Preview Shelf -- New Reference Books

The Crawfordsville District Public Library gathers helpful references that also offer enjoyment. "VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever" is the complete guide to movies on videocassettes and DVDs. As the introduction says it's "a great way to waste time" maybe using the alternate titles index (for variant and foreign titles for movies with more than one name), a category list with all sorts of classifications, a series list, awards' lists, and a cast index. There's more, and you can see how much fun you could have.(REF 791.4375.) New non fiction is of a wide scope. First comes some powerful history. Thomas Cahill, author of "The Gifts of the Jews" and "How the Irish Saved Civilization" now offers "Desire of the Everlasting Hills" about the world just before and after Jesus, introducing us to the people Jesus knew, describing the Roman presence, Greek influence, and giving a new interpretation of the New Testament, based on material translated by the author himself. "Mysteries of the Middle Ages" is also Thomas Cahill's work; this tells about the rise of feminism, science, and art from the cults of Catholic Europe."Revolution in Mind" is George Makari's tome about the creation of psychoanalysis, going beyond myth to tell about one of the most controversial intellectual endeavors of the 20th century."Charlatan" is American social history about John Brinkley, a brazen young man who began a medical practice in 1917, and was later involved in lots of projects like running for governor of Kansas, "the most creative criminal this country has ever produced"."Trespass" is Amy Irvine's adventure as an activist and "Jack" Mormon concerned with the damage being done to the dessert landscape, as a 6th-generation "Utahn" working for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.." Chris Hunter's "Eight Lives Down" is the story of the world's most dangerous job in the world's most dangerous place (Iraq). "Down the Nile" is Rosemary Mahoney's recent report "alone on a fisherman's skiff" to fulfill her curiosity 200 years after Napoleon invaded Egypt. "The Bitter Sea" is Charles Li's story of about coming of age in a China before Mao, and seeing his family's fortunes dashed when Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists came to power in 1945. Here are some more "philosophies". "The Wisdom of Donkeys" by Andy Merrifield shows how to find tranquility in a chaotic world. Jim Cramer's "Stay Mad for Life" says "Get rich, stay rich (make your kids even richer)." In "Eat This Not That!" David Zinczenko lists simple food swaps that save calories at restaurants. Muhammad Yunus' "Creating a World Without Poverty" tackles social business and the future of capitalism. "The Age of Abundance" is Brink Lindsey's essay about how prosperity transformed America's politics and culture and why the culture wars made us more libertarian. In "The Small-Mart Revolution" Michael Shuman tells how local businesses are beating the global competition.Requested books include "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook" with 175 recipes, "Indivisible By Two" Nancy Segal's study of extraordinary twins, saying, "Maybe it's the unplanned joining of humanity and science that makes twins alluring". "I Was Told There'd Be Cake" is the title of essays by Sloane Crosley, who's described as a mercurial wit, telling truths in funny ways. "Gusher of Lies" is Robert Bryce's essays claiming that energy independence is neither desirable nor doable. He also says that renewable technologies like wind and solar cannot supply enough energy to meet America's demand.

Book Discussion

Orpheus Lost
by Janette Turner Hospital
In this powerful and passionate new novel, Janette Turner Hospital tackles head-on questions of national security, art, terrorism, and love.

Janette Turner Hospital received Australia's Patrick White Award for lifetime literary achievement. She holds an endowed chair as Carolina Distinguished Professor of English at the University of South Carolina.

The book discussion will be led by Wabash English Professor Agata Szczeszak-Brewer. The organizational meeting is on October 17, 6-8pm, at the Crawfordsville District Public Library. The discussion is on October 9, 6-8pm, also at the library.

The first 15 people who sign up will receive a free copy of the novel.

Sign up is at the Reference Desk at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.

The author will be visiting Wabash College on October 23rd to read and discuss her works. She will be in the KORB classroom at 8pm.

Genealogy Club October events

Annual Dinner and Meeting

7:00pm, October 14, 2008

Dinner will be at 6:00 pm followed by meeting at 7:00 pm in the Donnelley Room of the Crawfordsville District Public Library, 205 South Washington Street, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. "Road to Indiana Statehood" will be presented by Sean Hutson, Wabash student.

Reservations REQUIRED for the dinner in order to know how many meals to prepare. RSVP Before Friday, Oct 10, 2008. Payment of $10 for the meal must be made by Monday. October 13, 2008 at the Library's Local History Dept. Visitors always welcome.

For more information Contact: Dian Moore or Dellie Craig at Phone: (765) 362-2242 Ext 14 or 118 . Weekdays 9 am to 5 pm. Or email : gen@cdpl.lib.in.us
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After Hours Genealogy Research

5:00 -- 9:00 pm, Friday, October 24, 2008

Pizza Supper and Research -- no charge. Donations accepted towards pizza.

5:00 pm -- Pizza, Donnelley room, lower level
5:45 pm -- Research in local history and reference area, 2nd floor (no time limit on
computers).
9:00 pm -- final closing

Advanced arrival (Before 5:00 pm) is required. Library is locked at 5:00 pm. Visitors are Welcome. Please confirm your expected attendance by Wednesday, October 22. 765-362-2242 Ex. 14 or gen@cdpl.lib.in.us

Preview Shelf -- Hooked on Phonics!

The Crawfordsville District Public Library circulation department has materials that teach children to read phonetically. Called "Hooked on Phonics" they offer creative ways to make reading easier and more fun, a step at a time; there is also a parent's guide.A new book about Indiana has excellent value. Explaining the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi, "The Wabash River Guide Book" by Jerry Hay divides its 490 miles into 35 sections, each with a picture and clear explanation of features and uses. Identifications of old bridges, new bridges, oxbows, beaches, handy food sources, spillway dams, shoals, islands, public campsites, wildlife, locks, "s" bends, and a section on "Reading the River" make this a really useful piece of good information."The fortune Cookie Chronicles" by Jennifer Lee is her own story studying the world's Chinese restaurants and their culture; it is subtitled "One woman. One great mystery. One consuming obsession. Forty thousand restaurants." "Mrs. Wilkes' Boardinghouse Cookbook" begins as a young woman took over a non-descript turn-of-the-century boarding house in Savannah to make a living offering lodging and home-style Southern cooking; great story, great recipes. In "Between Rock and a Home Place" Chuck Leavell shares his life as keyboard player for the Rolling Stones who accompanied Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and the Allman Brothers. He's also an environmentalist and forestry expert. In "Follow Your Heart" Joe Evans tells of 50 years immersed in African American music history as an alto saxophonist with Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Charlie Parker, et al, in the Apollo Theatre, the Savoy, the Rhythm Club, and Minton's Playhouse; he segregates jazz, swing, and rhythm and blues. An oral history of key events that shaped modern baseball, "Change Up" was gathered by Larry Burke, giving the stories of star players like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, legend Cal Ripken Jr., and reporters telling about the important happenings in the history of the sport."Secrets of Longevity" is Maoshing Ni's report of hundreds of ways to live to be 100. It stresses no diets, no drugs, no fuss, but offers logical tips to a happier life in five chapters: What you eat, How you heal, Where you are, What you do, and Who you are. A good companion book to read with it is "Green Clean"about products for a safer, healthier home with nontoxic cleaners, stain removers, recycling procedures, and storage advice."Walking on Water" by Derrick Jensen discusses how to realize what each of us needs for our own freedom, and creativity, not how we should please others."Against Happiness, in Praise of Melancholy" by Eric Wilson tells how melancholia stimulates culture as the muse of great literature, painting, music, innovation, and the force underlying original insights. He says, "It's time to throw off the shackles of positivity and relish the blues that make us human." "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands" is Brad Lancaster's workbook about welcoming rain into our lives and landscapes. Elizabeth Banks' "Creating Period Gardens' holds stunning photographs and directions for "gardens of embroidery" before1730, "gardens of paradise" 1730-1830 and "gardens of romance" 1830-1930.