargasso Sea, where eels are thought to start their trek to the world's lakes, rivers, and streams--though, even now, no one knows precisely where the world's population of eels spawns, an enduring scientific mystery awaiting a solution. "  (PW Reviews)  Check Our Catalog

Play Their Hearts Out; A Coach, His Star Recruit and the Youth Basketball Machine

By George Dohrmann
"Basketball fans frequently hear references to AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) summer leagues, in which young players have a chance to hone their games. The AAU leagues are often criticized for exploiting young kids, but most of these charges have been based on rumor or hearsay. Until now. Dohrmann, the last sportswriter to win a Pulitzer Prize, spent approximately nine years researching this book; the story begins in 2000, when he convinced AAU coach Joe Keller to give him unfettered access to his team, the Inland Stars. The only condition was that the book wouldn't be published until the players—then 9 and 10 years old—were in college. Keller is a fascinating subject, a mix of positive characteristics—he is a genuinely caring father figure for many of his players—and profoundly negative. In Dohrmann's portrayal, Keller emerges as a shameless promoter of himself and his players, a poor coach, and a man for whom ethics are always relative. Money, of course, is key; surprisingly, there are lots of ways for coaches to profit in the underground basketball world, mainly from shoe companies (the real villains in this story) in the form of cash as well as products, prestige, and influence. In fact, as Dohrmann shows, everyone makes money in this "amateur" enterprise except the kids. An eye-opening look at the underbelly of modern American sports." (Booklist Reviews)    Check Our Catalog

Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue With His Century 1907-1948 Learning Curve

By William H. Patterson
"It may surprise readers schooled in Heinlein's stern, even quasi-fascistic visions of the future to learn that their author was a sometime liberal Democrat involved in postwar party politics in his adopted California. It will not surprise them to know that Heinlein, on the road to a lifetime's service in the Navy until being drummed out for medical reasons, was infamous among subordinates as a by-the-book disciplinarian of a Captain Bligh—or perhaps Queeg—bent. By Heinlein aficionado Patterson's account, he discovered science fiction early on, but initially took to it as a means of having to work a real job. World War II robbed him of that escape, but he worked intently to write stories for pulp magazines that criss-crossed the genres of science fiction and fantasy until building up the skills and stamina to begin the huge novels for which he would become famous. "Just before Pearl Harbor," writes Patterson, "he had intended to raise his sights...to the slick magazines and book publication, which pretty much implied then that he would leave science fiction behind." Yet science fiction would flourish after the war, with its futuristic visions as wrought by contemporaries such as E.E. "Doc" Smith, Isaac Asimov and L. Sprague de Camp. Patterson pays fitting homage to those writers as mentors and competitors, also giving due to longtime editor John Campbell, who advised Heinlein of what would work (plenty of plot complications) and what wouldn't (leave religion out of it)."   (Kirkus Reviews)
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Hitch-22; A Memoir

By Christopher Hitchens
"*Starred Review* Hitchens, who, in his earlier books, has expressed contempt for both God and Mother Teresa (although not in that order), is often described as a contrarian. In fact, in his book Letters to a Young Contrarian (2001), he himself noted that he "can appear insufferable and annoying," albeit without intending to. This memoir, bracing, droll, and very revealing, gives him yet another description: storyteller. He writes with a voice you can hear clearly, warmed by smoke and whiskey, and draws readers into his story, which proves as personal as it is political. As with many memoirs, it is not the public moments that are so fascinating, though there are plenty of those. Hitchens takes readers with him to Havana and Prague, Afghanistan and Iraq; tests himself by being waterboarded (he was disappointed in his early capitulation); and hobnobs with politicians and poets. He almost gets himself beaten up by defacing a poster in Iraq with a Hitler mustache. But the most intriguing stories are the personal ones, both from his early days, at home and at boarding school, and from his later life, when he learns that his mother was Jewish, which, if only technically, makes him Jewish as well. This revelation leads Hitchens on a quest to learn the story of his family, many of whom died in the Holocaust. How this new identity squares with his oft-proclaimed atheism sheds a different light on the meaning of religious identity. (He struggles mightily with his political identity as well.) Few authors can rile as easily as Hitchens does, but even his detractors might find it difficult to put down a book so witty, so piercing, so spoiling for a fight. He makes you want to be as good a reader as he is a writer."   (Booklist Reviews)
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American Vegan Kitchen; Delicious Comfort Food From Blue Plate Specials To

By Tamasin Noyes

Do you ever crave the delicious comfort foods served at your local diner, deli, or neighborhood cafe? This cookbook shows you how to make vegan versions of your favorite dishes in your own home kitchen.These 175+ recipes will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike with deli sandwiches, burgers and fries, mac and cheese, pasta, pizza, omelets, pancakes, tasty soups and salads, casseroles, and desserts. Put together your own Blue Plate Specials from the roadside eateries of Route 66. Sample favorites from the cafes of San Francisco to the bistros of New York. Enjoy truly great American flavors from tempting ethnic dishes to the homestyle comfort foods of the heartland.Recipes include: Around-the-Clock Coffee Cake, Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Darngood Donut Bites, Cajun Pot Pie, Fork-and-Knife Reubens, Midtown Greek Salad, Spicy Balsamic Maple Wingz, Yankee Cornbread, Southern Fried Seitan, Mom's Apple Pie, and many more.From coast-to-coast and cover-to-cover, American Vegan Kitchen helps you serve up great homestyle vegan recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts. The book contains 30 full-color photos and helpful icons to bring American comfort food home to your table."  (Vegan Heritage Press)  Check Our Catalog "

Thrillers: 100 Must Reads

Edited By David Morrell

"The top names in the thriller genre today reflect on and examine suspense classics in 100 riveting essays. Created by the International Thriller Writers organization and edited by First Bloodauthor Morrell and critic Wagner, this anthology starts far into the past with Lee Child's examination of the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur and proceeds up to the modern publishing game changer, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. The other titles mentioned include a variety of obvious choices, like Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain and John le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but some are head scratchers, like Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and Jules Verne's Mysterious Island. Each essay persuades the reader to understand why a particular title deserves to be featured, including the not so obvious choices. The debate to define a thriller and separate it from the mystery genre will intensify even further thanks to the various selections here. VERDICT This is an essential reference book for readers' advisory; suspense fans will also enjoy browsing to find new titles and authors to savor"   (LJ Reviews)     Check Our Catalog

Dangerously Funny; The Uncensored Story Of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

by David Bianculli

"Beginning with his decidedly wry and ironic title, veteran television critic and current NPR Fresh Air commentator Bianculli (Teleliteracy: Taking Television Seriously) immediately sets the tone for this deliciously informative and entertaining story of the venerable Smothers Brothers' 50--year run and their tempestuous struggles with the CBS censors during the three-season reign of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Combining extensive interviews with siblings Tom, Dick, and Sherry Smothers; Smothers stalwarts Pat Paulsen, comedian David Steinberg, and musician Mason Williams; and television industry suit Fred Silverman, this is a revelatory and surprisingly balanced treatment of the conflict between the artists and the corporatists. Bianculli excels at juxtaposing the story of the longest continuing, artistically subversive comedy team with the contemporary political landscape. Highlights include the superbly related back story of the mock "Pat Paulson for President" campaign. Verdict This title will appeal to pop culture and 1960s counterculture fans, students of communication and the history of mass media, and to all entertainment and comedy readers."  (LJ Express Reviews)
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