Thursday, February 15, 2007

New Adult NonFiction

Cat Love Letters: Collected Correspondence of Cats in Love by Leigh W. Rutledge. I refuse comment.

I Hate Ann Coulter by Unanimous.

New Orleans by Tom Downs. A Lonely Planet guide to update our travel collection.

A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, and Other Workplace Demons by Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D. How to deal with problem employees.

Matt Groening's The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album by Matt Groening. Hot Dog! Another Simpson's book! Don't forget The Ralph Wiggum Book.

2007 Comic Book Checklist and Price Guide 1961-Present, 13th Edition by Maggie Thompson, et al.

Pimps, Hos, Playa Hats, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends by John Leguizamo. Actor, comic, Broadway performer Leguizamo's autobiography.
The End of a Childhood by Patrick G. Davis. Davis' stories of growing up in Lake Mills in the '60s and '70s.

Love, Magic, and Mudpies: Raising Your Kids to Feel Loved, Be Kind, and Make a Difference by Bernie Siegel, MD. Shelved in the Parenting section in the Children's section.

New Adult Fiction

A Necessary Evil by Robert Stricklin. After the acquittal of his wife's murderer, Michael hires a hitman. The return of Michael's conscience causes a change of heart but "Butch" doesn't want to cancel the job. In fact, Butch demands the rest of his payment from Michael and will make sure Michael pays up.

Sisters by Danielle Steel. Second verse, same as the first.

Lying with Strangers by James Grippando. Pediatrician Peyton is run off the road by a stalker while her husband, Kevin, is having an affair on a business trip. Guilty Kevin doesn't believe Peyton's story and Peyton's suspicions of her husband's fidelity lead her to an ex-boyfriend. After her stalker starts killing Peyton's acquaintances both she and Kevin are accused of murder.

Murder at the Opera by Margaret Truman. Georgetown law professor Mac Smith is onstage as an extra at the Kennedy Center National Opera when a promising singer is killed. Mac investigates on the invitation of the theater board and we have an interesting insight into the "backstage" of D.C. society.

Ten Days in the Hills by Jane Smiley. Pulitzer Prize winner Smiley tells the daylong story of screenwriter Max, his girlfriend Elena and the post-Oscar party they host with Max's ex-wife and other hangers-on from the Hollywood Hills.

Stalemate by Iris Johansen. Suspense novel with forensic investigator Eve Duncan. Eve is in high demand for her professional skills but says "no" to a request by Colombian drug lord Luis Montalvo. Eve acquiesces after Luis' threats and promises and she travels to the Colombian jungle to identify a skull.

Bloody Harvests by Richard Kunzmann. Two South African police detectives, one white and one black, investigate a child's murder outside Johannesburg. Is a serial killer on the loose? Or is a tribal witch sacrificing children for "medicine"?

New Music CDs

Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards by Tom Waits. Three discs and 56 songs. Starting as a leftovers album, Waits re-recorded his selections and grouped them by style. Brawlers is rock and blues, Bawlers is soundtrack tunes and covers, Bastards is his "cabaret-in-a-carnival" music. Allmusic has a good album review.

Twist Party by Los Straitjackets with the World Famous Pontani Sisters and Kaiser George. Los Straitjackets wear masks like Mexican wrestlers and play surf rock. A great band that has been featured multiple times on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

The Town and the City by Los Lobos. Allmusic says, "America's finest roots rock band...the band's performances are as tight and sinewy as ever...David Hidalgo offers yet another master class in virtuoso guitar playing...The Town and the City isn't likely to be the soundtrack for your next party, but it's an exciting and emotionally powerful experience that grows with each listen, and it's hard to think of many bands who, after three decades together, are as willing to challenge both themselves and their audience as Los Lobos do on this album."

Highway to Hell by AC/DC. Singer Bon Scott's last album. Check-out this album before some weasel steals it.

Mali by various artists. A Putumayo collection of West African music. Includes "desert blues of the nomadic Touaregs...jumpy rhythms and powerful vocals from the south...Bambara hunter's music" with traditonal and modern electric instruments.