Outside of a Dog, #85

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

Spring and fall traditionally find a lot of new books hitting the bookstore as well as library shelves. Some pretty big names are offering up a wide variety of titles to entice readers. It may be too early to find these titles in the library database but check back because they are sure to be “on order” very soon. (As soon as a book is cataloged as "on-order," you can place a hold on it.)

Oprah: A Biography by Kitty Kelley
Kitty Kelley has written biographies about Nancy Reagan, the Royal family, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie O, and the Bushes. Here she turns her attention to one of the most influential media personalities of our time. Coming in at 544 pages it is sure to fascinate Oprah’s many fans.
On order at CHE MTC


This Time Together: Laughter and Reflections by Carol Burnett
One of our most enduring and talented performers gives us a selection of essays and stories about her life, career, and personal philosophy through an entertaining look back.
On order at SCS SHL

Family Ties by Danielle Steel
After dozens upon dozens of fiction best sellers Steel still manages to command a devoted audience. In this story, a young woman unexpectedly becomes a mother to her sister’s three small children. Now all grown up, each child has chosen a different career path but through it all the family ties established years ago have remained in place.
On order at RSV

61 Hours: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child
A bus accident puts Reacher in a South Dakota burg, where a single but reluctant witness is the only hope that the police have in prosecuting a vicious crime ring. One cop decides that Reacher is the only one that can be trusted and together they hatch a plot to bring the criminals to justice.
On order at SHL EPL RSV CHE

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
This is a novel about a suburban family and the unintended but devastating consequences of what at the moment seemed like small and insignificant events but instead turned out to be profoundly life changing.
On order at SBL RSV CHE

Additional new titles to anticipate include:
The 9th Judgment by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club)
Deliver Us from Evil by David Baldacci
Storm Prey by John Sandford (The Prey Series)
Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum)
The Search by Nora Roberts

Outside of a Dog, #84

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

Who doesn’t enjoy a good musical? The popularity of the television series Glee attests to the fact that although the old fashioned musical may have faded in popularity there is definitely still an audience out there that enjoys singing and dancing in almost any context.

The library has a collection of musicals on DVD, all available for a 21 day checkout.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music

This enduring musical recently celebrated its 40^th anniversary. It won five Academy Awards including the coveted Best Picture of the Year. The DVD includes a wide variety of special features and background information that will interest almost any fan of the movie.

DVD 782.81 Sound WCV WAM WMB

South Pacific

Another big hit by Rodgers and Hammerstein, South Pacific has had many successful adaptations from the Pulitzer Prize winning book by James Michener over the years. This DVD features Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr. in the starring roles. Enjoy the fun and adventure of this timeless story that has enchanted audiences for many years.

DVD 782.81 South WCV

DVD South WAM

Flashdance

It may not qualify as a traditional or old fashioned musical but Flashdance certainly inspired a generation to dance. Its highly improbable plot is carried along by an electrifying mix of music, drama, and dance that dazzles viewers as well as touches their hearts.

DVD 782.81 Flashdance WCV FRA SCS RSV

Chicago

Another movie that reignited moviegoers’ passion for the musical is this delight from 2002. Starring actors and actresses one doesn’t immediately think of as singers turns this story of 1920s murderesses into a big-budget-multi-award-winning fantasy.

DVD 782.91 Chicago WCV

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History: The 1950’s The Golden Era of the Musical

DVD 781.82 H WCV

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History: Musicals that Rocked’n’Rolled

DVD 781.82 WCV

Both these documentary musicals are entertaining as well as educational to watch. The 1950’s includes movies such as An American in Paris, Singin’ In the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, and Carousel.

Musicals that Rocked ‘n’ Rolled includes Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Blues Brothers, The Rose, Hair, Tommy, and many others concluding with High School Musical.

And if you're enamored with Glee and its fantastic cast, we also have the soundtracks available on CD.

Outside of a Dog, #83

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

On this day (March 9) in 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte, then just a young general, married Josephine de Beauharnais, a wealthy Frenchwoman from a Creole family. She became the Empress-Consort when Napoleon was named Emperor in 1804. In honor of the scandalous military man, we bring you books about France and it's history:

One hundred days: Napoleon's road to Waterloo - Alan Schon
Escaping from his exile on the Italian island of Elba, Napoleon made quick moves and sudden plans to meet the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo. Though history shows he failed here, this book explains the timeline of the exiled Emperor.
Bio Napoleon WAM

Josephine: a life of the Empress - Carolly Erickson
Napoleon married Josephine because of her connections. He had great ambition, and she had a sordid past. He renamed her (her given name was Rose) and wrote her love letters, many of which still exist today. Unfortunately, her past caught up with her, and the Emperor, too.
Bio Josephine WDB

The Passion - Jeanette Winterson
"You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play."
Set during Napoleon's era, The Passion tells the tale of Henri, a young chef who marches with the army and cooks chicken for the emperor-to-be. Henri falls in love with a girl named Villanelle, and in the lyrical style that only an author like Winterson has mastered, learns the meaning of both love and passion.
Fic (Storage) MTC

Chocolat - Joanne Harris
This charming novel set in the French countryside sets up a mother and daughter who travel "when the wind blows" from place to place. Vianne starts a sinful chocolate shop in the middle of a small town that has both problems and prejudices, not to mention a very strong Catholic presence, and learns many things about herself, her life, and her daughter.
You can also check out the sequel to Chocolat, written from three different points of view and set 4 years after, called The Girl With No Shadow.
Fiction Harris HPW EPL

A moveable feast - Ernest Hemingway
In the 1920s, Ernest Hemingway lived in Paris with his first wife, Hadley. Here is his slim biography/novella about living on little money and much fascination. This book was published posthumously in 1964.
BKD 818.52 H WMB

Outside of a Dog, #82

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

Even though the Olympics have concluded you can still enjoy sports via some interesting sports biographies…..here is a sampling of several titles available at our branch as well as other libraries in the library cooperative.

A Champion’s Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennis by Pete Sampras

Sampras is arguably the greatest tennis player ever, a man whose dedication to the sport made it possible for him to achieve a record-setting fourteen Grand Slam titles. Here he shares his own story of his success and well as a behind the scenes look at the sport of tennis.

Bio Sampras WCV SHL SCS CHE SBL

A Golfer’s Life by Arnold Palmer

The name Arnold Palmer is synonymous with golf. The winner of sixty-one tournaments on the PGA Tour and still active on the Senior PGA tour, Palmer pens a biography with insight, compassion, humor, and candor as he looks back on his highly distinguished career in golf.

Bio Palmer WCV WAM SHL RSV HPW MTC

Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy

Named Coach of the Year in 2007, Tony Dungy made history as the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl title. In this entertaining memoir Tony gives football fans a look at the personal as well as professional obstacles he overcame to achieve success in the world of professional football.

Bio Dungy WCV WDB UPL SHL MPL

Bode: Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun by Bode Miller

Published in 2005 this book gives readers a look back at the life and career of brash American skier Bode Miller. Bode’s approach to life and his skiing career may not be conventional but it is none the less an entertaining and inspiring story for fans of skiing.

Bio Bode WCV MCL SHL

Cinderella Man: James J. Braddock, Max Baer, and the Greatest Upset in Boxing History by Jeremy Schaas

During the Great Depression years, boxer James J. Braddock was a champion many times over form Hell's Kitchen, in New York. In 1929, Braddock fractured his right hand (his dominant fighting hand) and his amazing, winning record fell to pieces. He gave up on boxing briefly to work as a longshoreman, gradually strengthening his left hand in the process. In 1935, Braddock, a 10-to-1 underdog, earned the heavyweight boxing title versus Max Baer, and the more colloquial title "Cinderella Man." This inspirational book (and the movie patterned after it) is a great tale of sports fame.

796.83 S WMB

Bio Braddock WCV

Cinderella Man

Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko

Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Bruce McGill, Paddy Considine

Directed by: Ron Howard

VC Biog Braddock WCV

DVD C77 WAM

Outside of a Dog, #81

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

In 1945, photographer Joe Rosenthal won a Pulitzer Prize for the now-famous photograph entitled "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, (seen here)" the photo that eventually became the USMC War Memorial in Washington, D.C(seen here).

In honor of Rosenthal's photo, today we're featuring books about great photos, art, and photography:

Life sixty years: a 60th anniversary celebration 1936-1996
779.09 L WCV WMB RSV SBL

The complete airbrush and photo-retouching manual - Peter Owen
751.494 O WCV SHL

Black and white photography: a basic manual - Harry Horenstein
770.28 H WCV

The day we walked on the moon: a photo history of space exploration - George Sullivan
Juv 629.45 S WAM

National Geographic photography field guide: secrets to making great pictures - Peter Burian
771 B WDB SCS HPW

Did you know...?

Senior citizens can receive tax help from AARP twice weekly at the City Hall? Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9 am to noon, you can come to the Conference Room outside of the Civic Center Library for help filing your taxes.

If you just need forms and publications, any librarian can help you, provided you know the number of the form you need. We can print them up for you for 10 cents per page.
If you prefer to have something mailed to your home, the IRS has a page that allows you to order up to 10 different forms and publications to be mailed to your home for free! (These will take 7 to 15 business days to arrive.)
Forms and Publications by U.S. Mail
If you need assistance with this, just ask!

Outside of a Dog, #80

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

When you look outside and see a blanket of white, what better to do than imagine a vacation in the sunshine? These travel books are interesting and offbeat, and will help take your mind off the bitter cold with great information and photographs.

Mini Mickey: The pocket-sized unofficial guide to Walt Disney World – Bob Sehlinger

We’ve all heard the sound bites from previous Super Bowl winners, and the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees is no exception: “I’m going to Disney World!” Travel to the House of Mouse with this small guide and learn the ups, downs, and all-arounds of one of the biggest and best vacation spots.

917.59 M SBL

Ohio Curiosities: quirky characters, roadside oddities, and other offbeat stuff – Sandra Gurvis

Thousands of ears of corn, autographed hot dog buns, and… preserved fingers? These and more weird and wacky stops are yours in the destination to the South (and rival!) state of Ohio. Whether you’ve never been, or you’re returning again, author Gurvis introduces readers and travelers alike to comical creations and outrageous oddities.

917.71 G WAM

Chicken soup for the traveler’s soul: stories of adventure, inspiration and insight to celebrate the spirit of travel – Jack Canfield

The Chicken Soup books come in all shapes, sizes and categories now, from dog lovers to dieters and even golfers. This collection of short, true, stories is all about the wanderlust of new places and explorations worldwide.

158.1 C WMB

158.12 C FRA

910 C SCS SHL

Fodor’s green travel: the world’s best eco-lodges and earth-friendly hotels – Beth Hall

If you’re concerned about the carbon footprint you leave when traveling, this book is for you. Fodor’s, one of the leading travel guide publishers, has put together a great, detailed index of the most green places to travel and stay.

910.46 F 2008 WCV

Don’t go there!: The travel detective’s essential guide to the must-miss places of the world – Peter Greenberg

Ever dreamed of going somewhere, only to arrive and find the beach wasn’t what you thought it’d be, and the room service was unfriendly, or even nonexistent? Greenberg, travel editor for NBC’s Today show, discusses places that stick (literally!), cruise ships to avoid, and dismal destinations. It’s an amusing and informative read.

910.4 G WDB RSV SCS

Outside of a Dog, #79

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Last week, the literary world lost a great many prolific writers, maybe most notably J.D. Salinger. Also gone are historian Howard Zinn, mystery author Ralph McInerny, and fantasy writer Kage Baker. Here, we list our favorite books by these gone too soon scribes.


Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
A staple of most high school and Advanced Placement summer reading lists, Salinger's first and most famous book has inspired legions of readers to be true to themselves and not the "phony" superficiality of the world. This coming-of-age novel is still used and criticized today for its literary merit.
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Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
Salinger collected his nine stories that had previously appeared in The New Yorker, Harpers, and The World Review here and titled it as exactly what his readers should expect: nine short stories. This includes the very famous "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" and "Teddy," which is a logical end to Bananafish's beginning.
Fic Salinger WAM
Fic SS Salinger WMB

Mendoza in Hollywood by Kage Baker
One of Baker's "The Company" series, this time travel science fiction novel follows the botanist Mendoza through her present location and her past stories and lovers. These 24th century novels are tightly plotted, taking a new look at old time travel tropes through the eyes of an enduring 'company' of regular narrators.
Sci Pbk KAG WCV

Mother Aegypt and Other Stories by Kage Baker
The title story once again visits with members of "The Company," and the others included here go all over time and the world and other universes with Baker's exquisite prose. Occasionally, the characters are derived or inspired by other classic works of literature, too.
Fic EPL

Her Death of Cold by Ralph McInerny
Author of over 100 books (including the Father Dowling mysteries and some nonfiction), Ralph McInerny was a longstanding staple of many patrons' Must-Read lists. He began with this first Father Dowling mystery in 1977.
M Fic (Storage) MTC M McInerny RSV

Half Past Nun: A Sister Mary Teresa Mystery by Ralph McInerny
Written under the pen name "Monica Quill," after the success of the Father Dowling mysteries, Sister Mary Teresa is a sleuth not unlike her predecessor. Here, she looks back in time to find the connection between several murder victims, all without leaving the convent. Mystery fans of any stripe will love this crafty tale.
Fic Quill ARM CHE
Mys Quill SHL

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Long thought to be one of the most enlightening books on American history, Zinn's classic nonfiction offering (first printed in 1980) is still used today. Flipping the history most people learned in school on its ear, A People's History looks at history from the eyes of the working class, everyday people, rather than the educated and elite.
973 Z WDB

Three Strikes: Stories of American Labor by Howard Zinn
A collection of three essays by three historians, Zinn appears here with an extended look at the Colorado Coal Strike of 1913-1914.
331.892 Z WMB

Outside of a Dog, #78

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Insider of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

There is nothing quite like settling down on a cold Saturday afternoon with a good book. The best sellers list is often the first place folks look first to find an interesting read. Unfortunately, many of these titles come with long reserve lists. The following stories are great reads and forgotten gems but you will likely be able to find them on the library shelf today.

The Abortionist’s Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde

A female physician and the director of the Center of Reproductive Choice is found drowned in her swimming pool two weeks before the Christmas holidays. When demise is ruled a murder, the unsolved crime threatens to expose the small Colorado town’s deepest secrets.

Fic Hyde WCV SHL RSV SBL

Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman

The tumultuous marriage of John and Arlyn has a profound and lasting impact on their children and grandchildren. In this story, three generations of family cope with a variety of challenges that threaten their stability and happiness.

Fic Hoffman WCV WAM WMB WDB

A Clean Kill by Mike Stewart

Tom McInnes, looking into the mysterious death of a juror, finds himself charged with murder. Confronted with the possibility of disbarment and entangled in a conspiracy that may reach all the way to the top levels of the government, Tom must act quickly to solve the crime and clear his name.

Fic Stewart WAM MTC EPL

Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

Sarah Laden is recovering from the death of her husband from cancer two years ago. Her two sons, Nate and Danny, are vulnerable and fragile as they too cope with grief. It is Sarah’s next door neighbor and best friend Courtney who helps Sarah during the difficult days after her husband’s death. Courtney’s son Jordan is Danny’s best friend, but after the two boys have an unexplained falling out, Sarah begins to come to the horrifying realization that she doesn’t know Courtney quite as well as she thought. A gripping and very chilling story.

Fic Kittle WDB WMB

The Doctor’s Daughter by Hilma Wolitzer

A middle-aged woman cares for her prominent surgeon father as he begins his descent into Alzheimer’s. During this time she takes a fresh look at her marriage and wonders what direction her life is headed.

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Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray

Be prepared to laugh out loud with this delightful story of a woman whose skills coping with a surly teen-age daughter, a laid-off husband, a live-in mother, and a variety of other equally frustrating folks is truly entertaining. Written in an intelligent and breezy style this book makes it a perfect choice for a fun read.

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Outside of a Dog, #77

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Insider of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Last week, the Warren Public Library was lucky enough to get Michigan-born author Steve Hamilton to come and speak about his new stand alone novel, "The Lock Artist." We asked which authors he liked to read, and put together this list:

Darkness, Take My Hand - Dennis Lehane
In Dorchester, Massachusetts, private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro work to solve crimes and investigate threats to the locals. In this second novel (the first being "A Drink Before the War") the pair is trying to find a murderer who leaves brutally violated corpses as his calling card.
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There are five other Kenzie-Gennaro novels, and if you enjoy these, try season 3 and 4 of the HBO Drama "The Wire," where Lehane has a few writer credits.
DVD WIR 498 - 501

The Killing Floor - Lee Child
The first Jack Reacher novel by Child finds the former military policeman stopping in a small town called Margrave, Georgia. He thinks it's just by accident, a town his brother mentioned once, but it will turn out to be much more.
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Soul Circus - George Pelecanos
The third in the series of Strange and Quinn novels (Pelecanos' second set of protagonists since he began writing in 1992). Here, Derek Strange is working for a mobster, trying to bargain his case from the death penalty to life in prison, and he and his associate Terry Quinn are getting caught up in abductions, murders, and drug deals gone bad.
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The Torment of Others - Val McDermid
Title taken from a T.S. Eliot poem ("The Dry Salvages" from Four Quartets), this fourth novel in the Carol Jordan and Tony Hill series puts the hero and heroine (a profiler and a detective) to work looking for a possible copycat killer. British author McDermid is well-known for her talent at suspense and surprise and is in high form here.
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In Memory Of Robert B. Parker

The literary world lost a great grand master of fiction yesterday, when author of the best-selling Spenser and Jesse Stone novels, Robert B. Parker, passed away of natural causes.

In memory of this prolific novelist, we suggest some of his latest and greatest titles.


The Godwulf Manuscript
The very first Spenser novel, this one introduces Spenser as a private detective on the job for a university; hired to find a famous and priceless illuminated manuscript.
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Chasing the Bear: A Young Spenser Novel
Fans of the Spenser series are not privy to many details about the P.I.'s childhood or teen years, so 2009's "Chasing the Bear" begins to let the audience (and Spenser's love interest, Susan) in on the back story.
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Night Passage
Parker's first Jesse Stone book follows the police chief (of a small town called Paradise, Massachusetts) as he tries to discover the circumstances surrounding the death of his predecessor. In a corrupt town like Paradise, where thugs and mobsters abound, will he get more than he bargained for?
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Night and Day
The most recent Jesse Stone book finds the recovering alcoholic chief Stone trying to get to the bottom of a peeping tom, a mystery involving the middle school principal and her actions towards the 8th grade girls, and the manipulation of his ex-wife.
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Family Honor
The first in a shorter series about Sunny Randall, Parker's first female protagonist. While it's made clear that Sunny is no Spenser, there are several quips and jokes that the Boston PI makes that remind readers of the familiar hero.
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Appaloosa
This is Parker's second Westen novel and the first in a trio about lawman Virgil Cole. Critics suggested that these novels refreshed Parker, and that when he returned to writing the Spenser and Stone books that came after this, they were better than ever!
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Before his death, Parker had finished a few books which will be releasing soon. Check with your local librarian for "Painted Ladies" and "Split Image."

Outside of a Dog, #76

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Many people are aware of the presidential thriller movies about agent Jack Ryan, played in movies such as Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger by Harrison Ford, but did you know those movies began as books? The Jack Ryan series, by author Tom Clancy is a series of some of the most suspenseful works you’ll ever read. If presidential, political and F.B.I.-based adventures are your favorite thing to read, try some of these novels:

Transfer of Power – Vince Flynn

Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp novels are very popular, and often on hold as soon as they’re announced. This is the first Rapp novel, where we meet the Navy SEAL while he tries to save the President and a White House full of hostages from terrorists. There are recurring characters from Flynn’s other novels here, too.

WCV Fic Flynn

No Safe Place – Richard North Patterson

Normally a fan of courtroom dramas like John Grisham, in this novel, Richard North Patterson dips into politics, introducing readers to a senator named Kerry. In a series of flashbacks, we see how he got where he is today: waiting to hear the results of a presidential primary.

WCV Fic Patterson

The Next President – Joseph Flynn

Well-developed characters and interesting plot twists abound in this 2001 novel. Perhaps showing a bit of clairvoyance, Flynn tells the tale of an ex-Army-sniper who is given a deadly choice: assassinate the presidential hopeful who might be the first African-American president, or let his son be killed an a centuries-old family feud rekindle.

WAM Fic Flynn

Gideon – Russell Andrews

A complicated tale written by a book editor and a mystery author (“Russell Andrews” is a pen name) delves into politics via publishing. Carl Granville is offered an immense amount of money to change the hand-written diary he’s given into a best-selling novel. He sets about doing the job, but things twist way out of control when his contact is murdered and his apartment ransacked. Whose story is he really writing?

WAM Fic Andrews

By Order of the President – W.E.B. Griffin

Griffin’s “Presidential Agent” series makes the total of six for this veteran author. In this first novel, we meet Army Major Carlos “Charley” Castillo, trusted by the President to delve into Angola to discover the truth behind a plane hijacking. These novels take place post-9/11 and explore counterterrorism measures in Griffin’s trademark style.

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The President’s Daughter – Jack Higgins

A YA novel by suspense star Higgins, this book is a fast, fun thrill ride with lots of action and surprises on every page. Here, we find a trio of government agents – including the President of the title, who is a war hero – all racing to save the president’s secret daughter and the world. Will they make it in time?

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Outside of a Dog, #75

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

The New Year is a great time to try new things! Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit? Or maybe you want to fix your own appliances? It doesn’t take a Dummies book to learn how, but sometimes, these easy, fun-to-read collections of everything you need to know to do something can be found in the bright yellow books, and in the other series of easy how-to books, like The Everything Guide, Teach Yourself Visually, and the Complete Idiot’s Guides listed below. If your goal is to expand your horizons, check a few of these out, or ask your reference librarian for more!

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buddhism by Gary Gach

Buddhism, according to various statistical sources, usually ranks between the 4^th and 6^th largest religion in the world, with approximately 400 million followers across the globe. This religion, focusing on rebirth, enlightenment, and the understanding of suffering is a fascinating way to look at the world.

WCV 294.3 G

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Independent Filmmaking by Josef Stieff

As Michigan becomes a more popular place for feature films to be made, lots of folks want to get in on the ground floor of fame. This book will teach you how to film your own movie with your own equipment from start to finish.

WMB 791.43 S

Facebook for Dummies by Leah Pearlman

What is Facebook? What is social networking? Who uses it, what does it do, and why should I care? To answer just a few of these questions, read the opening chapter of this new book. It will help you understand why Facebook is as popular and important as it is, and help you set up an account with the site if you want.

WAM 006.754 P

Genealogy Online for Dummies by Matthew Helm

Ever wanted to trace your roots? Find out who you’re related to, or if your family came in at Ellis Island? This book will teach you how! If you can’t wait to take the Genealogy class at the Arthur Miller Branch, here’s the place to start!

WDB 919.1 H

The Everything American Presidents Book by Martin Kelly

If you missed out on history class, or just need a refresher about the Commander-in-Chief and his duties and deeds over the years, check out this Everything book.

WCV YA 973.09 K

The Everything Start Your Own Business Book by Judith B. Harrington

Is your New Year’s resolution to be successful? Or to take the talent you have and make it work for you? This is the book for you. Detailed here is how to start your own business from scratch, and the legal and financial things you’ll need to know to do it right.

WAM 658.1141 H

Teach Yourself Visually Windows XP by Ruth Maran

While Windows Vista was kind of a mess and is expected to be surpassed by 2009’s Windows 7, Windows XP is still one of the most enduring operating systems out there. All of the library computers still run on XP, and many other business networks do, too. Pick up this colorful, step-by-step guide if you’d like to learn for yourself how computers work.

WDB 005.44 Windows XP

Teach Yourself Visually Guitar by Charles Kim

Do you have music in your blood? Or maybe just want to learn a few chords? Or play your favorite song from the radio? Learning how to play guitar is a great exercise for the brain and for manual dexterity, too. The Teach Yourself Visually books are a fantastic place to start learning anything from guitar to knitting. Try one today!

WMB 787.87 K