Braille Book Review, Vol. 65, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1996

Braille Book Review
January-February 1996
Volume 65, Number 1

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped

_Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly and distributed
free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who
participate in the Library of Congress free reading program.  It
lists braille magazines and books available through a network of
cooperating libraries.  The braille edition also lists recorded
books, giving abbreviated annotations.  News about library
services is featured in both editions.
     The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles
recently added to the national collection, which contains
thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics,
biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help
guides.  These books will continue to be available from your
cooperating library and will be listed again in _Braille Books
1995-1996_.  To learn more about the wide range of books in the
national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject
bibliographies from cooperating libraries.  Librarians can check
other resources for titles and answer requests for special
materials.
     To order books or to change your subscription or address,
contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding
editorial matters should be sent to: Publications and Media
Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542.

Library of Congress, Washington 1996

Library of Congress
Catalog Card Number 53-31800
ISSN 0006-873X


Contents:

In Brief

Books for Adults

       Nonfiction        
       Fiction           

Books for Children

       Nonfiction    
       Fiction       

Handcopied Braille--Other Agencies

Braille Magazines


_In Brief_

Changes in _Braille Book Review_

In response to requests and suggestions from patrons, three
changes are introduced to _Braille Book Review_ beginning with
this issue. 
     1. As explained in previous issues, the braille edition no
longer contains the recorded discs with the complete text of
_Talking Book Topics_. The short descriptions of recorded books
and the order forms for recorded books are still included. If
you would like to receive as a separate subscription the
complete _Talking Book Topics_ on disc or cassette, please
contact your local cooperating library.
     2. As a pilot project, a computer diskette with both
_Braille Book Review_ and _Talking Book Topics_ on it is now
available to NLS patrons. The diskette contains _Braille Book
Review_ and _Talking Book Topics_ as two separate ASCII text
files on one 3-1/2-inch IBM-compatible diskette. The data is
readable by nearly all editing or file-reading software. Each
file consists of the "In Brief" section, the book listings
complete with annotation, and a magazines listing. Indexes and
order forms are not included. This format is already available
through the Internet by accessing LC MARVEL.
     Each diskette is packaged in a standard diskette mailer and
sent directly to patrons who subscribe. You will receive the
diskette around the same time as you receive other formats of
_Braille Book Review_ and _Talking Book Topics_ to which you
currently subscribe. You will continue to receive these formats
also during this pilot project, unless you request a change. The
diskette is to be kept, not returned to the producer or your
library. If you would like a subscription to this diskette,
please contact your local cooperating library.
     3. Beginning with this issue, the "In Brief" section of
_Braille Book Review_ also includes information from the "In
Brief" section of the current issue of _Talking Book Topics_. 

_Braille Books 1993-1994_ Produced in Braille
_Braille Books 1993-1994_, a catalog listing braille books
produced by NLS during 1993 and 1994, has recently been issued
in braille. Books in this catalog are listed by subject
category, and there are sections for bestsellers, young adult
books, and foreign-language books.
     Readers who ordered _Braille Books 1993-1994_ on their
annual order forms should automatically receive their copies in
the mail. Others may request this catalog from their local
cooperating libraries.

NLS Publishes Bibliographies
NLS has recently published two new bibliographies listing books
available in recorded and braille formats.  _Romances and Love
Stories_ features selected novels taking place in various time
periods and settings.  The bibliography lists gothic romances,
Harlequin novels, and Regency stories by many authors, including
Janet Dailey, Janette Oke, Danielle Steel, and Phyllis A.
Whitney.
     _Pioneer and Frontier Stories_ lists selected books dealing
with the lives of the people who blazed trails westward and
settled the land.  The bibliography includes descriptions of
autobiographies of Buffalo Bill and General Custer and also of
cowpunchers, cooks, and gold miners.  Authors as diverse as
James Fenimore Cooper, Willa Cather, Larry McMurtry, and Edna
Ferber have all set novels on the frontier.
     Both publications are available in large print, and
_Romances and Love Stories_ is available in audio cassette
format and in braille.  _Pioneer and Frontier Stories_ will be
produced early this spring on audio cassette and in braille. 
The large-print editions contain titles available on cassette
and in braille.  The recorded editions list only cassettes and
the braille editions list only braille.  Patrons who requested
the publications on their annual order form will receive them
automatically.  If you did not order but would like a copy,
contact your cooperating library.

Unrequired Reading
To restore reading for fun as a part of campus life, colleges
have begun offering students lists of important, enjoyable books
as "unrequired reading." One such list--from Brown University,
Providence, Rhode Island--contains the following books in the
NLS braille collection. 

Animal Dreams  BR 8406
     by Barbara Kingsolver
     3 volumes
     Codi returns to Arizona to teach high school and care for
     her aging father. Her life is complicated by efforts to
     save the town from environmental catastrophe and by the
     renewal of an old love affair with a Native American man.
     Meanwhile, her sister Hallie, in Nicaragua helping peasant
     farmers in their fight for social justice, is captured by
     the Contras. Their story is one of commitment and suspense. 

Beloved BR 7074
     by Toni Morrison
     3 volumes
     Related in kaleidoscopic fashion and set in rural Ohio
     during the period immediately following the Civil War, this
     chronicle of slavery and its aftermath traces the life of
     Sethe, a former slave. Sethe has a secret in her past so
     horrific that it has alienated the community, driven off
     her two sons, isolated her surviving daughter, and
     threatened her new, loving relationship with Paul D., also
     a former slave.  Bestseller. 

The Brothers Karamazov  BR 6803
     by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; translated by
     Constance Garnett
     8 volumes
     Complex psychological novel by the nineteenth-century
     Russian master of realism. The main plot involves a
     depraved father and his four sons, one of them a bastard.
     Through the murder of the father and the false conviction
     of one of the sons, the novel explores at length the dual
     nature of man.

Like Water for Chocolate  BR 9187
     by Laura Esquivel; translated by
     Carol and Thomas Christensen
     2 volumes
     When Pedro asks Mama Elena for the hand of her youngest
     daughter, Tita, he is offered her sister instead. By family
     tradition, Tita is to remain unmarried to care for her
     mother. Tita, a magical cook, shares recipes that, seasoned
     by her emotions, have an extraordinary impact on the events
     that follow her mother's decision. Descriptions of sex.
     Bestseller.

The Little Prince  BR 1431
     by Antoine de Saint-Exupery; translated by Katherine Woods
     1 volume
     The narrator's plane was forced down in the African desert
     where he met the little prince from Asteroid B-612 who
     freely shares his experiences with the fascinated pilot. 
     For children and adults.

The Magic Mountain  BR 6190
     by Thomas Mann; translated by H.T. Lowe-Porter
     8 volumes
     A young German engineer visiting his cousin in a Swiss
     tuberculosis sanatorium ends up remaining for seven years,
     caught up in the "magic" of life on the mountain. A
     symbolic and philosophical treatment of such concepts as
     relativity, dogmatism, and liberalism.

The Stranger  BR 1185
     by Albert Camus; translated by Stuart Gilbert
     1 volume
     An existential novel, set in Algiers, about a man who
     resists any commitment, rendering his own life meaningless. 
     He does not react to his mother's death, nor to a killing
     he commits, and becomes a placid prisoner, convicted of
     murder.  His own impending death, however, leads him to
     some realizations.

To Kill a Mockingbird  BR 9237 
     by Harper Lee
     3 volumes
     Scout Finch is an outspoken and literate six-year-old
     tomboy when she begins her tale of growing up in a small
     Alabama town with her brother Jem and her attorney father
     Atticus. The children's intense curiosity about a reclusive
     neighbor is eclipsed by Atticus's attempt to defend a black
     man against charges of raping a white woman. For senior
     high and older readers. Pulitzer Prize winner. 

_Books for Adults_
Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were
recently sent to cooperating libraries.  The complete collection
contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction
subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries,
romances, and others.  Contact your cooperating library to learn
more about the wide range of books available in the collection.
     To order books, contact your cooperating library.
     Note:  For the information of the reader, a notice may
appear immediately following the book description to indicate
occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or
violence.  The word "some" before any of these terms indicates
an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong
language."

_Nonfiction_

West of the Thirties: Discoveries among the Navajo and Hopi  BR
9606
by Edward T. Hall 
2 volumes
In 1933 anthropology student Hall was asked to be a camp manager
for the Indian equivalent of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Although the rest of the West was "thoroughly settled," time
seemed to have stood still on the Hopi and Navajo reservations.
For four years Hall learned of the area cultures from the Native
Americans who shared their oral history and from the trader who
took him under his wing. 1994.

The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell, 1903-1959  BR 9657
by Bertrand Russell 
8 volumes
Selections from Russell's publications in philosophy,
psychology, history, mathematics, and analyses of international
affairs, and miscellaneous works such as essays, short stories,
and autobiographical asides. 1961.

Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body  BR
9718
by Susan Bordo 
4 volumes
Collection of essays examining eating disorders and body image
in terms of contemporary culture, consumerism, and women's
experiences in other areas. Bordo, a philosophy professor, backs
up her analysis with the history of society's attitudes toward
women's bodies, from ancient Greece through the Victorian age.
1993.

How to Keep Your Savings Safe: Protecting the Money You Can't
Afford to Lose  BR 9723
by Walter L. Updegrave 
3 volumes
Editor of _Money_ magazine and specialist in personal finances
warns about risks of investing in once rock-solid financial
institutions. Updegrave discusses how to evaluate the safety of
money that one cannot afford to lose, suggests when to use a
commercial rating service, and lists what he considers the
safest institutions, such as savings banks and insurance
companies. 1992.

Working Women Don't Have Wives: Professional Success in the
1990s  BR 9785
by Terri Apter 
3 volumes
Apter contends that women in the world of work are at an unfair
disadvantage because, as a general rule, they don't have what
their male counterparts do: "a partner who looks after their
domestic needs, cares for their children, accommodates their
changing occupational needs, and puts family responsibilities
first and foremost." She discusses how to counter this lack by
combining changes at home and in the workplace. 1993.

Mother Father Deaf: Living between Sound and Silence  BR 9805
by Paul Preston 
3 volumes
The son of deaf parents, Preston uses the stories of others like
him to describe how exposure to the "deaf culture" within the
"hearing culture" shapes lives. He has written this book "as
much as possible in the Deaf way," interweaving fragments of his
informants' stories and using repetition for emphasis, because
"Deaf storytelling does not boil down to a punch line. It is in
the telling." Some strong language. 1994.

Shakespeare  BR 9821
by Germaine Greer 
2 volumes
The author contends that Shakespeare did much to shape the
values we consider to be typically English. Greer argues that
the basis for understanding the Bard's art and thought is to be
found in the interaction between the text of his plays and the
reaction of the audience. She touches on aspects of the
playwright's life, philosophy, and politics and offers an essay
on his social values, especially his belief in the importance of
marriage. 1986.

Successful Job Search Strategies for the Disabled: Understanding
the ADA  BR 9834
by Jeffrey G. Allen 
3 volumes
Allen addresses the more than forty million Americans who are
disabled, sixty percent of whom are unemployed. He offers advice
on finding a job, gives an overview of the ADA, and discusses
topics such as where jobs are, self-assessment for a job, what
to disclose regarding a disability, interview guidelines,
accommodations, and enforcement of the ADA guidelines. 1994.

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook  BR 9835
1 volume
More than seventy-five shrimp recipes from _Southern Living_ and
reflections ("Bubba was my best good friend, and even I know
that's something you can't just find around the corner") from a
Winston Groom novel that became a popular movie about a very
simple, very likable person--Forrest Gump, who started the Bubba
Gump Shrimp Company. Includes shrimp dishes to bake, barbecue,
boil, fry, saute, and combine with sauce or slaw. 1994.

The Family Heart: A Memoir of When Our Son Came Out  BR 9844
by Robb Forman Dew 
2 volumes
Novelist Dew describes the stages she and her family went
through after learning her oldest son, Steve, was gay. Although
both parents immediately proclaimed acceptance of Steve's sexual
orientation, they unintentionally hurt him with some of their
actions and statements. Not wanting to burden Steve with the
responsibility for her happiness, Dew soon shed her self-pity.
Some strong language. 1994.

Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for
Any Day  BR 9845
by The Moosewood Collective 
4 volumes
The eighteen members of the Collective have created a
combination of tested recipes using minimal equipment; fresh,
tasty ingredients; time-saving tips; and planning ideas to make
cooking fast and easy. These meatless dishes include soups,
dips, quick breads, sauces, main-dish salads, grains, pasta,
stir-fries, pizzas, and desserts. 1994.

When Women Played Hardball  BR 9846
by Susan E. Johnson 
3 volumes
Author Johnson was a fourteen-year-old fan when the All-American
Girls Baseball League died in 1954 after a twelve-year span. To
recreate the spirit of the league that fascinated her, Johnson
interviews twenty-six of the women who played for the 1950
Rockford Peaches and Fort Wayne Daisies. Their recollections of
the 1950 series are supplemented by newspaper accounts of each
of the seven games. 1994.

The Frontiers of Meaning: Three Informal Lectures on Music  BR
9848
by Charles Rosen 
1 volume
Three lectures by the National Book Award-winning author of _The
Classical Style (BRA 16615)_. In "The Frontiers of Nonsense,"
Rosen claims that understanding music is a matter of feeling
comfortable with it. In "How to Become Immortal," the author
suggests that Beethoven's international fame was already in
place during his lifetime. And in "Explaining the Obvious,"
Rosen discusses why he writes about music. 1994.

Marx  BR 9854
by Peter Singer 
1 volume
Introductory biography of the nineteenth-century philosopher. In
an effort to explain the central vision of Marx's thought,
Singer discusses Marx's early writings and his materialist
concept of history and economic theory of capital. He also
assesses Marx's relevance in the late twentieth century. 1980.

A Family Place: A Man Returns to the Center of His Life  BR 9858
by Charles Gaines 
2 volumes
Writer Charles Gaines and his wife Patricia had once before
healed their marriage by traveling to Nova Scotia and
temporarily escaping their fast-paced lives. When the
relationship again hits troubled times, Charles and Patricia
purchase a remote parcel of Nova Scotia land and call upon their
now-grown children to help them build a cabin and rebuild the
family in this "last best place." Some strong language. 1994.

84, Charing Cross Road  BR 9859
by Helene Hanff 
1 volume
Hanff tells how her love of old books sparked a twenty-year
transatlantic correspondence between herself and Frank Doel of
Marks and Company, Booksellers, London, England. Their
correspondence began in 1949 when Hanff read an ad indicating
that Marks and Company specialized in out-of-print books. The
friendship lasted twenty years even though Hanff and Doel never
met in person. 1970.

Cities of Gold: A Journey across the American Southwest in
Pursuit of Coronado  BR 9871
by Douglas Preston 
5 volumes
The author chronicles his journey on horseback retracing the
path of sixteenth-century Spanish explorer Francisco Vsquez de
Coronado across the American Southwest in search of the seven
cities of gold. Woven into the narrative are natural history;
stories heard from cowboys, Native Americans, and ranchers; and
an account of the original expedition. Strong language. 1992.

Braille Books 1993-1994  BR 9873
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped 
2 volumes
A catalog of braille books produced during 1993 and 1994 by the
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped. Separate sections list fiction and nonfiction
subject categories. Young adult books are also included. 1994.

Answering the Call: Telephone Pioneer Talking-Book
Machine-Repair Program 1960-1993  BR 9882
by Ruth Nieland and George Thuronyi 
1 volume
The Telephone Pioneers of America is an association of telephone
workers and retirees organized in chapters, councils, and clubs
throughout the United States and Canada. Long involved in
community service projects, the Pioneers began repairing
talking-book machines for the National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped in 1960. 1994.

_Always a Reckoning_ and Other Poems  BR 9887
by Jimmy Carter 
1 volume
Poems about people, places, politics, and private lives by the
thirty-ninth president of the United States. In "Rachel," Carter
reflects on his tender feelings toward a neighbor when he was a
child. In "My First Try for Votes," a constituent humbles and
amuses the candidate in one bold stroke. And in the title poem,
an autobiographical narrative, he speaks of learning the need in
"all things . . . to balance out." 1995.

Flat Rock Journal: A Day in the Ozark Mountains  BR 9991
by Ken Carey 
2 volumes
Since buying his piece of Ozark wilderness twenty years ago,
writer and environmentalist Carey has learned to open his mind
and heart to the renewing energies of spring. He describes the
annual day-long trek he takes through the land. Interspersed are
recollections of the almost magical happenings that led him and
his family to this place and the difficult but rewarding life
they have lived since. 1994.

Lincoln: In His Own Words  BR 9994
edited by Milton Meltzer 
2 volumes
Quotes from letters, speeches, court papers, and articles create
this portrait of Lincoln. Meltzer traces the life of the
sixteenth president, from his childhood to his career as a
lawyer and his role as commander in chief of the armed forces
during the Civil War. The author sets the stage by commenting on
the political forces at the time and by introducing contemporary
figures. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1993.

Before You Hire a Contractor: A Construction Guidebook for
Consumers  BR 9996
by Steve Gonzalez 
1 volume
A registered contractor uses his twenty years of experience to
guide consumers through hiring someone for a home constuction
project. He discusses how to research, write specifications,
avoid scams and problems, choose a contractor and negotiate
contracts, and become familiar with consumer rights and laws
regulating construction. 1994.

Autobiography of a Face  BR 10051
by Lucy Grealy 
2 volumes
In fourth grade, the author had a toothache that turned out to
be cancer. A portion of her jaw was eventually removed, leaving
her face misshapened. Grealy describes her growing awareness
that she was now odd-looking and her attempts to come to terms
with people's reactions. After a series of failed surgeries, she
had her jaw reconstructed as an adult, but she learned her
belief that "when my face gets fixed, then I'll start living,"
was too simplistic. 1994.

Toothpaste and Railroad Tracks  BR 10131
by Kenneth Jernigan 
1 volume
"Details of everyday life as blind persons live it." Members of
the National Federation of the Blind, including Kenneth Jernigan
and Mark Maurer, contribute essays. Jernigan explains his
methods of shaving and brushing his teeth. Barbara Walker
discusses her daughter's attitude about her mother's blindness.
Patricia Maurer describes learning to read and write as a
teenager in a rural community. 1995.

_Fiction_

The Temptations of St. Ed and Brother S  BR 9601
by Frank Bergon 
3 volumes
In the 1990s many people are concerned about the environment, as
are St. Ed and Brother S, the only monks at the Hermitage of
Solitude in the Desert. Now there is a nuclear waste dump
planned for nearby land, and both monks, as well as the Shoshone
Indians, object. The monks also face temptations, including lust
and the desire for fame. Strong language and some descriptions
of sex. 1993.

Wings of the Morning: The Kensington Chronicles, Volume 2  BR
9604
by Lori Wick 
2 volumes
For twenty-three years, Victoria (Smokey) Simmons's life has
been spent on board her father's ship the _Aramis_. Now he is
dead and she is captain. Dallas Knight, captain of the _Zephyr_,
often arrives at a port too late to pick up cargo because the
_Aramis_ has gotten there first. He will not be happy to find
out that the _Aramis_'s captain is a woman. Sequel to _The Hawk
and the Jewel (BR 9603)_. 1994.

Justice for Some  BR 9728
by Kate Wilhelm 
2 volumes
Sarah Drexler takes a break from filling her deceased husband's
judgeship in Oregon and travels to California for a family
reunion. There she finds her son, her daughter, and her father
are all very secretive. After her father's body is found
floating in the pool, Sarah learns that he had hired a
detective. When the detective is found murdered, Sarah's entire
family begins to look suspicious. Some strong language and some
violence. 1993.

The Simeon Chamber  BR 9729
by Steve Martini 
3 volumes
Attorney Sam Bogardus's irritation over his mother's "referring"
another client to him turns to interest when he hears Jennifer
Davies's story. Her father had been one of a two-man crew that
disappeared from a naval blimp. Years later, Jennifer has
received pages from a pirate's journal with a note implying that
her father is still alive. Sam's investigation quickly turns
ugly: he is attacked and his partner murdered. Strong language
and violence. 1988.

The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of _The Lord of the
Rings_  BR 9749
by J.R.R. Tolkien 
5 volumes
In this third volume of the Ring trilogy, Frodo and Sam bear the
ring to Mount Doom. The War of the Rings, fought between the
forces for good and the Dark Lord of evil, is ended. Sequel to
_The Two Towers (BR 9747)_. 1955.

The Mandarins  BR 9769
by Simone de Beauvoir 
7 volumes
Set in Paris after World War II, this novel won the Prix
Goncourt, the most coveted literary prize in France. The author
draws upon her intellectual circle, which includes Jean-Paul
Sartre and Albert Camus, for a portrait of the philosophical and
political climate of the period. 1954.

A Map of the World  BR 9800
by Jane Hamilton 
4 volumes
School nurse Alice Goodwin and her dairy farmer husband, Howard,
are never truly accepted by the small community of Prairie
Center. When the daughter of Alice's one friend, Theresa, dies
after falling in the Goodwin's pond, the town turns vicious.
Alice is accused of sexually molesting a troubled young boy in
her school. As Alice awaits trial in jail, Theresa helps a
stunned Howard cope at home. Strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1994.

Promise Me Anything  BR 9802
by Meryl Sawyer 
4 volumes
When his uncle dies, Alex Savich inherits the failing British
diamond company that his uncle sank all of their savings into.
As Alex tries to save the firm by sneaking diamonds smuggled by
his uncle onto the market, he fights a wild attraction to
jewelry designer Brett Lamont. Just as their relationship
begins, Brett's missing lover returns and Alex is caught up in
Russian political intrigue. Strong language and explicit
descriptions of sex. 1994.

The Catswold Portal  BR 9804
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy 
3 volumes
A fantasy set in 1957 Earth and in the Netherworld or world of
faerie. Queen Siddonie, pretender to the throne of faerie, plans
to conquer the Netherworld--an act that would profoundly affect
the upper world. The true queen, seventeen-year-old Melissa, has
been transformed into a calico cat and has taken up residence
with artist Braden West, who lives near the portal between the
two worlds. For high school and older readers. 1992.

Firefall  BR 9806
by Ed Ruggero 
4 volumes
Operation Solid Steel is supposed to be a series of practice
maneuvers between U.S. Army Rangers led by Major Mark Isen and
the German army. The Rangers have parachuted into German
territory near the North Sea, where they are to engage the
so-called enemy. But instead of the friendly Germans they
expect, they are confronted by the ultra-rightist German
People's Union--and the Rangers have no live ammunition!
Violence and strong language. 1994.

The Hellion  BR 9807
by LaVyrle Spencer 
2 volumes
Tommy Lee Gentry is known as a hellraiser in his hometown of
Russellville, Alabama. He has been married three times, drives
fast cars, drinks, and almost always has a woman with him. He
has never been happy, but there is a chance for things to
change. Rachel, his childhood sweetheart, is free again.
Descriptions of sex. 1984.

Degree of Guilt  BR 9811
by Richard North Patterson 
5 volumes
Distinguished attorney Christopher Paget is raising his
fifteen-year-old son Carlo. Carlo's estranged mother, television
journalist Mary Carelli, is in town to interview novelist Mark
Ransom but instead is accused of his murder. Not only does her
story of Ransom's rape attempt have some inconsistencies for
Paget and his assistant to sort out, it also involves a
surprising group of well-known people. Violence and some
explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1992.

Sons and Lovers  BR 9812
by D.H. Lawrence 
5 volumes
Restored text. Story of Paul and William Morel, brothers who
bear witness to the tensions of their working-class parents.
William adopts the bitterness that his father expresses too
freely. Paul, the younger, finds one woman appealing and another
exciting, but can elicit for neither the sensitive feelings he
has for his mother. Some strong language and some descriptions
of sex. 1913.

A Hovering of Vultures  BR 9813
by Robert Barnard 
2 volumes
The Sneddon Fellowship is having its inaugural weekend bash at
the Sneddon farmhouse in West Yorkshire. The late Sneddons were
brother and sister authors, and Joshua Sneddon was said to have
killed Susannah in a jealous snit and then killed himself.
Elderly attendee Mrs. Farraday, a former resident, is shocked to
find that her ancient, obnoxious mother is not only still alive
but remembers something crucial about the elusive Sneddons.
1993.

Doctor Zhivago  BR 9814
by Boris Pasternak 
5 volumes
The story of a Russian physician and poet during the early
decades of the twentieth century. Yurii Zhivago, an
individualist and something of an outsider, is separated from
his wife by the Bolsheviks and falls in love with Lara, the wife
of another man. Pasternak's portrait of Russian life during the
post-revolution years includes an epilogue expressing hope for
liberation and freedom in the future. 1958.

The Track of Real Desires  BR 9815
by Beverly Lowry 
2 volumes
Ten days before her scheduled breast biopsy, fiftyish Leland
Standard visits her hometown of Eunola, Mississippi, with her
gay son, Toby. They stay with Leland's friends Mell and Baker
Farrish, who are still reeling over the suicide of their
daughter. As other friends bring their troubled lives to the
welcome-home dinner party, they all ponder how they got so far
off the track of real desires. Strong language and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1994.

Floating City: A Nicholas Linnear Novel  BR 9818
by Eric Lustbader 
4 volumes
Floating City, in the Vietnam jungle, is controlled by Rock, an
American who has created a powerful nuclear weapon, the Torch.
It is up to Nicholas Linnear to locate Rock and destroy the
Torch. Linnear gets help from his friend Lew Croaker but must
face demons from his past before he can complete his mission.
Sequel to _The Kaisho (BR 9447)_. Violence, strong language, and
explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.

The Palace Thief  BR 9819
by Ethan Canin 
2 volumes
The title story tells of the conflict between a history teacher
in a private boys' school and one of his students. The "dullard"
son of a senator, Sedgewick Bell cheats at an oral exam, only to
be foiled by a trick question. Years later, Bell demands another
chance. In other selections, men reflect on the past, one
character wondering why, "of all the lives that might have been
mine, I have led the one I have just described." Some strong
language. 1994.

The Bridges of Madison County  BR 9823
by Robert James Waller 
1 volume
Robert Kincaid, a photographer for _National Geographic_,
arrives in Madison County, Iowa, on August 16, 1965, to
photograph covered bridges. He stops at the home of Francesca
Johnson to ask directions, but stays for four wonderful
days--days that awaken within them a deep and abiding love,
which creates another being called "us." But she is married, and
they must let go of one another. Some descriptions of sex.
Bestseller 1992.

Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend  BR 9824
by Robert James Waller 
2 volumes
Michael Tillman is a middle-aged college economics professor in
Cedar Bend. He first meets Jellie Braden, forty, during a
reception at the dean's home. They are immediately attracted to
each other, but she is married and Michael does have some
scruples. When Jellie unexpectedly returns to India, Michael
follows, and learns of a secret that has haunted her for a long
time. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1993.

Eyes of a Child  BR 9825
by Richard North Patterson 
5 volumes
Attorney Terri Peralta leaves her emotionally abusive husband,
Ricardo Arias, and begins a relationship with her boss, Chris
Paget. Unemployed Arias demands custody of daughter Elena and
accuses Paget's son Carlo of sexually abusing Elena. When Arias
is found dead, police suspect Paget, whose campaign for the
Senate would have been ruined by Arias. Some violence and some
explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.

Tunnel Vision  BR 9826
by Sara Paretsky 
4 volumes
Investigator V.I. Warshawski agrees to find out why low-income
housing planned by a women's trade collective is blocked. She
also worries about a homeless family living in the basement of
her condemned office building. When a shelter board member is
found murdered in V.I.'s office after offering to help the
family, all three concerns merge into one. Strong language and
some violence. Bestseller 1994.

The Book of Dreams  BR 9838
by Craig Nova 
3 volumes
Marta works at the Hollywood _Romance Advertiser_. When an
errand for her boss ends in murder, Marta's ex-con neighbor,
Victor, who has been secretly following her, insists Marta help
him in a blackmail scheme. Cleaning offices, Victor has stumbled
upon tapes of a movie star's therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Victor
loses the boy he is assigned to as a Big Brother, and a wealthy
man falls for Marta. Strong language and some violence. 1994.

To Dance with the White Dog  BR 9839
by Terry Kay 
2 volumes
Sam Peek's entry in his journal says simply, "Today my wife
died. We were married fifty-seven good years." His children
gather and begin to discuss what is to be done. Eventually Sam
finds himself alone, except for a mysterious white dog only he
can see--to the consternation of his children. Although somewhat
incapacitated by a bad leg, Sam remains independent until he
joins his wife in death. The dog then appears to his family.
Some strong language. 1990.

Water  BR 9840
by Sue Thomas 
2 volumes
Professor Ruth Murdoch's husband, Simon, left her for another
woman when their daughter, Julie, was three. After one
heartbreaking affair, Ruth settles for an imaginary lover.
Dismayed at the havoc Simon has wreaked on their lives, Julie
eventually has the opportunity to confront him. Although Julie
hates to swim, water surfaces again and again throughout the
story. Some strong language, some violence, and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1994.

_Stripping_ and Other Stories  BR 9841
by Pagan Kennedy 
1 volume
In the title story, retired school teacher Nan decides to
discuss with her cousin Henry the day he watched his older
brother rape her. In "Shrinks," Sara's mother congratulates her
for having consulted thirty therapists in as many years. "It
shows how serious you are about solving your problems." A shy
girl in "Camp" meets an even shyer boy and lets him believe she
is popular. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1994.

Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue: The Poor Relation, Volume 5  BR
9849
by Marion Chesney 
1 volume
The owners of the Poor Relation hotel are in dire straits.
Colonel Sandhurst has been sent to collect an unpaid bill from
Sir Randolph Gray. But rather than returning with money, he
arrives with Miss Frederica Gray, who is running away from home
to avoid a forced marriage to the elderly Lord Peter Bewley. As
is typical at the Poor Relation, romance takes over and all
works out for the best. Sequel to _Sir Philip's Folly (BR
9567)_. 1994.

Guppies for Tea  BR 9850
by Marika Cobbold 
2 volumes
After her husband dies, Selma is put into a nursing home by her
son, who then leaves the country. Although troubled with
senility and incontinence, Selma is adamant about leaving the
home. Her daughter, Dagmar, is too busy obsessively avoiding
germs, so Selma's only chance at freedom comes from her
granddaughter, Amelia. As Amelia's personal life crumbles around
her, she tries to do right by Selma. Some strong language. 1993.

The Return of Mr. Campion  BR 9852
by Margery Allingham 
2 volumes
A collection of mystery stories that feature sleuth Albert
Campion. The author admits that she knows little about her
protagonist other than that Campion is an assumed name for a man
whose business card proclaims, "Coups neatly executed; nothing
sordid, vulgar or plebeian; deserving cases preferred; police no
object." Born in 1900, Campion ages from story to story until he
is in his sixties. Includes a tribute by Agatha Christie. 1989.

Dark Apprentice: The Jedi Academy Trilogy, Volume 2  BR 9872
by Kevin J. Anderson 
3 volumes
Despite their past victories, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and
Princess Leia are faced with increasing losses in the ongoing
war with scattered remnants of the Empire. Luke knows that
lasting peace can be achieved only through the creation of a new
generation of Jedi knights, but when one of his students delves
into the dark side of the Force, the greatest evil of all is
unleashed. Bestseller 1994.

Dead End Game  BR 9875
by Christopher Newman 
2 volumes
The night before the most important World Series game, Kansas
City Royals pitcher Willie Cintron foolishly brings a woman back
to his New York hotel room. Before the night is over, she has
injected a drugged Cintron with a fatal dose of heroin. Hearing
about Cintron's death, a friend refuses to believe the
ballplayer returned to the "dead end game" of his old New York
crowd. And NYPD lieutenant Joe Dante agrees. Violence and strong
language. 1994.

A Time to Kill  BR 9876
by John Grisham 
4 volumes
In Clanton, Mississippi, black, ten-year-old Tonya Hailey is
raped, tortured, and left for dead by two white men. She
survives and identifies her abductors, who are quickly arrested.
Tonya's father, Carl Lee Hailey, takes matters into his own
hands, shooting and killing the two prisoners. As his attorney
prepares Carl Lee's case, the town is overrun with reporters and
avenging Klansmen. Violence, some strong language, and some
descriptions of sex. 1989.

Good Girls Don't Wear Trousers  BR 9878
by Lara Cardella 
1 volume
In Sicily young Annetta dreams of being able to wear trousers.
She decides to become a nun, thinking they wear trousers under
their habits like the priests. Then she tries to become a boy
but learns it isn't physically possible. Next she attempts to
become a slut because then she can wear what she wants. Sent by
her enraged parents to live with the uncle who molested her as a
child, Annetta finds a friend in her unhappy aunt. Some
descriptions of sex. 1989.

"K" Is for Killer  BR 9880
by Sue Grafton 
3 volumes
P.I. Kinsey Millhone is hired by Janice Kepler to investigate
the death of her daughter Lorna after the police all but give up
on the baffling case. The body is so badly decomposed that it is
impossible to determine if Lorna has been murdered. Kinsey
shifts to night hours to find a motive when she learns that
Lorna's part-time job and crude cabin belied a high-dollar
hooking career and large savings account. Some strong language.
Bestseller 1994.

Fanfan  BR 9888
by Alexandre Jardin 
1 volume
Descended from Robinson Cruso, Alexandre is not like other men.
When he discovers his parents' infidelities, Alexandre dreams of
a romance of perpetual expectation and vows to discipline his
urges and be monogamous. He becomes engaged to stable, if
boring, Laure, and then meets Fanfan, who seems to share his
dream. But anticipation of a half-century of unconsummated
seduction is threatened by Fanfan's libido. Some strong
language. 1990.

I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This  BR 9898
by Jacqueline Woodson 
1 volume
Twelve-year-old Marie is a popular eighth grader in a
predominantly African American class when Lena, a poor white
girl, arrives. Because both girls have lost their mothers, they
are soon drawn to one another. Then Lena reveals that her father
is molesting her. Marie refuses to believe her, but once Marie
gets over the shock, she begins to ask questions and to try to
help Lena find a way out of her tragic situation. For junior and
senior high and older readers. 1994.

Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me  BR 9998
by Julie Johnston 
2 volumes
Sara Moone's adoptive parents died when she was three. Since
then, she has shuttled from one foster home to another, refusing
to make friends and dreaming of quitting school at sixteen. But
at fifteen she is placed with the Huddlestons, where she
reluctantly develops some relationships and comes face to face
with her birth mother. Sara writes about her jumbled feelings in
her computer journal. For junior and senior high readers. 1994.

Out of Control  BR 10096
by Norma Fox Mazer 
1 volume
High school football star Rollo, student senator Candy, and
honor society president Brig are inseparable. So when Brig
teases art student Valerie, the other two go along. But when the
three fondle her in the hall and Valerie goes to the principal,
Rollo becomes confused. He tries to make Valerie see that he's
really a nice guy but begins to see himself through her eyes.
Some strong language. For junior and senior high and older
readers. 1993.

The Mysterious Island  BR 10097
by Jules Verne 
2 volumes
During the Civil War, Northerner and engineer Cyrus Smith is a
Southern captive. He escapes by hot-air balloon with three other
men, a boy, and a dog. A storm blows them to an island, but
Smith is lost at sea. Later the others find him, but no one can
explain how he reached land. Mysterious events and
resourcefulness help them survive the next four years. Sequel to
_Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (BR 9469)_. For high
school and older readers. 1870.

_Books for Children_
Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were
recently sent to cooperating libraries.  The complete collection
contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction
subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports,
and others.  Contact your cooperating library to learn more
about the wide range of books available in the collection.
     To order books, contact your cooperating library.

_Nonfiction_

Doodle Dandy! The Complete Book of Independence Day Words  BR
9864
by Lynda Graham-Barber 
1 volume
Describes, explains, and provides historical information on a
myriad of words and customs associated with America's
Independence Day. Included are such words and phrases as
"justice and equality," "wave the flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy,"
"barbecue," and "picnic." For grades 4-7 and older readers.
1992.

What's Your Story? A Young Person's Guide to Writing Fiction  BR
9877
by Marion Dane Bauer 
1 volume
The author states that stories help one understand the world,
teaching about possibilities and the achievements of those who
struggled before. An award-winning novelist, Bauer describes how
to write fiction and systematically discusses its various
components, including plot, character, focus, dialogue, tension,
and revisions. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1992.

In the Eyes of the Cat: Japanese Poetry for All Seasons  BR 9931
by Demi 
1 volume
Classical poetry translated from Japanese about cats, horses,
deer, birds, frogs, ducks, and other animals. Selections are
divided into groups for the four seasons. A spring poem,
"Puppy," celebrates the beloved pet. Summer poems like "Joyful
Crickets" and "In the Forest" relate to outdoor joys.
PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 1992.

Bats: Mysterious Flyers of the Night  BR 9993
by Dee Stuart 
1 volume
The shy, gentle bat is one of the most misunderstood creatures.
Bats are more helpful than harmful, eating tons of insect pests
each night. Others pollinate plants while eating fruit and
nectar. Only the vampire bat drinks blood, by making small cuts
in other animals. Bats feed at night, using their ears to "see."
One kind of bat is as small as a jellybean. For grades 2-4 and
older readers. 1994.

A New Frontier: The Peace Corps in Eastern Europe  BR 9997
by Brent Ashabranner 
1 volume
The Peace Corps has been helping people since 1961, mostly in
countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. When the Soviet
Union broke up, former Communist-bloc countries began asking for
help and soon more than 500 Americans were working in Eastern
Europe. The author describes the volunteers and the jobs they do
in places such as Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. For grades 5-8
and older readers. 1994.

_Fiction_

Park's Quest  BR 9816
by Katherine Paterson 
1 volume
Like the knights in his Arthurian fantasies, Park has a
quest--to find out about his father who was killed in Vietnam.
The Vietnam War Memorial arouses his need to know, and he goes
to visit his father's family at their Virginia farm. There he
finds a disabled grandfather, an uncle, a Vietnamese girl, her
mother, and a host of other surprises. For grades 6-9 and older
readers. 1988.

Snow Treasure  BR 9836
by Marie McSwigan 
1 volume
The boys and girls of a Norwegian village on the sea risk their
lives to help smuggle a fortune in gold past the Nazi soldiers
guarding their town. For grades 4-7. 1942.

Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings  BR 9857
by Ursula K. Le Guin 
1 volume
Sequel to _Catwings Return (BR 9141)_. Alexander, the oldest
kitten in his family, decides to explore the world. Soon he is
threatened by a truck, chased by dogs, stuck up a tree, and
lost. Then Jane, a little black kitten with wings, comes along.
Alexander follows her home and meets more winged cats. Now he
wants to find a way to repay the Catwing family for their
kindness. For grades 2-4. 1994.

Missing May  BR 9884
by Cynthia Rylant 
1 volume
Orphaned at six and raised by an elderly West Virginia aunt and
uncle with more devotion than money, Summer is twelve years old
when Aunt May dies. While Summer's grief is profound, Uncle Ob
seems absolutely unable to go on living without his beloved
May--that is, until he decides her presence lingers nearby and
that somehow he can contact her. Disappointed in his efforts,
Uncle Ob comes to choose living over mourning. For grades 5-8.
Newbery Medal.  1992.

The Fear Place  BR 9995
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 
1 volume
Doug is camping with his geologist parents and his hateful
brother Gordon in Colorado for the summer. When their parents
have to fly out for an uncle's funeral, the brothers argue until
Gordon stalks off to camp by himself on his favorite ridge. Days
pass and Gordon doesn't return, so, despite his fear of the
ridge, Doug is forced to look for his brother. A surprisingly
friendly cougar helps him face the "fear place." Some strong
language. For grades 4-7. 1994.

Ned Feldman, Space Pirate  BR 9999
by Daniel Pinkwater 
1 volume
Ned Feldman is home alone one day when he hears a noise under
the kitchen sink. When Ned summons enough courage to check it
out, he discovers Captain Lumpy Lugo aboard a spacecraft that
looks just like the sink. Inviting Ned aboard, the Captain
announces that he is Bugbeard the Pirate, famous for doing bad
things. Ned goes along and soon they land on the planet Jivebone
where they encounter giant space chickens. For grades 3-6. 1994.


_Handcopied Braille--Other Agencies_

The following books have been hand transcribed for the library
indicated with each entry and are available from that library
for circulation throughout the country.  Please write or call
directly to the library indicated.


LLB
Lutheran Library for the Blind
1133 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122
314-965-9000, 800-433-3954
 
_Adult Nonfiction_

Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs: The People's Bible Commentary 
LLB
by Roland Cap Ehlke
5 volumes
A Bible study commentary written for lay readers.

No Wrinkles on the Soul  LLB
by Richard L. Morgan
3 volumes
A book of readings for older adults. Meditations to use as daily
devotions or for small group devotional use.

_Adult Fiction_

Shooting Star: Saga of the Sierras  LLB
by Brock and Bodie Thoene
4 volumes
Set in the California gold rush days. Western adventure with a
historical background. 

_Braille Magazines_

The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of
Congress program.  Readers may obtain free personal
subscriptions to these magazines.  For information on the
availability of specific magazines, consult the library that
sends you braille materials.                                     
                  
Asimov's Science Fiction (monthly plus mid-December)
Better Homes and Gardens (monthly)
Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly)
Braille Book Review (bimonthly)
Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly)
Braille Journal of Physiotherapy (British monthly)
Braille Music Magazine (British monthly)
Braille Variety News (monthly)
Children's Digest (for children, 8 issues)
Consumers' Research (monthly)
Cooking Light (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6])
Fortune (biweekly plus specials)
Inside Sports (monthly)
Jack and Jill (for children, 8 issues)
Journal of Rehabilitation (quarterly)
Ladies' Home Journal (monthly)
Madam (British monthly)
The Musical Mainstream (quarterly)
National Geographic (monthly)
New Beacon (British monthly)
The _New York Times_ Large Type Weekly (weekly)
News (NLS quarterly)
Parenting (monthly except January and July)
PC/Computing (monthly)
Playboy (monthly)
Poetry (monthly)
Popular Communications (monthly)
Popular Mechanics (monthly)
Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)
Progress (British monthly)
Science News (weekly)
Seventeen (for teens, monthly)
Update (NLS quarterly)
The _Washington Post_ Book World (weekly)

The following sports schedules are also available:
American Baseball League Schedule
National Baseball League Schedule
National Basketball Association Schedule
National Football League Schedule
National Hockey League Schedule


*** 1/4/96 (gft)***

Comments to:  lcmarvel@loc.gov