Danielle Steel? Does an "e" really make that much difference?

I found this book in with a bunch of religious books, but why was a Danielle Steel book doing among religious books? Then I saw the author had a Doctor of Divinity, and that the book's preface read, "Another book on the higher Christian life!" At that point I realized something was wrong. Whoever Daniel Steele was, he wasn't Danielle Steel. Though with a title like, "Love Enthroned", how was I to know?

Love Enthroned, by Daniel Steele (HC, ? year, $5)

Look for it on the new non-fiction table. (L-rel)

Jim Thompson, hero of Thailand's silk industry

Jim Thompson: The Legendary American of Thailand, by William Warren (TPB, 1970, $2)

One year in high school I read The Ugly American. It was the first time I had ever considered that Americans could be greedy, selfish, arrogant, or stupid. Well, I was pretty naive back then.

Jim Thompson is an example of the best America can offer. He was from wealth, graduated from Princeton, and then designed homes for the rich. During WWII the OSS sent him to Thailand. After the war he returned to the private sector but stayed in Thailand. He was amazed by the indigenous woven silk, but the industry was dying. Local vegetable dyes were unpredictable and often faded with use. Silk, in general, was seen as either too old fashioned, or too expensive. Few people in Thailand wanted it. Enter our Mr. Thompson, who was fascinated by everything Thai: their people, architecture, art, and textiles.

He started his silk company in the 1950s. He insisted his weavers use color-fast dyes, and that the silk fibers be of the best quality. He had a spectacular eye for color, and an amazing ability to combine colors and patterns, so his fabrics were different from anything anyone had ever seen before, even in Japan.

Thompson believed strongly in helping the Thai people. First he insisted his weavers work out of their own homes and not in factories, so they could maintain their culture. He also insisted that 51% of his silk company's owners be Thai citizens. He made sure profits went to his workers and the people of Thailand. His board of directors kept trying to raise his salary, and he kept saying he made enough.

He was lucky. Rogers and Hammerstein's The King and I dressed its performers in Thompson's silk. Now everyone wanted it. Queen Elizabeth redecorated a room in Windsor Castle with it. Movie stars wore it, both when they were filming, and when they were not. Other companies tried to compete, but Thompson's silk was always the best.

Eventually he wanted a place to display the art he had collected over the years. He designed a "museum" he could also live in. He moved 6 antique Thai dwellings onto his property, and connected them. Then he started to entertain. Anyone who was anyone could be found there, as well as a lot of just regular people that Thompson thought interesting.

Tragedy struck in 1967. He went for an "evening stroll" in the jungle and never returned. Was it murder? Did he stage his own disappearance? Had he been injured, or gotten lost? Everyone looked for him. Nobody found him.

Reading about Thompson's disappearance is fascinating, but this book drags it out for too long, and keeps coming back to it, again and again. Otherwise, I really liked this book, and this man. Now he would have been someone to meet!

Look for the book on the new non-fiction table.  (L-Th)

According to the internet, some bones were found in 2007 that might be his, but tests to determine if they were have not been done. Apparently the bones "are in a safe place", whatever that means.

Jesus, Mary and Judah, their son

The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History, by Simcha Jacobovici (TPB, 2007, $2.25)

 Ok, I usually consider myself as having an open mind, so I read this with curiosity, if some scepticism. I was not convinced. First off, James Cameron wrote the introduction. That's right, the director of Titanic introduces us to a new archaeological find. Does anyone else but me think it is strange a Hollywood personality was asked to write this introduction? Then there are all those color photos supposedly proving the book's point. Pretty photos, but to me they don't prove anything. Where the book really lost me was when they claim only Jesus' family had the same names as the ones inscribed in the tomb, or that a circle is a crown of thorns, or that a funny looking "X" was a symbol for Christ.

So why buy this book? How about because it is fun poking holes in their interpretations. Look for it on the new non-fiction table.  (L- rel)

To Live Again (Rehab in 1944)

And Now to Live Again, by Betsy Barton (small HC, 1944, $2.50)

Betsy Barton writes of her own experiences after being paralyzed in a car crash. She writes what it was like immediately after the accident, during her stay at the "Institute", and after her re-entry into life.

She writes during WWII, when soldiers were returning home not only with physical injuries, but also with mental ones. Sadly soldiers and accident victims were not the only ones at the institute. There were also children recovering from neurological conditions like polio. They all go to the gymnasium to work with "teachers", to strengthen muscles and learn new vocations.

This book is not only for the wounded. Barton also writes for the families and friends of the injured. She warns people to expect anger and depression. Then she shares what helped her deal with her losses.

What makes this book even more special is the inscription, "This book is for Bea, and so am I-  Donnie" You are left wondering who was Bea, and how she made out. We will, of course, never know. Neither will we know how life turned out for the others injured by war, accident, illness, or birth. Is it any different today? I would hope so, but I wouldn't bet on it. So hug your family, and your friends, and remember to reach out to those, like Betsy and Bea, who have to learn to live again. (Don, I haven't forgotten you.)

Look for this sobering, but triumphant book on the new non-fiction table. (L. med.)  

tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a' (Do you speak Klingon?)

Do you speak Klingon?
Or do you want to?
If so, this is the book for you. Apparently some people actually do speak this nonsense. At least they do on The Big Bang Theory.

So, here you are:
The Klingon Dictionary: English/Klingon and Klingon/English (Star Trek, The Official Guide to Klingon Words and Phrases), by Marc Okrand (PB, 1985, $5, has a weak binding, and yellowed pages) Look for it on the new non-fiction table (L. sci. fi. )

(I just looked this book up on Amazon. It is amazingly rare. There is a more recent edition still in print. It is even available in e-book format. There are also entire books entirely in Klingon! Amazing, aint it.)

The REAL Pinocchio (Sorry Walt!)

As I wrote in an earlier blog, Walt Disney did not invent Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi did. Well, actually Perrault did, but Collodi made it famous when he translated the fairy tale into Italian. He eventually rewrote it as a modernized version, later even publishing several sequels. Pinocchio was "originally serialized in a children's newspaper, with resounding success, and was published as a book in 1883." How cool is that!

This book also includes an introduction and notes on Collodi's work, as well as the wonderfully funny originally illustrations. (I only wish the illustrations were larger!)


If you want to read the REAL story of Pinocchio, now is your chance. (TPB, 1996, $1.75) Look for it in the classics section. Av. 9/20.

(Actually, now that I think of it, isn't it too bad we usually don't know where the Disney stories originate from? Other than Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers, who have we heard of? Were you even aware that Anderson actually wrote his own stories, while the Grimms went out and collected them?)

"The Prize: Oil, Money and Power" (Pulitzer Prize winner)

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power, by Daniel Yergin (TPB, 1992, 885 pages, $3)

"The Prize recounts the panoramic history of oil- and the struggle for wealth and power that has always surrounded oil. This struggle has shaken the world economy, dictated the outcome of wars, and transformed the destiny of men and nations. The Prize is as much a history of the 20th century as of the oil industry itself. The canvas of this history is enormous- from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and Operation Desert Storm."

Who of you who are reading this think what this author writes about is still relevant?
Look for it on the new non-fiction table, av. 9/20.  (L-g.nf.)

Exchange-Traded Funds

Investing with Exchange-Traded Funds Made Easy, second edition: A Start-to-Finish Plan to Reduce Costs and Achieve Higher Returns, by Marvin Appel (HC, 2008, $2, has some markings.)

You hear about them all the time- Exchange Traded Funds, or ETFs.
So what are they?

Whatever they are, money is flowing out, out, out of mutual funds and into these funds that trade like stock, have less expenses, and are more tax efficient. Or at least the older ones do. Now there are active ETFs, ETFs that are made up only of futures, ETFs that never existed before a minute ago, and exotic ETFs that only invest in stocks having to do with Uncle Charlie's left big toe. In my own opinion, I like the idea of the older ETFs and distrust the new ones, but hey, I have always been an old stick-in-the-mud. Read this book and make up your own mind. Look for this on the new non-fiction table.   (9/20)   (Later-Ec.)

Note: In this rapidly evolving field, parts of this 2008 book are probably already obsolete.

Mozart- where did your body go?

The Mozart Myths: A Critical Reassessment, by William Stafford (TPB, 1991, $1.50)

Who would have known there were all those rumors of stuff going on during Mozart's last days! What I like about this author is his refusing to decide what happened. Of course we will never know what really happened, but it is so refreshing that an expert admits it.

So, what are the myths? Let's see-

1. Was he poisoned?- almost certainly not
2. Was he anti-Semitic?- probably not, but maybe?
3. Was he melancholy and self-destructive just before he died? He was certainly exhausted, probably dealing with heart failure brought about by rheumatic fever, and massively in debt.
4. Did he see himself as a genius or a failure?  A failure? How could he thought himself a failure? He had been a child prodigy, and as a young adult, a successful composer and performer. As he got older, though, his works were seen as too old-fashioned. People stopped buying his music. Before he died only 20% of his compositions were in print. Then he died, and people became interested again in his music. Both his widow and his son would be able to live lives of leisure. So as he was dying how did he see himself? We will never know.
5. Did he know he was dying when he composed his last work, the Requiem? Did he really push himself to exhaustion to finish it before he died? Did he hear a rehearsal of Requiem on his last afternoon? - Most likely not, since when he died the work was still not finished.
6. Did the weather get suddenly dark and stormy when he died? - Nope!
7. Was he buried in a pauper's grave? Is that why his grave site is unknown?- Nope. Actually during this time no one had lavish burials. Most of the middle-class were buried in wooden coffins, five to a grave, marked only by a wooden marker. Many times when more burial space was needed, bodies, including Mozart's, were dug up, the bones crushed, and then reburied elsewhere. By that time even his wife didn't know where his remains were. To complicated matters, in 1855 a marker was put up where people thought his body might be. Later, the marker was moved again. (And please don't ask about his supposed skull, and how it ended up separate from his body!) So, to summarize, his was not a pauper's grave, but where it is no one, even now, knows.

How weird is all this? Read more about this in the book, to be found on the new non-fiction table. (9/20)        (L-mu) 

PLEASE HELP OUR STORE!

For those of you who are customers of the Houghton Book Store:

We/I would not be offended if you contacted Houghton College to give them input on whether you think the store should continue. Please leave any comments you have, not for the college itself, but for the Houghton Foundation that owns us.

Also, if you are in the habit of praying, feel free to add both the store and its staff to your list.

Many thanks. And if we do still close, still, many, many thanks!

Sue's memorial. The future of the store.

Sue's memorial service was Friday. There were sure a lot of people there: her cousins from out-of-state, plus people from the college, the bookstore, and her church.

When there was a time to share I spoke about how Sue had pushed me out of my comfort zone. Many of you may not know that it was Sue who got me to blog. She wanted us all to blog, but I was new to computers, and wanted no part of this blogging stuff. I stormed in the next day announcing to all that if I was forced to write a single blog I would no longer work at the store. Somehow, though, by the end of the day I had written two blogs, and the rest, as they say, is history.

You will have noticed that lately we have rarely blogged. Partly, it is because of Sue's death, and partly because the future of the store is uncertain. It turns out that the store is owned by the Houghton Foundation, and they have yet to make the decision to continue the store, or not. You will not be surprised to know that all of us who volunteer at the store hope the Foundation does let us continue.

When I know anything, I will let you know
Karen Sue

John Jakes PBs

7 different John Jakes PBs from the American Bicentennial and the Kent Family Chronicles. The books range in price from $1.25 to $1.50. They are in a box in the paperback fiction section.

Dying for Chocolate!

Just arrived-

12 PB mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson.
One of them is the above book.

"Dying for Chocolate"- that is a pretty good description of me. Even after losing a lot of weight for health reasons, I still allow myself one piece of Chocolate Wave Cake each week at Red Lobster. To think that I never ate chocolate until about 10 years ago! When I was young, I was violently allergic to it. Once I outgrew my allergy I could eat chocolate without getting hives, but in my opinion it tasted horrible. Then I turned 45, and the whole world changed.

These books by Davidson can be found on the floor in front of the mystery section. Sorry, you will have to buy your own chocolate!

Donation of Some Odd Classics

We have just received a large collection of TPB classics. Some of them are the usual ones, like Austin and Dickens, but some are a lot more obscure. For instance, did you know that Carlo Collodi wrote one of the world's most famous children's stories- Pinocchio? Hey, I figured Walt didn't write it, but I had thought it to be an ancient fairy tale. Nope, it was written by an Italian in 1873.

You can't have this copy of Pinocchio till I finish reading it, but the rest of these odd classics can be found on the floor in front of the classics section.

Of course when I call them "odd", it probably shows how ignorant I am, but I bet you won't have heard of all of these gems. Well, Sue probably would have, but her knowledge base was incredible. She had even READ most of the books she talked about. This is my first blog since her death. Life goes on, but she is already greatly missed.

Sue's Funeral

For those wanting to attend Sue's funeral, it will be held on the 14th at 2 pm, at the Reformed Lutheran Church, 111 North Chestnut Street, Rochester, 14604. All are invited to attend.

Sue, we miss you.

Sad news, a death in our family...

It is with profound regret that we must inform you of the sudden death on Monday of our fearless leader, the manager of the store for the last few years, Susan Eckert.

We are all still in shock.
Sue, we miss you so much.

No details yet on services. We will keep you informed.

Pre-, Post- or Amillennialism Prophecy

The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook: All the prophecies of Scripture explained in one volume, by John F. Walvoord (HC, 1990, 809 pages, $5)

According to Walvoord, the importance of prophecy has changed over time, and so has its interpretation. Of course, the main interpretation question is whether to consider prophecy literally or allegorically.

In the New Testament, the question is which theological belief is true: premillennialism, postmillennialism, or amillennialism. (Premellennialism theology says Jesus will physically return to earth prior to the beginning of the millennium. Postmellennialism theology says Jesus' second coming will be after the millennium. Amillennialism theology sees the second coming as only figurative.)

Of less importance are the questions of which prophecies have already been fulfilled, of which are conditional and may never be fulfilled, or which might be fulfilled in more than one way. All this is confusing to someone like myself who comes from a liberal background, where hardly any attention is placed on prophecy, much less the end-times. So, does that make me an amillennialistic?

Walvoord writes in this 1990s book, "amillennialism continues to be the majority view of the church". Is that still true? I don't think so.

I was interested to learn that Augustine (354-430) reintroduced the church to literal interpretation of the Scriptures, but not to literal interpretation of prophecy. How could he interpret one literally, but not the other?

Reading parts of this book helped me explore my beliefs. It can also be used as a reference book. Either way, look for it on the non-fiction table.  (L-r)

Monty Roberts, the real "Horse Whisperer"

Monty Roberts, A Real Horse Whisperer (VHS tape, produced by the BBC, 1997, 48 minutes, $.50)

This is one amazing story. I not only watched it twice, I also introduced my friends to it. Who knew that a man could "break" a wild horse in such a short period of time. Who knew how awful the usual way of taming horses could be. The scenes of horses with their legs tied up will haunt me for a long time, but I will also remember the man who turned away from such violence. Mr. Roberts had won riding awards as a child. As an adult he won rodeo championships. All the while he was observing horses, and how they communicated to each other. Walter Farley, gasp, was wrong! It is not the stallion that leads a herd- it is an older mare. Using the insights from his observations, Roberts developed a way to tame horses, not with violence and fear, but with gentleness.

His techniques don't just work with horses. Yes, he did advise Queen Elizabeth on her horses, but he also helped raise more than 40 foster children, most of whom came to him as angry teenagers. Fortune 500 companies also use him to train their people. I am not sure how old he is, but he is still giving demonstrations all over the world. (This year he's going to Australia and the UK.)

This tape teaches you a lot about horses, but it also teaches you a lot about making the world a better place. Start with anything positive that someone does. It doesn't make a difference how small the behavior is, just as long as it is positive. And make sure negative behaviors have consequences. For Mr. Roberts, someone's glass might contain only one drop of water, but for him, that one drop of water is where he starts.

An amazing man. An amazing story. Look for this tape on top the VHS shelves at the front of the store.

James White's 384-level hospital in the sky!

3 "Sector General" Omnibuses by James White (HC, 2001, 2002, and 2003, $2.50 each)

1. Beginning Operations-
which includes:
Hospital Station, Star Surgeon, and Major Operation.

2. Alien Emergencies-
which includes:
Ambulance Ship, Sector General, and Star Healer.

3. General Practice-
which includes:
Code Blue-Emergency and The Genocidal Healer.

 I read my way through the three novels of this first book in only two days. I don't usually read science fiction, but for these stories I made an exception. The weirdest part was realizing afterwards that I had read two of them before, one in the 1970s when I was in high school, and one more recently. I loved them then, and I love them now. Try 'em, and you'll love 'em too!

Shop not open this weekend

Due to volunteer scheduling problems, we will NOT be open 8/11 and 12.  We regret any inconvenience this may cause.  Our volunteers have compiled a great track record of being open every summer weekend (thank you, Saturday and Sunday teams and subs), but this time a couple of different unexpected circumstances combined to make staffing impossible.  Again, we apologize.  Normal hours resume on Tuesday.

G. M. Loeb's 1952 war of investing survival!

The Battle for Investment Survival: A straight-forward, uncompromising revelation of stock-market technique and philosophy that you can apply profitably to your own investment thinking, by G. M. Loeb (HC, 1952 edition of 1935 work, enlarged by 18 additional chapters, $59, which is a steal, because the listed internet price is $505!)

Writes Loeb, "When I started investing about 1921, it seemed a peaceful enough occupation. By 1943, I started calling it a 'battle', though a lot of people might have used that term much earlier during 1929 to 1932. But now in 1952 it seems to me a 'war'.

The person who studies a problem from every angle and defines the risks, aims and possibilities correctly before he starts is more than half-way to his goal.

Atom bomb or no, there is nothing really new in 1952's investment hazards, though they seem so novel and terrifying. Inflation and deflation, taxation, social reform, regulation, war, rationing, confiscation, even revolution all have played their parts regularly in the past. It is only that at times these forces seem to be quiescent, and at other times dynamic."

What would he say about today's stock market? Do his techniques still work?

Be sure to catch the table on changes in the Dow Jones Industrials- a wild swing down from 1929 to 1930 (381 to 41), and then up and down but generally upward until this book was released (41 to 280). Hey, you mathematically inclined, how much of drop is it anyway when you go from 381 to 41 in one year? And we complain when the market drops a few percentage points!

You can find this book in the front glass case.

"Don't Mean Nothing" in Vietnam

Don't Mean Nothing: Short Stories of Vietnam, by Susan O'Neill (HC, 2001, autographed, $15, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

These are stories from a female perspective, a nurses perspective. Our soldiers were in Vietnam to save the world from communism. Our nurses were there to save people's lives, no matter who they were.

"For these women and the men among whom they worked and lived, a common defense against the awful onslaught of dead and dying, wounded and maimed, was a feigned indifference, the irony of the helpless. 'Don't mean nothing' became their mantra, a small bunker in the real war- the war against total mental breakdown."

O'Neill served in Vietnam, served for one year and one month. She survived to now share with us a little of what it was like to be there. We, who were not there, can never really understand. When my friend would talk about his time there, sometimes I would just feel confused and conflicted. When he would realize this, he would touch my shoulder, and quietly say, "It's OK. I don't understand it either." The sadness and far away look in his eyes never quite went away. (Don, I haven't forgotten you.)

Of interest here is a post-it to the initial owners, from the couple who gifted it to them. O'Neill was their relative. In a way, she is related to all of us. Look for this book on the new fiction table.  (L-sh.st.)

American Militias and their Politics of Hate

A Force Upon the Plain: The American Militia Movement and the Politics of Hate, by Kenneth S. Stern (HC, 1996, some underlining, autographed, $5, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

I started reading this book, but couldn't make myself finish. It was just too upsetting. Yet how can we fight something without being able to look at it?

"A Force upon the Plain explains how this country has gotten to a point where thousands of well-armed men and women have become so certain that their country is under siege and their leaders cannot be trusted that they believe the only possible defense lies with them and their guns. It uncovers the ways in which these men and women have used newsletters, the Internet, short-wave and political campaigns to spread their message of hate across the country and even into the halls of Congress...

We all know what happened in Oklahoma City. What we need to know now is why and what may come next."

When you read this, expect to be disturbed. Look for it on the new non-fiction table.  (L-AH)

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (3 editons:1886, 1950-60s)

I) A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, edited by Philip Schaff (HC, 1886, binding and covers are in rough shape but the pages are fine, 13 volumes of a 14 volume set, $35, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

The volume we are missing is #9.

The 1800s must have been an interesting time. First, Oxford's English Episcopalians published their Ante-Nicene Fathers in the 1840s. The Presbyterian Scots of Edinburgh later fired back with their own translation. Meanwhile, in Germany, the Roman Catholics had finished another version. The American one ended up almost identical to the one from Scotland. The story of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers translation followed pretty much the same course.

We of the internet age really can't understand how great an advance these books were. Before this a minister who wanted to read these classics had not only be able to read ecclesiastical Greek and Latin, but also to have access to a massive number of expensive books. Migne's Latin Patrology alone contained 222 volumes, and his Latin one "only" 167!

I loved reading the editorial comments on the earlier Episcopalian version- "incomplete and unequal". I was also impressed that Schaff had invited translators of other versions to "revise and edit" their earlier work. Some agreed, but some only "expressed their kindly interest in the enterprise".  Of those in the latter category, the most famous was Dr. Newman, who had been Anglican when he translated for the Oxford edition, but had now become a Roman Catholic Cardinal!

Also, the editor's comments on price made me realize how much we take cheap books for granted. Before these books were published, the editors must have done a lot of planning to make sure the price was low enough for some ministers to buy,  and yet of good enough quality that they would last. And last they have. More than a hundred years later, and even after hard use (we hope) in a college library, its pages are still in great shape.



2) A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, second series, translated into English with Prolegomena and explanatory notes, edited by Philip Schaff (HC, various volumes from both the 1950s and 1960s editions, $4 each)

We are missing volumes I and II completely.
We have books from both editions of volumes V and VI.
The rest of the volumes we have in just one edition (III, IV, and VII through XIV).

Look for these books in boxes on the floor of the religion room. Volume I of the 1886 edition, and Volume III of the latter one, are on top of the box, so you can check them out without having to move boxes.

Ante-Nicene Fathers (1885 Buffalo edition)

The Ante-Nicene Fathers- Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to AD 325, the American reprint of the Edinburgh edition, revised and chronologically arranged, with brief prefaces and occasional notes,  edited by Rev. Alexander Roberts (seven HC volumes: volumes 1-4, and 6-8, 1885, in rough condition, $30 for the set, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

From an add for the Edinburgh edition, "The Ante-Nicene Christian Library  is meant to comprise translations into English of all the extant works of the Fathers down to the date of the first General Council held at Nice in AD 325."

Back in the 1840s Oxford put out its 48 volume  Library of the Fathers. Many scholars were upset to find it leaning heavily toward a Roman Catholic interpretation. This was probably a valid concern, because at the time many important Anglicans were leaving the Church of England to become Roman Catholic priests and even bishops! Edinburgh decided to take matters into its own hands, and produced its own Ante-Nicene Christian Library. Buffalo's Christian Literature Publishing Company would publish the American version. Except for some reorganization, their version was almost the same as Edinburgh's.

We are missing volume V of the set, which apparently included translations of writings by Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, and Novatian (whoever they were). This set is ex-library, and needs to be rebound, but the pages themselves, though darkened, are in good shape. Look for this set on the floor of the religion room in a box marked Ante-Nicene Fathers. Look for the first volume to be on top of the box, where you can check it out without having to move all the other boxes to get to the other volumes.

Travel the world with Stoddard and his magic lantern slides.

John L. Stoddard's Lectures, 15 volumes (HC, 1925, in fine condition, $79)

John Stoddard taught Latin and French at an exclusive private school, but he wanted to travel. And so in 1874 he did. For two years he explored the world with a passion. Eventually he returned to teaching where he could pass on his stories of the world's cultures and histories. Word of his exciting talks got around, and soon he was sharing stories with adults. Historic Camera's History Librarian writes,"This launched a surprising new career that would prove to be far more lucrative than teaching at a private school."

That may be true, but it wasn't his lectures that got me excited, it was his photographs. When he gave his talks, he would also show magic lantern slides from his trip. And what photographs they were! He may have considered them secondary to his lectures, but he still made sure they were of the finest quality.

His lectures "became truly unique visual experiences. For example, his lecture on Constantinople included a mixture of photographs, engravings, recreations of historical scenes, and reproductions of drawings from noteworthy sites. Typically contemporary slide shows offer[d] no such media variety..."

John Stoddard never took a photograph. He only told his  personal photographer exactly how to take them. "Many of his photographs were not retouched in any way, while others were artistically enveloped in shadows or ornately framed. Mr Stoddard would frequently display artistic reproductions alongside actual location photographs. His attitude was essentially, 'Anything goes," as long as the visuals emphasized his verbal descriptions."

These are amazing books. The inside cover pages are darkened, with remnants of tape on them, but the rest of the pages are purest white. How can that be when they are almost 90 years old? I remain amazed.

Then there are those photographs! Who knows how many there are. Somewhere in these books there must be a set of pages without a drawing or  photograph, but I have yet to find it. So sit back, read his stories, enjoy his photos, and be thankful a set of books like this exists.

I bought this set for myself a year ago, but now it's time to share them. Look for them in the sets section.

Bill Clinton, The Survivor

The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House, by John F. Harris (HC, 2005, autographed, $6.50, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

This is another book from my own collection. Harris signed it after a talk at Rundel Library. This Rochester native started as a Washington Post summer intern and worked his way up. He "covered the Clinton White House from 1995 to 2001 for the Post, earning the White House Correspondents' Association's Aldo Beckman Award and the Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency from the Gerald R. Ford Library for his work during that period." So, I guess he know his stuff.

Look for this on the new non-fiction table.

Famous Hymns, where did you come from?

We have two books that tell the stories behind a lot of well loved hymns.

The older of the two:
Famous Hymns with stories and pictures, by Elizabeth Hubbard Bonsall (oversize HC, 1923, $2) The reason I love this best is its old time printing and art. I just want to curl up on the sofa while I read through the pages. (This is also the only book to include music with the hymns.)

The second book:
Popular Hymn Stories, compiled by Don Sanford (TPB, 1962, $1.75) This one is enjoyable, just not as special as the first one.

Look for them both on the new non-fiction table.

What can a woman do?

What Can a Woman Do, or Her Position in the Business and Literary World, by Mrs. M. L. Rayne (HC, late 1890s (?), 552 pages, $7, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

This is a beautiful book. The cover is dark purple with black and purple decorations. A gilded square in the top left corner tells the book's title. I loved the marbled design of the page edges.

I expected little from the content, but I was wrong. She may be writing over a hundred years ago, but the author believed women could succeed at many jobs. Some jobs on her list are the usual ones held by women of the time: housekeeper, nurse, stenographer, cook, dressmaker, and clerk. Others on the list amazed me: journalist, lawyer, doctor, and even entrepreneur. My favorites, though, are the chapters on raising chickens, ducks and bees. (Bees?)

I was disgusted by her chapter concerning telegraph operators. In those days, it would seem, women were considered to have less endurance, and to be absent more frequently than men. I wonder if this was really true, or if it was just the reason men gave for paying their women workers 1/3 less.

The end half of this book introduces us to women's writing of the time, both poetry and prose. At the very end of the book is a weird rendering of the poem, "Curfew must not ring tonight". For some reason the poem, which is also quoted earlier in the book, is presented here in a 24 page, large print, fully illustrated version. Strange.

Since half of this book is non-fiction, it can be found on the new non-fiction table.

A Partially Complete Stephen King

The Complete Stephen King Encyclopedia: The definitive guide to the works of America's Master of Horror, by Stephen J. Spignesri (oversized TPB, 1991, 780 pages, $6)

Included here are articles:

about Stephen King and his work,
about his fans, collections and conventions,
about his newsletter,

on his motion picture adaptations,
and on his poetry.

There are-
interviews with the people that knew him,

and an index-
of the first lines of his works,
of his published works,
of his unpublished works,
of his characters,

and an annotated bibliography.

The scary part for me is that all this "complete" stuff ends here in 1991, so a whole other 780 page book could be written about Stephen King and his works. That's a lot of words. Is he worth it? Yup, in my opinion, and I don't even read his stuff.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table.  (L-SK area)

The shameful story of how the Cajuns ended up in Louisiana.

A Great and Noble Scheme: The tragic story of the expulsion of the French Acadians from their American Homeland, by John Mack Faragher (HC, 562 pages, 2005, $4)

This is one horrifying bit of history. Once upon a time there was an independent group of people living in Acadia, Nova Scotia. They were French, and Catholic, but they got along better with their English New England Protestant neighbors than they did their other neighbors who were French. The Acadians also were friends with their native neighbors, the Mikmaqs. When war came between France and England, the Acadians refused to fight on the side of the French, and they refused to fight on the side of the English. There was grumbling on both sides, but for a time they were left alone.

By 1755 everything had changed. The Pennsylvania Gazette wrote, "We are now upon a great and noble Scheme of sending the neutral French out of this Province, who have always been secret Enemies, and have encouraged our Savages to cut our Throats. If we effect their Expulsion, it will be one of the greatest Things that ever the English did in America; for by all Accounts, that Part of the Country they possess, is as good Land as any in the World: In case therefore we could get some good English Farmers in their Room, this Province would abound with all Kinds of Provisions."

Of course, the Gazette had it a bit wrong. The Acadians had not been secret enemies, and they had not encouraged Natives to attack the English, but no one cared.

What they did get right was the part about the land being fertile, really fertile. In order for "some good English Farmers" to take over that fertile land, the Acadians had to go . So New England troops "acting under the authority of the colonial governors of Nova Scotia and Mass... systematically round[ed] up more than 7,000 Acadians, the French-speaking, Catholic inhabitants who lived in communities along the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Men, women, and children alike were crowded into transport vessels and deported in small groups to other British colonies across the continent of North America. Many families were separated... some never to meet again. Another 10,000 or more fled into the forests and spent years living as homeless refugees. Thousands of them were captured and deported to France, while others took up arms in guerrilla resistance. Meanwhile, their property was plundered, their communities were torched, their lands were seized." Amazingly, from all over America and Europe many Acadians were able to make their way to Louisiana. Some families were united. Most were not.

Not until 2003 would Canada acknowledge their part in this tragedy. The United States still has not. Few people here even know the story. Perhaps some day we will.

Our history is filled with stories of all the good things we have done, both as individuals and  as a country. Our history, though, is also filled with some not-so-pretty stories. Without facing our ability to do evil, we risk repeating those things we would now rather deny.

Look for this fascinating book on the new non-fiction table.  (L- AmH)

Karl Marx, a US citizen?

Karl Marx On America and the Civil War, by Karl Marx (TPB, ?, $3)

Karl Marx, a US citizen? Probably not, but in 1845 he did consider moving to the States. Who would have thought it! Actually he was quite impressed by our technology. He was well-read regarding American economics, history, and agriculture. He hoped a proletarian revolution would follow the Civil War, but of course it never did. Interestingly, he thought the revolution would be non-violent.

At first Marx wasn't a good enough writer in English, so he had Engels write for him. Marx sent those pieces to NY under his name! Once in NY the Tribune sometimes completely rewrote "his" writing, took credit for it as their own, or just never published it. Why would he say he wrote something he hadn't? Probably because he needed the money. Living in exile in Brussels, he was both ill and broke.

Not until 1913 was it realized that Engels had written the pieces. That means Marx fooled people for more than 65 years. I find that amazing.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table.  (L-CW)

Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Elizabeth Dole?

The Silence of the Lambs, Special Edition DVD, Best Picture for 1991 ($2)

So what does Hannibal Lecter have to do with Elizabeth Dole? Not much, except it was her Secretary of Labor office that was shown as the office of the FBI director. I wonder if she really knew what she was getting into? Probably so, she is one smart lady. Look for this on the shelf in front of the front desk.

This is from my collection. Believe it or not, I saw it for the first time this year. Creepy, creepy, creepy... (But you already knew that.)

Dorothy Sayers, "Are Women Human?"

Are Women Human?, by Dorothy L. Sayers (PB, 1992 edition of 1947 book, $1.50)

Dorothy Sayers a feminist? Why am I so surprised? Look for this on the new non-fiction table.  (L- fem.)

Knock in a 1956 Hungarian night...

Knock in the Night, by Refugee #14543, Balazs Szabo (TPB, 2006, $2.50)

"Government secret police with machine guns are ordered to fire into a crowd. Men, women, and children are slaughtered at the nation's Parliament...

Fifty years ago, the world held its breath as a nation rose up against tyranny and terror. The event was the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, when a small nation dared to challenge their Soviet oppressors. Though a bloody defeat, the uprising revealed to the the world the true nature of communism, which rules by terror... Knock in the Night is the artist's cautionary memoir of growing up under Communist brutality... This extraordinary book vividly recounts those desperate times and is an urgent reminder that where there is no democracy, there is no safety."

What more is there to say. Look for this on the new non-fiction table.  (L-H)

The Bible Code and the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin

The Bible Code, by Michael Drosnin (HC, 1997, $2.75)

You take a chapter from the Torah, and put its Hebrew letters into your computer in the form of a program. Then you circle some things horizontally, and circle some things vertically, and some how you end up with predictions that later come true. One of those predictions was regarding the Rabin assassination. The code showed "Rabin", "Tel Aviv", "5756" ( the year of 1995-6), and "Amir" (the name of his assassin) all intersecting.

More importantly, the code also connects "the End of Days", "5760" (2000), and "delay". To the mathematician, Dr. Rips, and the author this means that the "holocaust of Israel" which was to have happened in 2000, has been delayed.

Well, we managed to get through 2000 OK. We even survived 2001, which did seem like the end of days to most of us. (My mother died within the month of the Towers falling, so for me it was a doubly awful time.) So maybe we were just lucky, or maybe the "End" is coming soon? Like maybe this year when the Mayans also predict the end of the world? Actually, I think we all know the world is in a precarious position, but is the real Armageddon around the corner? I am not sure I really want to know.

Pretty spooky? Look for this oddity on the new non-fiction table.  (L- NA)

The King of Toronto builds his castle!

Sir Henry Pelliatt: The King of Casa Loma, by Carlie Oreskovich (TPB, 1996, $2)

Who knew Toronto had a king? Well, actually, Sir Henry Pelliatt wasn't a king, just a robber barron who had been knighted. He did, though, have a 98 room castle. He made his fortune in many ways. One project that didn't work out well was his building of a power station at Niagara Falls. Earlier Pelliatt had made lots of money selling electricity to both towns and individuals. Then electricity was produced by steam generators fueled by coal. Until new technology made hydropower feasible, and a coal strike reduced the availability of coal, no one was interested in harnessing the water power.  Unfortunately for Pelliatt, the government decided to provide people with cheap power, and so took over control of the power station. But never mind, Pelliatt had lots of other ways to make money.

Pelliatt was proud of  bringing  891 men of the Queens Own Riflemen Regiment in 1910 to England to practice maneuvers with other parts of the British army.  His men, even after intense training, were obviously not in the same class with the rest of the British army. (In part, because some of the Canadians were coming down with typhoid fever.) The British soldiers also laughed at the Canadians' "toy" rifles. Regardless, Pelliatt had shown that Canada was able and willing to fight if necessary to protect the British Empire. Pelliatt never led his men into battle, but when war came in 1914, 210 officers and 7,352 of his men left to fight in the trenches. (Even after several modifications, their rifles still didn't work well.)

In 1910 Pelliatt was fabulously rich, but after the recession in 1913, and then the war, his finances were in trouble. Trying to remake his fortune, Pelliatt both invested badly, and "borrowed" money from banks, his companies, and even his family that he could never pay back. Long before the stock crash, Pelliatt was broke. His castle, Casa Loma, had been started at the peak of a financial boom, but even if it had not, his grand dreams were just too expensive. He had dreamed so big, and bought so high, that even downsizing his dream castle wasn't enough.  Some of the wings and floors were never finished, and eventually the furnishings were all sold at auction. They went for a song. The castle never did sell. With out anyone looking after it, the Casa Loma started to crumble. The city of Toronto forced him into bankruptcy for unpaid taxes in 1934. Until 1937 people feared Casa Loma would be razed, but in 1937 it was bought by the Kiwanis Club and turned into a tourist attraction, which is why we can still visit it today.

What a complex man. I probably should feel sorry for him, but I don't. He caused people too much pain for me to feel that way. Look for this book on the new non-fiction table.  (L-tr. C.)

Has "Story Time" Become "Bore-y Time" at Your House?

Might be time to refresh your children’s hardcover picture/story book library. We've got several new titles - all are in excellent condition - nearly new - and priced at $2.00 each. Choose from:

“The Pet Shop Revolution” by Ana Juan **SOLD**

As the title promises, the animals revolt over their mean, scowling owner who seems to care more about his toupee and his pride than his fuzzy and feathered charges. With the help of a sympathetic young neighbor, watch the critters turn the tables! Favorite illustrations: the sad toucan and Mr. Walnuts’s Dr. Dentons.

“My Best, Best Friend” by Lauren Child

What little one hasn’t felt like a third wheel at some point in their youth? In this Charlie & Lola story, jealousy and friendship take front and center stage when Lola’s very best friend Lotta starts swapping lunches with a new girl and Lola’s insecurities take over.

“Mario and Baby Gia” by Mario Lopez. Illustrated by Maryn Roos

In  this likable story of a boy who’s feeling cross when has to babysit on his birthday, Mario’s toddling cousin Gia teaches him a thing or two about family values. Written for his daughter, author Mario Lopez adds “children’s author” to his resume that already includes Broadway, tv sitcoms, dancing competitions, entertainment hosting and fitness writing.  Where does he find the time?

“Guess How Much I Love You – Pop-Up Edition” by Sam McBratnay, Illustrated by Anita Jeram

The classic “love you to the moon and back” story goes 3-D with delightful pop-up pages and pull tabs for the toddler/pre-school set. It’s in very good to excellent condition, with only one non-working tab.

Other titles include “The Yellow House” by Blake Morrison & Illustrated by Helen Craig; “Polka Dot Penguin Pottery” by Lenore Look & Illustrated by Yumi Heo; and “The Great Bear” by Libby Gleeson & Illustrated by Armin Greder.

There’s also a board book called the “Little Black Book” – full of pictures of cats and hats and other everyday ebony objects that invites babies to touch & feel, lift the flap and scratch & sniff. (This book is also in fine shape - even the scratch and sniff spot still works - mmmm...licorice!) This one's just $1.50! 

Find them all in the Childrens Section.

How to Win an Election (1964)

How to Win an Election: The Art of Political Victory, by Stephen C. Shadegg (PB, 1964, $1.50)

"The art of political victory has undergone drastic changes during this period. But in this volume the author reveals those modern techniques and strategies that are successfully used today." This author's "political experiences are varied. For instance; he managed Barry Goldwater's 2 successful bids for the Senate against unbelievable odds..."

I didn't  have time to read this entire book, but I wish I did. It is filled with interesting stories of elections; what the politicians did, what the politicians didn't do, and why people voted as they did. Does any of this still hold true today? Maybe not, but it is too bad. Shadegg thought politicians should run on the issues, not their private lives, and that voters should know how politicians try to manipulate them. Aamazingly, Shadegg thought a woman would make as good a governor as a man!

The timing of this book is interesting. 1964 was the year Barry Goldwater ran against President Johnson. Goldwater was very anti-communist. He never turned against McCarthy, even at the end. He was against the Civil Rights Bill, feeling the federal government has no business telling states or individuals how they should act. In the 1964 election, the Deep South voted overwhelmingly for him. The rest of the country voted overwhelmingly for Johnson. Of course four years later, at the peak of Vietnam, the country voted in Nixon. So we got out of Vietnam, only to get into Watergate. Both events would scar the nation for decades.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table. (L- pol.)

Did God destroy Port Royal, a city of sin, or was it just an earthquake?

Port Royal Rediscovered, by Robert F. Marx (HC, ex lib., 1973, $2)

"The historical and archaeological reconstruction of the notorious Jamaican city which sank in Kingston Harbor in 1692."

This is quite a tale. Port Royal in 1692 was a terrible place, but a great seaport. Located in the middle of the Caribbean, it had a wonderfully deep harbor. Six forts protected it. Buccaneers, privateers and pirates loved to drop off their plunder there, and merchants loved to have that plunder to sell. They also loved to sell stuff to the sailors. Spanish colonists loved having a place willing to smuggle manufactured goods to them. (They were Spanish citizens, but Spain didn't have the money or the ships to send them supplies!) New England also loved  to trade with them. Jamaican plantation owners loved having a deep harbor near by, so that BIG ships could dock and take their sugar, indigo, cotton, tobacco, mahogany and spices off to England to be sold.

On the other hand, God didn't like Port Royal very much, and neither did its African slaves. There were churches on Port Royal- Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Quaker, Roman Catholic and even a Jewish synagogue. These, though, weren't where you found most people. Sailors just off the ships had money in their pockets- lots and lots of money, as well as gold, silver, pearls and emeralds. They didn't want God. They wanted alcohol, gambling, and women, and Port Royal had those in abundance. No one seemed to care that Port Royal had a lot of deaths from disease, violence, and alcohol.

Death also came to Port Royal on a beautiful day in June of 1692. Following three strong earthquakes and a tidal wave, 15 of Port Royal's 25 acres of land were under water, and more than 2,000 people were dead.

Two years later a rebuilt Port Royal was once again "the dunghill of the universe", but its "prosperity" wouldn't last long. During the next 30 years it would be destroyed three times, once by fire, and twice by hurricanes. In the 250 years following that, it would be destroyed  24 more times, twice by fire, twice by earthquakes, and twenty times by hurricane. Kind of makes you want to not build a house there, doesn't it!

I was fascinated by the story of Port Royal, but this book is really about the Marx's recovery of its artifacts and treasure. Some of the recovery was done on land, because some of what been under water was now under many feet of silt. Mostly, recovery was done by diving. Or at least it was when the Jamaican government,  Kingston developers, union representatives, thieves, or amateur divers didn't get in the way. Or when brick walls didn't fall on them, sharks attack, or cuts get infected from the polluted water.For three years the author and his crew worked hard, risking their lives daily. Yet when Marx later visits, many of his finds have been thrown back into the sea, and most of the important artifacts displayed in the local museum have been stolen, never to be seen again. He is crushed, and never again travels to Jamaica. Can you blame him?

I wish the story had ended differently. I wish there had been more photos. Still, I really liked this book. Look for it on the new non-fiction table.  (L-arch.)

Moravian Revival of 1727

Power from On High: The Story of the Great Moravian Revival of 1727, by John Greenfield (thin TPB, 1977 edition of 1927 book, $2)

I think I have this right-
After being persecuted Moravian Christians were given sanctuary by a German count. In 1727, until they began to pray intently, the community had begun to splinter over doctrinal issues. Their praying continued until an August 13th communion service.

Something really strange happened that Wednesday at noon. "We saw the hand of God and His wonders, and we were all under the cloud of our fathers baptized with their spirit. The Holy Ghost came upon us and in those days great signs and wonders took place in our midst."

Nothing was ever the same for them. Great hymns were written, and great sermons preached. Meanwhile the community started sending people out into the world "to make Christ's Salvation known to the heathen".

Ironically, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was someone converted by them. He was on his way to America to "convert Indians" when the ship he was traveling on floundered in a storm. Everyone on board was terrified except for a group of Moravians. Realizing the weakness of his own faith, he turned to the Moravians for guidance. For a long while he and his followers (called Methodists because they methodically "set about living a holy life") worshiped together with the Moravians. Eventually, Wesley split from the Moravians, but he would never turn away from his conversion experience. Meeting the Moravians had shown him his need for a personal relationship with Christ. His journey to find that personal relationship would change "the political and religious destinies of English-speaking Protestantism... [and relight] the expiring fires of religion."

Wow!

This book was written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the "Moravian Pentecost". Look for it on the new non-fiction table.  (L-r)

King, Koontz and Lumley

Look for books by these authors in the sci-fi/fantasy section. Most are hardcover.

Brian Lumley
Dean Koontz
Stephen King

Wee "New Webster Dictionary" (1914) **SOLD**

The New Webster Dictionary and Complete Vest-Pocket Library. 45,800 Words. Five Books. All Within These Covers.


A Dictionary, page 9
     Absolutely Full Pronunciation; Synonyms; Plural Forms; Compound Words; 5000 Difficult Words; Proper Names; Business Forms; Social Forms; Capitals; Punctuation; etc. Thoroughly Reliable Throughout.

Parliamentary Manual, page 161

Expert Calculator, page 173
(small sized, published in 1914, $4, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

I love these little treasures.  Did you know-

A contract with a minor or a lunatic is void.
Curl-papers, dressing gowns, and bare shirt sleeves should never be seen at the table.
Jokes, puns and anecdotes are always in bad taste.
Address servants quietly.
Do not be looking about at prayer time.
Avoid the use of the blunderer's mark.(^)
Don't use postal cards, except for matters of business.
To cleanse house paper, rub with a flannel cloth dipped in oatmeal.
To test death, push pin into flesh. If dead, the hole will remain. If alive, the hole will close.

As you can see, this is not just a dictionary, but a passport into another age.
Enjoy this book to be found in the glass case, avail. after July 17th. (I want to share it with my friends first!)

1923, when the US had no president!

The Unique Inauguration of Calvin Coolidge, America's 30th President, at Plymouth, Vermont, August 3, 1923: The Swearing in of  'Silent Cal', by Vrest Orton (TPB, 1998, $1)

These days who cares about Calvin Coolidge, but in August of 1923 people sure cared. President Harding had just died in San Fransisco, and someone had to tell the Vice-President, but how? He was vacationing at his father's Vermont village home. Colonel Coolidge, Calvin's father, had no phone. The only phone in the village was at the general store, and it had long closed for the night. So everyone, wanting to be the first to reach the new president, raced their cars to the village.

The first to get there, by three minutes, was the Western Union agent's husband. Then came the big time reporters, who were disappointed to find the "president" asleep. With nothing happening till morning, they all raced back to town to phone in the story. All, that is, except the inexperienced one, Joe Fountain.

All this time the country had no president. This couldn't be, but what could be done? Normally the Supreme Court's Chief Justice administered the presidential oath of office, but he was in Washington. But wait, didn't it only have to be a government official, and Calvin's father was a government official, even if he was only a notary public. But what was the oath? It was sort of important to get it right. Ahhh, the Coolidges owned a copy of the Vermont Statutes which included the oath.

So by the light of a kerosene lamp, Calvin Coolidge officially became president, and standing right behind him was Joe Fountain.With that done, the new president just wanted to get some sleep, but more and more people kept arriving. Major arguments erupted about how and when he would go to Washington, and who would guard him. ( His first "guard" was a railway mail clerk and his tiny gun!) 

You can read the rest of the story here, just look on the new non-fiction table.  (L-AH)

The Witches or the Tramp, whom do you believe?

The Franchise Affair, by Josephine Tey (PB, 1988 edition of 1949 book, $1.50)

Every once in awhile I run across something unexpectedly special. This timr it is a sweet classic mystery. How can a mystery be sweet? Probably it has something to do with it not being a murder mystery, and your never believing those two strange women, who live in an even stranger house, could have kept a girl hostage in their attic for a month, much less beaten her in hopes of having her become their maid. (Ha?) But, on the other hand, how can you not believe such an innocent looking school girl! The women aren't really witches, but neither is the school girl a tramp. Or are they? Or is she?

Our poor solicitor, Robert Blair, only gets himself involved because he is late leaving his office. Yes, he is supposed to be there every day until 4, but he never is. There is never any need. At the law firm of Blair, Hayward, and Bennet nothing unexpected ever happens. Robert might draw up wills, deeds, or investment documents, but to be involved in a kidnapping case, and with Scotland Yard... Never! Except one day he stays late. And the phone rings. And he answers it. And one thing leads to another... till his whole life is turned upside-down. No longer will discovering the kind of pastry on his tea tray be the excitement of the day.

And why would he help these two women, one an old maid of more than 40, who wears exotic clothing, and the other, her fierce and scary old mother? Worse yet, they are newcomers to the area, and were unwelcome even before they caused Scotland Yard to visit.

This book has a modern feel to it, except for the parts were  horses are excited by cars, and all the women wear hats. I loved this book and hope you do too! Look for it in the mystery section.

E.T.s, not (continued): Transformation **SOLD**

Transformation, the Breakthrough, by Whitley Strieber (HC, 1988, $3)

The "visitors" continue to visit.

"Whitley began to challenge his fear of the visitors, to try to confront them with objectivity, in an effort to gain real insights into their impact on our lives. The more he did this, he found, the deeper and richer his experience became...

Transformation is a journey from the secret depths of the mind to the secret depths of the universe, a story of fear and courage and the final, triumphant breakthrough that may lead at last to real understanding. Communion was only the beginning."

Well, the weird gets weirder. I still admire Strieber's courage. His journeys into the forest at night was the bravest thing I have ever heard of, but how does he come to the conclusion the visitors are something we should get to know? Seems to me if these visitors kidnap people, poke painful things inside them, and mess with their brains, then they are not to be trusted. On the other hand, if they are really here, best get to know what we are up against.

I found myself pondering the first book. This one left me not believing. What do you think? Look for it on the new non-fiction table.  (L-nage)

E.T.s., they are not! (Whitley Strieber's "Communion")

Communion: A True Story by Whitley Strieber (HC, 1987, $3)

OK, at age 57 I am a lot more believing than I was when I was younger. Still, Strieber's story of frequent meetings with aliens was hard to believe. Yet he approached his journey toward understanding with so much scientific care that it is hard to believe he made it all up. Ever since reading this, I have been pondering.

Regardless of whether his experiences actually happened, what is clear is the pain he and other people with similar experiences feel. Strieber eventually realized his experiences went all the way back to childhood. He was afraid they were also happening to his young son. No matter how often he changed where he lived, the experiences continued. Was he crazy? He determined to find out.  If nothing else, you have to admire his courage to face the unknown.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table.  (L n-age)

Duck when the bullets fly, even if you're in church!

The Mystery of St. Regis, by Neil Boyton, SJ (small HC, 1937, poor condition, $2)

I am confused-
If a gangster started shooting in a church, wouldn't someone come to investigate?
If an altar boy avoided being shot, would he worry about a torn cassock?
If someone found a dead body, wouldn't they shout for help?

In this book some weird things happen, but it is still cute to read.

Look for it on the new fiction table.  Avail. 7/5.  (l-my)

Twister, the movie. Twister, the science

Twister: The Science of Tornadoes and the Making of an Adventure Movie, by Keay Davidson (TPB, 1996, $2.25)

How did they get that tank truck up into the air?

If you want to know how twisters form, this is the book for you.
If you want to know how Twister, the movie, was made, this is also the book for you.

Some facts:
The number of reported tornadoes in the US is six times the rate in 1950.
Twisters are being reported in states where they were never reported before.
In 1936 a tornado killed 200 and injured 700 in Tupelo, Miss., but spared the home of a young Elvis Presley.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table, avail. 7/5.  (L-ea.sc.)

Richard III (VHS tapes) **SOLD**

This year the Rochester Shakespeare Players are going to be putting on Richard III. I have problems understanding Shakespeare, so I thought it would be a good idea to read the play first. Then I figured it would be an even better idea to watch a movie version.

Turns out there were 2- one in 1955 with Laurence Olivier, and one in 1995 with John Wood. Of the two, I understood and liked the 1995 one best. The newest one's 1930s setting and costumes made it easier to figure out who was who. Or maybe it was only because I had first watched the other film, and already (sort of) knew who people were....

Nope, the newer film is just easier to understand. Of course, what is there to understand? Richard wants to be king, and he he doesn't mind killing to get there. Since no one likes him, he has to keep killing even after he gets to be king. Around Richard, no one, and I mean no one, is safe. (Warning- watching some of these murders requires a strong stomach. Whoever wrote this screenplay was a bit twisted.)

The weird part of is how off this play is from historical reality. There seems to be no record of Richard III being evil, or even malformed. The Earl of Richmond, who will take the crown as Henry VI, actually had no right to the crown. If I have this right, his grandmother, Katherine, was the wife of Henry V, but his grandfather was not Henry V, but Katherine's second husband. On the other hand, Richard III's great-great grandfather was Edward III, so Richard had every right to be king. Now if Richard wasn't the vile man Shakespeare said he was, then Henry VI had no right to fight him, and if he did, Henry never should have been king.

Of course, Shakespeare was writing for Elizabeth I. She probably wouldn't have been too happy to watch a play depicting her grandfather as anything but a hero. So, since Shakespeare was no fool, Richard ended up as a villain. But, hey, it was just a play, and no one ever pays attention to a play...

Break a leg, Shakespeare Players.
You can find these VHS tapes in the VHS area.

The American West, its scenery, its history and its tales.

I have finally gotten around to sorting through a bunch of boxes with a American West theme. Most are non-fiction.

We have books on the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, the Rocky Mountains, and the Plains. We have books about both Natives and cowboys. We have books on Montana, Arizona, Nebraska and New Mexico. And we have lots of little books on the botany of the area, whether it be flowers, trees, shrubs or cacti. Look for these books (and little books!) on the floor under the new non-fiction table.

We do have a few westerns, which can be found in the western section.

Grisham, Crichton and Harris

A new donation of PBs-
mostly by:

John Grisham, Michael Crichton, and Thomas Harris.

Most are  $0.50- 0.75, except for a few in really good condition priced at $1.50.

Look for them in a box on the floor of the PB fiction section.

Enjoy!

Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft Today (1954)

Witchcraft Today, by Gerald B. Gardner (TPB, 2004, $2)

Back in 1954 "this book inspired a passionate revival of interest in indigenous British religion and led to the rebirth of a way of life. Encompassing an explanation of Wiccan riturals and tenets, as well as a comprehensive study of occult practices worldwide and throughout the ages..."

Said Gardner in his foreword, "I have been told by witches in England: 'Write and tell people we are not perverts. We are decent people, we only want to be left alone.'"

When I picked up this book, I figured it was on some sort of wicked witch stuff. Color me shocked when I found out it was about Wicca. Curious about Wicca? Don't know the difference between witches and Wiccans? In either case, this is the book for you. Look for it on the new non-fiction table, as of 7/5.

1001 Ways to Enjoy Your Car (1962)

Today when I was going into dinner I saw the most beautiful car, a red Sunbeam Alpine convertible. When I went into the restaurant I kept mentioning the car to people, and they kept going outside to see it. I never did find out who owned it, but I did find out it was probably a model IV from around 1964.

That makes it a couple years older than this book. I noticed this book mainly because of the pictures of cars on the front. I have a thing for cars from the middle 1960s. I was never interested in any car until the day I got to ride in a 1967 Mustang convertible.  I remember it was all white except for this huge dark blue stripe over the top of the car and down the hood. It was love at first sight. If you love cars of this same era, then this is the book for you.

1001 Ways to Enjoy Your Car, by Michael Frome (PB, 1962, $1.25)

I loved the information on seat belts.  In 1962 seat belts still weren't standard, but they were getting cheaper. For only $20 you could get two front seat belts installed in a new car. Not only did seat belts provide safety, they also reduced fatigue on long trips, and were comfortable, or so they said. Still, safety was the number one reason to wear them. Research had shown that one third of fatalities could be prevented by using them.

A new innovation was left foot breaking, which could reduce your breaking time by 3/10 of a second. Guess that was one innovation that never caught on.

How to drive when facing a tornado was an interesting section.

Regarding snow tires, apparently they were noisy and wore out quickly. For ice, the things to have were chains. Does anyone still use chains? I remember my dad having to put them on. I also remember they didn't always stay on. Oh, what a racket they make when one  came loose!

I loved the chapter on driving history. Did you know in the early days of driving people painted telephone poles to mark where you could drive? Or that originally someone had to walk in front of the car with a red flag to warn people a car was coming! (Even though its top speed was all of 4 m.p.h!) Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to ride in a car on inaugural day. He rode in a white Steamer on top of a 20 gallon copper tank of boiling water. Teddy always was an adventurous soul.

Look for this gem on the new non-fiction table, as of 7/5.

Simon Winchester's "The Atlantic"

Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories, by Simon Winchester (TPB, 2010, $2.50)

This is a donation from my own collection. I love most of Simon Winchester's books, but this one not so well. Still, it is worth looking at.

Mostly, though, check out his other ones.

Look for this disappointment on the new non-fiction table, as of 7/5.

Budapest 1900

Budapest 1900: A Historical Portrait of a City and Its Culture, by John Lukacs (TPB, 1988, $3)

"Budapest, like Paris and Vienna, experienced an explosive flowering at the end of the nineteenth century. In terms of population growth, material expansion, and cultural exuberance, it was among the foremost metropolitan centers of the world..."

Look for this on the new non-fiction table, as of 7/6.

An Invitation from the Dalai-Lama (in 1949)

Out of This World: Across the Himalayas to Forbidden Tibet, by Lowell Thomas, Jr. (HC, 1950, $4)

Hardly anyone visited Tibet, especially Lhasa, the capital. Not only did you have to be invited  personally by the Dalai Lama, but you also had to travel 21 days  by mules "over the highest mountain ranges and into the most remote county in the world". Only six other Americans had been there. Tibet and America did not even have official deplomatic contact.

So why suddenly were Americans invited to Lhasa? The answer- Communism. "Accutely aware of the Red's [Chinese] intentions [to control Tibet], the Lhasa government was considering how America might be made to realize Tibet's serious problem of defense against Asiatic Communism. Moreover, they wanted America and all the world to know that they are now, and have always considered themselves, an independent nation."

China wanted Tibet. Not only did China want to control Tibet's mineral wealth (uranium), they also wanted to control its 18,000 mile border with India. Would China invade India? No one knew.

As we all know, even if China did not invade India, it sure invaded Tibet. Neither the United States nor Europe  intervened on Tibet's behalf. Now not only have monasteries been destroyed, and Tibetans killed, but so many Chinese live there that Tibetans are now becoming a minority in their own country. (Or not, depending on who you listen to.) Many roads and schools have been built. Infant mortality and life longevity are all supposed to be drastically better, again depending on who you listen too. What is not questioned, except by China, are religious repression and human rights abuses.

On a more humorous note, be sure to catch the last chapter listing what was needed on a trip to Tibet. For food, canned or dried vegetables and fruit were a must, as the only fruit and vegetables in Tibet were cabbage, potatoes and radishes. For gifts to Tibetan nobles, best bring Scotch, sherry or cigars. For the Dalai Lama himself, a 16 mm. Tarzan or Marx Brothers film would work. For yourself, sunburn lotion, water purification tablets, penicillin and lots of laxitives.

What Lowell did not bring with him was morphine or splints. On their return trip through the mountains his father's horse threw him. For 200 stormy mountainous miles Tibetans carried the ill man on a stretcher. Only when they reached New York did they learn Lowell had shattered his hip as well as broken his leg in eight places!

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table, as of July 5th.

J.C. Penney's Spiritual Autobiography

Fifty Years with the Golden Rule: A Spiritual Autobiography, by J. C. Penney (softcover, 1950, $4, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

James Cash Penney grew up in what he considered an ideal family. His father, a Baptist minister and farmer, taught him ideals he would use to build a department store empire. In 1902 he went to work at a Golden Rule Stores in Wyoming. He did so well he was offered a partnership. His success left him rich, and able to fund many charities. When the Depression came, he tried to save his business and charities by using his personal money, but even so, it was not enough.

Broke and ill, he was admitted to the Battle Creek Sanitarium. This was a personal turning point for him, as he became born again to Christ. He started to speak and preach his belief in Christian values, and that business success was possible if you followed the Golden Rule.

I found his story inspiring, but I am rather surprised by the extreme respect he held for his father. His father, when Penney was only 8 years old and in need of shoes, insisted he earn money to pay for them. Also, when Penney was old enough to learn to farm, his father made him pay for instructions on farming. His father died when Penney was only 20. The family was nearly broke, and Penney had to work to keep the family afloat. These are certainly not behaviors we would admire today in a father.

On the other hand, his father was excommunicated from his church for "holding beliefs contrary to the best interests" of his church. And what were these beliefs? Only the beliefs that preachers should be educated, and that all young people should have the chance to attend Sunday School. In his autobiography Penney writes, critics of Sunday Schools "feared the hoodwinking of children, and attempts to teach doctines of Trinity, and Atonenment. " Amazingly, sometimes Sunday Schools were the only place children could learn to read!

And since when has the doctrine of the Trinity been contoversial? Of course, I doubt it's a doctrine I will ever really understand, but was it really controversial back then? I guess so.

An interesting bit of trivia, not recorded in his autobiogaphy, was his 1940 meeting with a young Sam Walton. Wouldn't you have loved to have seen the man (who had built Penney's) showing the boy (who would later build Walmart) how to wrap packages using as little ribbon as possible!

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table, as of  July 5th.  (L-bio)

Steven King

Lots of his books, mostly in PB.

Look for them on the floor in the science fiction section.

PB Romances

Just arrived- a box of PB romances, all in good shape, most for only $1 or less.

A lot of them have a western theme.
Some of them have a Christian orientation.

The one I bought home with me isn't half bad!
(Hey, I have to sample books in order to blog them, don't I!)

Look for them on the floor in front of the PB section.

Treasury of Witchcraft? **SOLD**

Treasury of Witchcraft, by Harry E. Wedeck (HC, 1961, $4)

A treasury of witchcraft? That is sure one strange combination of words, and this is one strange book.

The table of contents is 10 pages long, with tiny print and two columns per page. There are 11 chapters, and I swear, nothing, absolutely nothing, gets left out. The chapter on magic techniques, spells, conjurations, incantations and periapts has over 100 listings! Most of this book seems to be quotations, many of them very ancient.

This book badly needs an index, as items listed in the table of contents sometimes are hard to find. Actually, in some cases I never did find them! So it wasn't as useful as I thought it would be.

I did find out that a werewolf is a man that changes into a wolf, and then back into a man, whereas lyncanthropy is when a human is changed into a wolf and never changes back. Therioanthropy, on the other hand, is when humans turn into an animal other than a wolf, which makes sense because not every country has wolves.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table.

Mighty Mouse Saves the Day (and the corn!)

Mighty Mouse and the Scared Scarecrow, by Felix Sutton (children's book, 1954, $4)

This is the last of the children's books I will be blogging, which means this is the last children's book I get to read. Realizing that makes me feel so sad. I have been having such fun with these donations. (Two books never even managed to get blogged- because I bought  them for myself!)

In regards to this story, I have some comments to make.

First, if a whole lot of crows flew out of the sky and started to peck at my face, I too would be unhappy and scared.

Second, you would think Mighty Mouse would have more important things to do than protect a corn field. Oops, sorry there, I just mixed up Mighty Mouse and Superman!

Finally, crows are pretty smart, and I doubt in real life they would stay away forever. I am just about certain Mighty Mouse would have to come back every once in a while to refresh the crows' memories!

Look for this, along with these other children's book, on top of the glass case.

The Mickey Mouse Club Stamp Book (1956)

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club Stamp Book, by Kathleen N. Daly (children's book, $8, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

Originally in the front of the book there were three pages of 6 gummed stickers each. Children were supposed to remove the stickers and place them in their appropriate space on the following pages. I found it amusing that the spaces provided were actually bigger than the stamps, which made placing the stamps in their spots a lot easier.

Huey, Louie and Dewey's sticker has gone mostly missing. Daisy Duck stands on her side. Pluto Pup and Figaro are slightly off kilter. Otherwise, whoever put the stickers on did a good job.

I had to laugh while writing this. I realized I had spelled "Mickey" incorrectly, and was pondering what the right spelling was, when inside my head a little voice called out, "M-I-C-K-E-Y". Fifty years later and the child in me still remembers!

Look for this treasure on top of the glass case.

Tubby the Tuba (1954)

Tubby the Tuba, by Paul Tripp (children's book, bottom inch of the spine is weak,  $8, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

Can a tuba play a melody?
Can a bullfrog sing?
If you are different from everyone else, can you be happy?

Look for the answer in this book to be found on top the glass case.

Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian

The Coming of Conan, the Cimmerian, by Robert E. Howard (TPB, 2002, $3.50)

Howard is considered the father of the sword and sorcery genre, but he wrote in other genres as well. He loved poetry, and even had some published. Most of his last stories were westerns, but he even snuck in a few romances. Historical fiction was what he really wanted to write, but he didn't have the patience to do research.  What he could write was epic fantasy drama, "escapist fiction with dark undercurrents".

Howard grew up in Texas where oil was found, and where oil was found, fights and crime soon followed. Civilization was fragile and fleeting, and Howard learned not to trust it. He later wrote, "Barbarism is the natural state of mankind... Civilization is unnatural. It is a whim of circumstance. And barbarism must always ultimately triumph."

The first Conan story was published in a 1932 Weird Tales. The story was a reworking of an earlier work. There seemed to be nothing special about it at the time. It wasn't even pictured on the cover, as some of Howard's stories had been.

After Conan was published, his character was adapted for comic books, movies, television and heaven knows what else. His stories were put into chronological order. Some were even altered, or finished when they weren't meant to be. Today, most people know the name Conan, but not the character Howard actually created.

Howard's parents were story tellers. Howard was even a better one. Reading his stories is like listening to stories told around the campfire. "In writing these yarns", he wrote, "I've always felt less as creating them than as if I were simply chronicling his adventures as he told them to me. That's why they skip about so much, without following a regular pattern." This edition presents them in the order and the words they were meant to be.  Enjoy! Look for this book on the new fiction table.  (L- scifi)

Pooh's Song Book

The Pooh Song Book, containing The Hums of Pooh, The King's Breakfast, and Fourteen Songs from When We Were Very Young, words by A. A. Milne, music by H. Fraser-Simson, and decorations by E. H. Shephard (HC, 1961, ex-lib., $6, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

I love the introductions to the songs. I love the drawings. I just wish I could play the piano, because then I could sing these songs.

Writes Milne about Pooh, "'May I say, 'Thank you for loving him.' He will be very proud if you sing his songs, and so keep him for ever in your memory." And so we will! Look for this book on the new fiction table.  (L-mus)

Donald Duck (Little Golden Books, mid-1950s)

Walt Disney's-

Donald Duck in Disneyland, told by Annie North Bedford (children's Little Golden Book, 1955, $5, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

Donald Duck's Christmas Tree, told by Annie North Bedford (Golden Book, 1954, $6.50, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

The first one is OK, but it's the last book that I fell in love with.

Look for these on top the glass case.

Gorbachev, the Antichrist?

Gorbachev! Has the real Antichrist come?, by Robert W. Faid (TPB, 1988, $2)

This was a well researched book. Faid just happened to be wrong.

Of course Putin is certainly no saint, so...

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table.  (L- rel)

How to Torture Your Wife (or Husband)

How to Torture Your Wife, by H. T. Webster (HC, 1948, $5.50, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

How to Torture Your Husband, by H. T. Webster (HC, 1948, condition is not as good as the prior book, $4, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

I love to look up words in the dictionary.  I remember looking up "milquetoast", and finding it came from the name of a  character (Casper Milquetoast) in the comic strip, The Timid Soul.

For more than 25 years its author, H. T. Webster, drew comic strips. The Timid Soul was his most famous comic strip, but he also wrote five others. The Timid Soul appeared every Sunday and Monday. The others appeared the other five days. How to Torture Your Wife/Husband, from which these cartoons were taken, was his Friday strip. (I guess he didn't like to be bored!)

Look for this book on the new fiction table.

Tom Terrific, with Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog (1958)

Tom Terrific, by Crosby Newell, with pictures by Arthur Bartsch (children's HC, one inch of the bottom spine covering binding is loose or missing, $3, as is )

Also included are the music for the "Theme Songs of Tom Terrific, and Mighty Manfred"!

I don't remember this one.

Will Mighty Manfred (Wonder Dog, Ever Faithful Companion, and Noble Beast) wake up in time to save the world from Crabby Appleton?

Will the children of the world ever get to watch television again?

Look for the answer to these questions in this book, to be found on top of the glass case, avail. 6/24.

Crusader Rabbit! (1958)

Crusader Rabbit, story adopted by Oscar Weigle, pictures by Athur Krusz (children's HC, 1958, condition is good except for separating clear plastic covering on the lower spine, $11, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

I was old enough to remember this series, at least vaguely.

Should rabbits eat carrots or cream puffs?
Will all Texas rabbits be sent to the North Pole?

Look for the answers to these questions in this book to be found on the top of the glass case, avail. 6/24.

The Haunting of Bishop Pike

The Haunting of Bishop Pike: A Christian View of the Other Side, by Merrill Unger (PB, 1971, $1.50)

Episcopal Bishop Pike was a strange one. He was radical, both in his theology and his politics. I find myself both admiring his politics and  horrified by some of his beliefs.

What ever you think of him, he got even stranger once his son died. That is when his contacts with the paranormal started. Objects started moving around. Even his secretary's bangs were burned off, in stages! All these things could be construed as the bishop's son trying to communicate with him, so psychic mediums were consulted. Add on to all this Pike's alcoholism, his womanizing, and especially his strange death lost in a desert near the Dead Sea, and you have, if not a very strange man, at least a man with a very strange life.

Unger takes a conservative stance. "The bishop abandoned Spirit-oriented Christianity in favor of spiritistically oriented religion which retained a Christian aura. He had such little spiritual insight that he criticised Christians for not welcoming mediumistic communications with the dead as exciting evidence of life beyond the grave."

You may or may not relate all this to the devil, but something is definitely off here.  Look for this book on the new non-fiction table. (Avail. 6/24)

Bob Clampett's "Beany" and his dino (1950s children's books)

Beany: Cecil Captured for the Zoo, by Bob Clampett (small HC children's book, 1954, $5, which is 1/3 the internet price)

Beany and His Magic Set, by Bob Clampett (small HC children's book, 1952, $7, which is 1/3 the internet price.)

I liked the first one the best.

I am, amazingly, too young to remember Beany and Cecil, but obviously someone does, because they have become collectible. Look for them with the other classic children's books on top of the glass case. (avail. 6/24)

Crusade, or Atrocity? (in the Spanish Civil War)

The Last Crusade, Spain: 1936, by Warren H. Carroll (TPB, 1996, $2)

"In just six months of the year 1936, thirteen bishops and nearly seven thousand priests, seminarians, monks, and nuns were martyred in Spain by enemies of Christianity. It was the greatest clerical bloodletting in so short a span of time since the persecutions of the Church by the ancient Roman emperors... Tens of thousands of churches, chapels, and shrines in Spain were pillaged or destroyed. In response, faithful Spanish Catholics proclaimed a crusade. Against all odds the crusaders triumphed, and the Church and the Faith in Spain were saved."

Well, that is the way Warren Carroll saw it. I read the above words on this book's back cover and was horrified. It was time to learn about the Spanish Civil War. I had never even heard of it until a friend of mine shared the story of her brother, who joined the fight on the Republican side, and was killed, his body never to be recovered. What was this awful civil war that killed priests on one side, and idealistic young boys on the other? And I thought Franco was a good guy, so how could he have been a Fascist?

The Republicans, including corrupt (but elected) officials, and urban, secular (or Protestant) leftist civilians, did burn Catholic buildings, expel the Jesuits, and kill 7,000 Catholic clergy. When the war was all over, more than 38,000 had been killed during "The Red Terror".

"The White Terror", though, was worse. Fascist Nationalists systematically killed more than 150,000, most of them civilians. The Nationalists bombed towns. Many refugees who decided to return to Spain were sent to Nazi concentration camps in Germany. The Nationalists, under Franco, even executed priests who had dared minister to Republican troops. Says the expert in all things, Wikipedia, the White Terror was carried out by military "in the name of the regime, and ligitimized by the Catholic Church." This doesn't sound like a crusade to be proud of. What do you think?

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table, avail. 6/24.   (L-Sp)

New Donations- books on China, Japan, Russia and the Middle East

Check out our really nice selection of new books on China, Japan, Russia and the Middle East. They can be found in a box on the floor in front of the Chinese history section. Enjoy!

New Donations- US Foreign Policy

Among the donations from the college were a box of books on US foreign policy. Look for them in a box on the floor in front of the political science section.

Foreign Economic Affairs Laws and Regulations of China (1982)

Collection of Laws and Regulations of the People's Republic of China Concerning Foreign Economic Affairs, in 3 volumes, by the Department of Treaties and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade of the People's Republic of China (HC, dual language in Chinese and English, 1985?, $6 for the set.)

Curious, this find.

Look for it on the new non-fiction table.  (L-Ch)

Jane Austin's unfinished manuscript

The Watsons, by Jane Austin and John Coates (PB, 1977, brown pages, $2)

The Watsons was a five chapter long manuscript. Jane may never have finished it, but that didn't stop others from doing so. The first author to finish it was her niece, but there were 6 others after that. This one comes somewhere in the middle of the pack. This Watsons was finished by John Coates, who admits to changing even Austin's 5 real chapters.

He did write one interesting paragraph in his "Advertisement by the author: "As a last effort to draw attention away from my failings, can anyone tell me how Mr. Bennet's estate was entailed on a Mr. Collins without, of course, introducing a change of surname which should surely have been mentioned if it had occurred?" Actually, I had wondered about that, but does it really matter?

Look for this... whatever it is... in the classics section. Well, at least the first five chapters are partially a classic, maybe.



FYI: This partial manuscript was the last one to be owned privately. A year ago it was sold by Soetherby's to the University of Oxford for over $1.5 million.

The Murder of Marilyn Monroe (as told by a Ouija board)

The Murder of Marilyn Monroe, by Leonore Canevari, and others (TPB, 1992, $3)

"This is the amazing account of a series of contacts made by a group of leading psychics with the most famous personality of our century. A spiritual guide introduced Marilyn Monroe, at Marilyn's insistence, to this circle of mediums; for she was seeking out a voice to make known the truth of how and why she died."

I may be sceptical about the paranormal, but I am not entirely a disbeliever, but a Ouija board? It sure must have taken quite a bit of time to communicate all that they said she did! On the other hand, how else would you be able to ask JFK not only if he had Marilyn killed, but also who killed him in Dallas.

I will also take issue with their description of Marilyn as the most famous personality of the 20th century. Famous, yes, but the most famous personality? Give me a break.

Look for this book on the new non-fiction table. OK, I know it is a stretch, but the authors probably really think it is non-fiction.

Jack London, in Chinese

To Build a Fire, and The Heathen, by Jack London (TPB, 1979, $2)

This is a dual language book. Look for it in the Chinese language section.

Chinese Dictionary, for English speaking foreigners

The Right Word in Chinese, by Irene Saunders (PB, 1985, $2)

Back in the 1980s businesses were starting to look at China with interest. Yet few people could speak the language. Someone from Westinghouse Electric decided to do something about it. Included here are just enough words to get you out of trouble. There are the words you need as a tourist, and there are technical words your interpreter might not know. The part I think helpful is the way the words are first written in English, then in the "Pinyin romanisations" of Chinese (pronunciation using our alphabet letters), and finally in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Saunders meant the book to be used by people who know a little Chinese, and are brave enough to want to try out new words, as well as those travelers who just needed Chinese characters to point to when they want something.

I would imagine Chinese dictionaries for travelers have come a long way since 1985, but according to Saunders, this one was the first. As a Westinghouse chemist living in Beijing she saw the need, and so wrote one. Living in China as an American in 1985 sounds brave enough to me, but she also cared enough to make it easier for those English-speakers who came after her. To her I say, nicely done. Look for this in the Chinese language section.