News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Here are some more highlights of the new non-fiction books this month. Ans Westra’s Washday at the Pa has been republished after forty-seven years. Plus, People Magazine’s 1000 biggest moments in pop culture for the last thirty-five years, and the true story of a CIA interrogator. Have a browse!

The new golden age : the coming revolution against political corruption and economic chaos / Ravi Batra.
“Bringing his signature insight and expertise, the controversial economist Ravi Batra takes on a host of problems facing the world economy, including the oil and housing bubbles, falling minimum wages, corporate scandals, gross ethical lapses, the rise of celebrity economists at the Federal Reserve and elsewhere, and political crises of all kinds. He is unflinching in his criticism of the global economic elites and the suffering and deprivation they have caused in the lives of ordinary men and women.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Uncompromised : the rise, fall, and redemption of an Arab-American patriot in the CIA / Nada Prouty.
“Prouty came to national attention when she was accused of giving information to Hezbollah and dubbed Jihad Jane. She now makes her case as a former Middle East agent for the CIA who fell victim to Islamophobia. More than a story of international intrigue, Prouty’s personal narrative is grounded in a brutal childhood in a conservative Lebanese family, where the word patriarchy takes on a vicious meaning….” (Booklist)

Prisoner of conscience / Frank Wolf with Anne Morse.
“What’s a congressman from Virginia doing in places where bullets fly and babies starve? Thirty years ago, Frank Wolf was elected to the U.S. Congress to address local transportation issues. Fueled by a faith that made him believe he could do something about it, the congressman grew to champion human and religious rights around the world…. Eventually, he became a key proponent of opposing radical Jihadists and creating a National Committee on Terrorism. As Wolf visited some of the most dangerous places in the world, he saw firsthand the need for members of Congress to speak out for persecuted people around the globe.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Ko Aotearoa tēnei : te taumata tuarua : a report into claims concerning New Zealand law and policy affecting Māori culture and identity.
“This report address the Wai 262 claim concerning New Zealand law and policy affecting Māori culture and identity. It is divided into two levels, a shorter summary layer subtitle “Te Taumata Tuatahi,” and a fuller, two-volume layer subtitled Te Taumata Tuarua” (Back cover)

Washday at the pa / photographs by Ans Westra ; with text by Mark Amery.
“Brings together a selection of images from the two editions published in 1964, together with photographs taken of members of the “Washday” family in 1998.” (Library Catalogue)

1000 biggest moments in pop culture : 1974-2011 / [editor, Cutler Durkee].
“It’s everywhere and everything — TV, movies, music, advertising, sports, fashion. From “yada yada” to the Rachel hairdo, Michael Jackson’s moonwalk to E.T.’s quest to phone home. “People 1,000 Greatest Moments in Pop Culture” looks back in wonder at the scores of movie scenes, quick fads, and unforgettable moments that defined American culture for the past 40 years.” (Syndetics summary)

The interrogator : a CIA agent’s true story / Glenn Carle.
“This book is Carle’s affirmation that only the truth can lead us from the dark. He had years of training and experience leading up to his encounter with the captive who the CIA believed might hold the key to finding bin Laden. This was his apotheosis as a career spook in the Directorate of Operations, yet Carle immediately struggled to reconcile his orders to make his captive talk with the oath he had sworn to uphold the letter and the spirit of the law. Furthermore, as the interrogation began and he built rapport with his subject, another problem started to gnaw at him. This man wasn’t who he was alleged to be; he was low level at best…. ” (Library Catalogue)

Together : how small groups achieve big things / Henry Hemmings.
“Together is about the extraordinary revival of small groups in Britain today. What happens when a room full of people decide to work towards the same dream? Why is it that when we come together in small groups we are so much more than the sum of our parts? From druids to bingo-clubbers, eco-warriors to flash-mobbers, historical re-enactors to bee-keepers, books groups and knitting circles, W.I.s, Young Farmers and the fan-owners of a football club, Together reveals the true story of modern Britain…..” (Publisher’s description)

In our selection of the new crime books this month: stolen artworks and the detective story behind their recovery, books that look at the Casey Anthony and Schapelle Corby cases, a new title from Ian Wishart, and a story from inside Venezuela’s notorious Yare prison. Have a browse!

Art theft and the case of the stolen Turners / Sandy Nairne.
“In 1994, two paintings by J.M.W. Turner were stolen from a German art gallery while on loan from Tate Britain. Both important paintings by one of Britain’s most famous artists, they were valued at £24 million. Nairne (former director, Tate Britain; current director, National Portrait Gallery, London) was directly involved in the search for the paintings and the negotiations for their ransom and return. With its cast of colorful characters and intrigue, this true-crime story should be riveting…” (Library Journal)

Inside the mind of Casey Anthony : a psychological portrait / Keith Ablow.
“The trial of twenty-five year old Casey Anthony for the death of her daughter Caylee was the most sensational case in America since O.J. Simpson’s — with a verdict every bit as stunning. After being acquitted in July 2011, Ms. Anthony instantly became one of the most infamous women in the world. Dr. Keith Ablow distills tens of thousands of pages of documents he has obtained, his behind-the-camera, one-on one interviews, and his decades of experience in the world of forensic psychiatry to make sense of a woman whose defense attorney described as an innocent victim of childhood sexual abuse, but the state insisted was a cold-blooded murderer….” (Publisher’s summary)

Sins of the father : the untold story behind Schapelle Corby’s ill-fated drug run / Eamonn Duff.
“A reckless father, his dark past, an Adelaide drug trafficker and the Gold Coast beauty school dropout who kept her mouth shut. This is the explosive untold story of Schapelle Corby and how she took the rap for her father’s drug syndicate. The result of a three year investigation, Sins of the Father returns to the beginning of Australia’s most famous drug case, to a time when nobody had ever heard the name Schapelle Corby. Finally, the missing pieces of the jigsaw fall into place as we are led, step by step, through the important weeks, days and hours leading up to her dramatic arrest. Shedding new light on her long-held claims of innocence, this is the book Schapelle’s army of supporters do not want you to read.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Banged up abroad : hellhole ; our fight to survive South America’s deadliest jail / James Miles and Paul Loseby.
“When James Miles and his best friend Paul Loseby were caught smuggling ten kilos of cocaine out of Caracas, Venezuela, they couldn’t deny their guilt. Young and naive, the lads had thought the one-off drug mule job would be a passport to a better life. But in reality it was a ticket to hell … They were sentenced to thirty years and flung into the world’s deadliest prison system, ending up in the notorious Yare. A place where drugs and weaponry are currency and the rules are: there are no rules.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Out of calamity : stories of trauma survivors / Roger Rees, preface by Norman Swan.
“All the people in these stories are unsung heroes. Their stories are true. To honour their privacy, most of the individuals profiled bear fictitious names; a few are composite characters. They have suffered severe trauma, the consequences of which have affected every aspect of their lives, as well as those of family and friends. They demonstrate great, if not superhuman, courage and resilience and never seek or expect applause…. ‘Out of Calamity’ stories and portraits are told in language that is realistic but also poetic, and demonstrate heroic dimensions even when people appear overwhelmed. Superbly crafted writing that is often raw but also eloquent, spare and affecting, these stories are gems replete with insight and compassion.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The hunt : a Kiwi mum, her kidnapped babies and a 30 year worldwide search / Ian Wishart & George London.
“She was a former New Zealand fashion model and diplomat’s wife. He was the British WW2 fighter ace-turned-criminal who seduced her. She attended garden parties with the Queen. He got her pregnant, then kidnapped her children. It’s the case that made world headlines, that captured the attention of Sir Richard Branson, and which forced changes to child abduction laws in Britain.” (Book jacket)

We’ve put together our January round-up of the new film and television books at the library – and American Idol features twice! The show celebrates 10 years on air this year, and we have two new titles that tell the story of the show and its many contestants. Also included this month: the official book of the TV series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, and a complete film and TV history of Sherlock Holmes adaptations (if this one interests you, you might also like this blog post). Enjoy!

Pawnee : the greatest town in America / written, compiled, researched, typed, collated, proofread, and run through spell-check by Leslie Knope ; with Nate DiMeo and the creative team of Parks and recreation.
“The mockumentary genre used so effectively in, e.g., Spinal Tap and The Office is showcased in this full-blown over-the-top guide to fictional Pawnee, IN, the setting of NBC’s Parks and Recreation. It is written by deputy director of Pawnee’s parks and recreation department Knope, the character played by esteemed Saturday Night Live alum Amy Poehler. With a Hoosier-sized cornucopia of photos, illustrations, sidebars, statistics, and footnotes (almost 200…yikes!), Knope leaves no Pawnee ear of corn unshucked in her detailed Parks and Recreation backstories.” (Library Journal)

American idol : the untold story / Richard Rushfield.
“American Idol is a cultural force like no other. Over the last ten years, the show has offered up high-stakes drama outside the competition that has swept up millions of viewers in its wake. And now, for the first time, a veteran journalist with deep access to the judges, contestants, and crew enlightens readers with a fascinating and insightful look into ten years of America’s most popular television show.” (Syndetics summary)

American idol : celebrating 10 years : the official backstage pass / by Shirley Halperin.
“Straight from the photo vault of America’s number-one show, “American Idol: Celebrating 10 Years” is the official photographic celebration of the first 10 years of the television show that changed the face of music and popular culture throughout the world. Includes more than 70 images, many never before published.” (Syndetics summary)

Big fat gypsy weddings.
“This is the official book of one of the most talked-about TV series ever to have hit our screens. The show offered a unique insight into the traveller and gypsy communities, their lives, loves and their incredible wedding ceremonies. But there is so much more to these fascinating people and their culture and this book draws readers even further into an extraordinary secret world. Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is a gilt-edged invitation into the heart of gypsy and traveller life, brimming with unforgettable stories and brand new insights into a disappearing world.” (description from amazon.com)

The apprentice A-Z : the totally unofficial guide to the hit TV series / Charlie Burden.
“Everything you have ever wanted to know about the hit show The Apprentice is within these pages! For example: A is for Alan—Lord Alan Sugar, an entrepreneur, media personality, and political advisor who grew up in an East End council flat and boiled beetroots for the local greengrocer, but who is now one for the most famous businessmen in Britain. From the colorful candidates to the eventual winners, this comprehensive A-to-Z details everything you want to know about The Apprentice, including details of Lord Alan Sugar, his successes, and all the behind-the-scenes gossip.” (description from amazon.com)

Sherlock Holmes on screen : the complete film and TV history / Alan Barnes.
“Conan Doyle’s master detective Sherlock Holmes has appeared on screen more times than any other fictional character. Sherlock Holmes on Screen surveys over a century’s worth of his exploits in film and television, from the silent era to the present day. Illustrated with rare archive pictures throughout, Sherlock Holmes on Screen is now updated with entries on the BBC’s modern-day Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and director Guy Ritchie’s all-action Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr – plus Sherlockian turns from Rupert Everett and Jonathan Pryce. This revised edition is the most comprehensive Holmes filmography ever published.”(description from amazon.com)

Start the year fresh with our personal development picks: learn how to survive a ‘shark attack’ in the form of betrayal at work or at home, discover how to balance your relationship as life changes, find out about a form of compulsive behaviour called “dutiful worrying” (Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s latest book), or start learning how to decode the mysteries of personality and make sense of people. Have a browse of this month’s selection!

Renegotiate your marriage : balance the terms of your relationship as It changes / Bonnie Jacobson
“Like all married couples, you have an unwritten, often unspoken, contract with your spouse. It’s not the piece of paper you signed on your wedding day; it’s the one in your head that sets the terms of your relationship, for better or worse. Those terms are subject to change, whether it’s because you lost your job, you just had your first child, your kids leave home, or one of you had an affair. In Renegotiate Your Marriage, Dr. Bonnie Jacobsen shows you how to modify your contract as your life together changes. You’ll learn how to negotiate the ups and downs that come with any long-term relationship – and keep your union happy, healthy and strong.” (Book cover)
 
Making sense of people : decoding the mysteries of personality / Samuel Barondes
“What really bothers you about your boss – or your daughter’s boyfriend? Could the person you’re dating really become your life partner? Can you really rely on your intuition about people? Drawing on extensive research, renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist Samuel Barondes gives you powerful, easy-to-use tools for understanding what people are really like and how they got to be the way they are. These tools will provide you with a system for assessing the person’s traits, character, and sense of identity, and then putting these elements together into a unified picture. Learning to think of people in this way will help you choose more satisfying relationships, recognise telltale signs of dysfunction and danger, and savour the complexity and uniqueness of everyone you meet.” (Book cover)

The dutiful worrier : how to stop compulsive worry without feeling guilty / Elliot D. Cohen.
“Do you feel it’s our duty to worry? If your answer to the question is “yes,” you may be suffering from a type of compulsive behaviour called dutiful worrying. On the positive side, Dutiful worrying can make you feel as if you’re actually doing something to improve or control your situation. But this unproductive habit eventually robs you of energy and peace of mind and can leave you feeling over whelmed. The Dutiful Worrier pinpoints why some of us become compulsive worriers and offers a four-step program to end this vicious circle. Complete with self-evaluations and exercises, this book offers guidance for keeping perspective and accepting that you are not responsible for preventing catastrophe. Without the burden of dutiful worrying, you will be able to enjoy life more freely and fully.” (Book cover)

Surviving a shark attack (on land) : overcoming betrayal and dealing with revenge / Laura Schlessinger.
“With her trademark no-nonsense approach, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Laura Schlessinger shows readers how to survive enemies – traitors, backstabbers, and saboteurs – at work and at home. Schlessinger has helped countless men and women become better husbands, wives, parents, and people. She’s helped them cope with grief, shown them how to handle adversity, and set them on the path to understanding and living happy, well-adjusted lives. Now she turns to an emotionally explosive subject that has touched all our lives: betrayal and the desire for revenge. And for the first time, she shares her own personal experiences with betrayal, humiliation, and pain, connecting with her readers as never before and putting this important subject into context. Powerful and thought-provoking, in Surviving a Shark Attack (on Land), Dr. Laura gives her readers the emotional defenses they need to overcome the worst life will throw at them, whether it’s a cheating spouse, a lying sibling, or a ruthless colleague.” (Book cover)

The new books on popular music this month range from tales of The Doors and Tom Waits to an autobiography of Duff McKagan. Have a browse!

The Doors : a lifetime of listening to five mean years / Greil Marcus.
“The poetic lyrics and haunting melodies of the Doors created a distinctive sound in the 1960s, and the life and death of Jim Morrison, the charismatic, outrageous lead singer, have prompted numerous books and the Oliver Stone movie The Doors. Longtime fans will be excited to see new material written on the band but may be ultimately disappointed with this addition from well-known critic Marcus (Lipstick Traces; Invisible Republic). He attempts to focus solely on the music and present a new story, but his narrative is disjointed, as particular songs send him on rambling dissertations about everything from pop art exhibits to Charles Manson.” (Library Journal)

Tom Waits on Tom Waits : interviews and encounters / edited by Paul Mahar.
“Tom Waits, even with his barnyard growl and urban hipster yawp, may just be what the Daily Telegraph calls him: “the greatest entertainer on Planet Earth.” Over a span of almost four decades, he has transformed his music and persona not to suit the times but his whims. But along with Bob Dylan, he stands as one of the last elder statesmen still capable of putting out music that matters. Tom Waits on Tom Waits is a selection of over fifty interviews from the more than five hundred available. Here Waits delivers prose as crafted, poetic, potent, and haunting as the lyrics of his best songs.” (description from amazon.com)

Chasing the dragon : the life and death of Marc Hunter / Jeff Apter.
“This intimate and revealing portrait is the first biography of one of the original hard men of Australia rock. It has been written with full co-operation of Marc’s mother Voi and his brother and former bandmate Todd, as well contributions from many high-profile Australian music personalities.” (Syndetics summary)

It’s so easy : and other lies / Duff McKagan.
“Fans of the fading rock band Guns N’ Roses (GN’R) will instantly identify McKagan as the group’s rowdy bass player during its 1980s and 1990s glory days. Since leaving GN’R in 1997, McKagan has been keeping busy strumming for other bands like Velvet Revolver, writing columns for SeattleWeekly.com,and penning this blunt but very readable confessional autobiography. Despite his witnessing many overdoses and going even deeper into drugs during his GN’R days, a case of severe pancreatitis eventually prodded him to find a unique path to recovery.” (Booklist)

On board Flight 666 / Iron Maiden ; photographs by John McMurtrie.
“IRON MAIDEN are a global phenomenon. On board their customised Boeing 757 plane named ED FORCE ONE, and piloted by lead singer and Airline Captain Bruce Dickinson, the band, crew and 12 tonnes of equipment traversed the planet and broke the mould of traditional touring forever by playing concerts in every continent except Antarctica! Throughout this mammoth and ground-breaking undertaking, the band’s official photographer John McMurtrie accompanied them and the exciting results of his fly-on-the-wall coverage are represented here in this unique, pictorial odyssey. John’s unrestricted access has allowed him to capture exclusive images and moments both onstage and off, in over 600 spectacular photographs annotated with individual insights and anecdotes.” (description from amazon.com)

We have a great selection of new computing and technology books for you this month – and something for everyone, whether you’re a web developer or looking for help with home computing. Have a great idea for an app, but no idea how to market your project? Appillionaires has some tips for you! Also featured this month are titles on protecting your reputation (or your business’s) reputation online, getting started with Wordpress, designing mobile interfaces, using your iPhone, and getting the most out of JavaScript and jQuery. Enjoy!

Appillionaires : secrets from developers who struck it rich on the App Store / Chris Stevens.
“More than 10 billion apps have been downloaded from Apple’s AppStore and with the right combination of original ideas, great features, solid coding, unique designs, and savvy marketing, your apps could be a part of that staggering number. This book shows you how to turn your ideas into profit-making success stories. Citing a fascinating array of real-world examples, this useful book invites you to meet the rich and famous of the app development world. You’ll look behind the scenes of these successful visionaries to learn their secrets first hand and discover how these “bedroom coders” became overnight millionaires.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Designing mobile interfaces / Steven Hoober, Eric Berkman.
“With hundreds of thousands of mobile applications available today, your app has to capture users immediately. This book provides practical techniques to help you catch-and keep-their attention. You’ll learn core principles for designing effective user interfaces, along with a set of common patterns for interaction design on all types of mobile devices.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Digital assassination : protecting your reputation, brand, or business against online attacks / Richard Torrenzano and Mark Davis.
“This book shows how anyone can be a target of online identity attacks, and readers will find witty writing and expert advice on how to guard against and respond to such attacks. Loaded with interesting anecdotes on how the Internet, media, and other technologies are used by unscrupulous people to disparage an individual’s or company’s reputation, the book demonstrates how these attacks have become more prevalent and widespread, thanks to the Internet age.” (Booklist)

Professional C++ / Marc Gregoire, Nicholas A. Solter, Scott J. Kleper.
“Essential reading for experienced developers who are determined to master the latest release of C++. Although C++ is often the language of choice from game programming to major commercial software applications, it is also one of the most difficult to master. With this no-nonsense book, you will learn to conquer the latest release of C++. The author deciphers little-known features of C++, shares detailed code examples that you can then plug into your own code, and reveals the significant changes to C++ that accompany the latest release…” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

My iphone : covers iPhone 3GS, 4, and 4S running iOS 5 / Brad Miser.
“Connect to the Internet, Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi networks, and other iPhones, iPods, and iPads.
Use Siri to get information, write texts and emails, set reminders/appointments, and more just by speaking to your iPhone 4S.
Customize your iPhone with folders, wallpaper, ringtones, and much more.
Configure and sync your information, and efficiently manage contacts, reminders, and calendars.
Communicate via FaceTime videoconferences, conference calls, text, email, and more.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Optimizing Windows 7 : pocket consultant / William R. Stanek.
“Portable and precise, this pocket-sized guide delivers ready answers for optimizing the performance of your Windows 7-based PC. Zero in on core tuning, customization, and troubleshooting tasks using quick-reference tables, instructions, and lists. Topics include system boot and startup, software and hardware, search and indexing, system health, and personalizing the interface. You’ll get the focused information you need to solve problems and get the job done.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

JavaScript & jQuery : the missing manual : the book that should have been in the box / David Sawyer McFarland.
“JavaScript lets you supercharge your HTML with animation, interactivity, and visual effects-but many web designers find the language hard to learn. This jargon-free guide covers JavaScript basics and shows you how to save time and effort with the jQuery library of prewritten JavaScript code. You’ll soon be building web pages that feel and act like desktop programs, without having to do much programming.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Google secrets : do what you never thought possible with Google / Yvette Davis.
“Tech expert Jerri Ledford reveals the ins, outs, and little-known facts about Google to show you how to sharpen your skills so you can get more done, more efficiently. You may already be familiar with Google′s most popular applications, but this indispensable guide puts your knowledge to the test with insider tips, valuable insights, and unbeatable advice on Gmail, Google Voice, Google Sketchup, Google Analytics, and dozens more.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Getting started with WordPress : design your own blog or website / Todd Kelsey.
“If you’re a beginning blogger looking for an easy-to-follow, friendly guide to help you produce an attractively designed blog or website, this is the book for you. You’ll learn the basics of WordPress, one-click installs, and customizations. There’s also coverage of SEO, categorizing blog posts, and social media promotion strategies, such as importing your blog into a Facebook page. This book’s approach starts out simple using step-by-step examples and builds from there, enabling you to gain confidence in building your blog.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

We’ve done our first round-up of the new cooking books for the year! You’ll find some inspiring cooking for Summer – restaurant cookbooks, party cakes for all those January birthdays, seasonal sustainable food, and more. Plus – a workbook for managing food intolerances. Have a browse – and enjoy!

Bite By Bite : 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make For Any Party / Peter Callahan (foreword by Martha Stewart).
“Callahan invented high-end party food as we know it; now, he shares his secrets. Callahan invites readers to enter his world of whimsy and wit, where tuna tartare becomes an ice cream cone, shrimp cocktail becomes lollipops, and frites are served next to mini sliders.” (Syndetics summary)

Cook This Now : 120 easy and delectable dishes you can’t wait to make / Melissa Clark.
“A journal-style narrative about the author’s first year of feeding her family seasonally, sustainably, and sumptuously – eating real, fresh, whole, non-processed foods, choosing local and seasonal and sustainable whenever possible, and eschewing factory meats and overfished seafood. But also about eating well and not making herself crazy. This is a look at her choices, how she succeeds and fails, and most importantly, what she’s choosing to cook.” (Global Books)

Gingerboy : Creative Street Food / Teage Ezard, Chris Donnellan.
“Iconic Melbourne restaurant Gingerboy is renowned for its funky decor, Asian-inspired dishes and hip laneway location. Serving creative street food, based around plates for sharing, chefs Teage Ezard and Chris Donnellan take a unique and bold approach to the food of the region.” (Library Catalogue)

Marque : A Culinary Adventure / Mark Best ; recipes by Mark Best and Pasi Petranen ; photography by Stuart Scott.
“MARQUE is a highly illustrated, contemporary recipe book, celebrating and reflecting on Marque, the succesful Sydney restaurant. Also included will be the personal journey of chef and owner Mark Best and approximately 80 of Marque’s signature recipes. Most will be complete dishes but the book will also contain a myriad of smaller recipes and techniques which are the backbone of chef, Mark Best’s creations. A stunning book to treasure as both a compilation of beautiful recipes and a record of one of the world’s best restaurants.” (Global Books)

Hip Hip Hooray : 50 Fun Party Cakes / Julie Lanham.
“A spectacular homemade cake can make a great party unforgettable. Children and adults alike will have a ball deciding which of the 50 inspired cakes to make first: the submarine, the robot, or perhaps the lollypop cottage? With Julie Lanham’s clear step-by-step instructions, you’ll find these eye-catching cakes are surprisingly easy to make. The comprehensive introduction includes baking tips, decorating techniques and shopping suggestions. You’ll also find recipes for basic cakes and icings, and all the templates you’ll need.” (Library Catalogue)

Top 100 Finger Foods : 100 quick and easy recipes for a healthy, happy child / Annabel Karmel ; [photography by Dave King].
“Following up on her hit bestseller “Top 100 Baby Purees,” British media star and “Today” show favorite Karmel presents a scrumptious guide to creating tasty tidbits that young children can really sink their teeth (and gums!) into. Loaded with simple instructions, this is an ideal source for making mealtime fun.” (Syndetics summary)

Food Intolerance Management Plan / Sue Shepherd & Peter Gibson ; food photography by Mark O’Meara.
“The Food Intolerance Management Plan is a scientifically developed program and comprehensive recipe book for those suffering from common digestive illness. Based on the revolutionary Low-FOBMAP Diet, it shows people with food intolerances how to enjoy their food while remaining free of the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome and related conditions, such as gluten, fructose, lactose and wheat intolerances.” (Library Catalogue)

There’s a great selection of new history books at the library this month – here are our picks! Choose from a chronicle of history’s 100 worst atrocities to the mystery, murder and intrigue surrounding Alexander the Great, the Borgias, and the Elizabethan Court. Have a browse:

Who killed Sir Walter Ralegh? / Richard Dale.
“For 400 years, the true story behind the fall of Sir Walter Ralegh, his conviction for high treason and his eventual beheading has been shrouded in mystery. Was he deliberately set up by the brilliant but untrustworthy Sir Robert Cecil? Why did his friend Lord Cobham denounce him at his trial? And how could this towering figure of the Elizabethan age be accused of conspiring with his old enemy Spain to overthrow the king and his government? This book draws on the author’s legal background to unravel the extraordinary plots and intrigues that marked the last weeks of Elizabeth’s reign and the first months of James’s succession. In the bitter struggle for position, wealth, and royal favor, only the most ruthless and devious could hope to win, and it was the dwarfish, hunch-backed Cecil who eventually prevailed over the swashbuckling Ralegh. But in the eyes of posterity, who was the real victor?” (Global Books In Print)

The great big book of horrible things : the definitive chronicle of history’s 100 worst atrocities / Matthew White.
“The subtitle might be a little grandiose (can one writer’s opinions be definitive?), but the book is undeniably compelling. The author, an expert in atrocitology (a useful word he appears to have made up), has put together a serious and seriously interesting collection of events that have resulted in massive loss of human life. From Alexander the Great to the collapse of the Mayan Empire to the Crusades to the Napoleonic Wars to WWII to Saddam Hussein to the genocide in Rwanda, the author takes readers on a lively, opinionated, fact-filled trip through the violent history of humankind. White makes sure to give us all the important facts (death toll, time frame, historical context, etc.), but he also provides some entertaining commentary (History likes the Third Crusade. This was the classy crusade, where wise and virtuous kings hacked each other apart with honor and style). For students, the book is a very useful and informative supplement to history texts. For the general reader, it’s a very good way to browse the dark side of human history.” (Booklist)

The Borgia chronicles / Mary Hollingsworth.
“The Borgia family of Renaissance Italy has become a byword for pride, lust, cruelty, avarice, splendour and venomous intrigue. They have inspired abomination and fascination in almost equal measure, comparable to the Corleone clan depicted in Mario Puzo’s novel The Godfather. Indeed, Puzo himself featured the Borgias in his last novel, The Family, and the Borgias have inspired many other works of fiction together with plays, films, and even an opera – Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia. Of Spanish origin, the Borgias came to prominence in the Italy of the 15th century, at a time when the spiritual values of the medieval Church were being swept aside by the worldly secularism of the Renaissance. They also became notorious for licentiousness, venality and indeed all forms of immorality, while at the same time their patronage of the arts helped to bring about some of the greatest artistic masterpieces of the Renaissance.” (Library Catalogue)

Ghost on the throne : the death of Alexander the Great and the war for crown and empire / James Romm.
“In this fast-paced and absorbing account, Bard College classics professor Romm chronicles the political intrigues and military conflicts of the half-dozen generals who struggled for power after Alexander the Great’s death in 323 B.C.E. The goal for each was control over an empire stretching from the Danube to the Indus. Because Alexander left no will or obvious successor, his seven closest friends – the Bodyguards – fought not only to preserve Alexander’s Macedonian empire but also among themselves to mark out territory to rule. Drawing deeply on sources such as Plutarch’s Lives and the anonymous The Lives of the Ten Orators, Romm brings to life the Bodyguards and their struggles to maintain their territories.” (Publishers Weekly)

Got a new toy for Christmas and want to delve into studio photography? Light it, Shoot it, Retouch it will get you started – there’s a wealth of information here about lighting layouts. Otherwise, why not just enjoy and admire other photographers’ work? This month we bring you titles that collect the work of Wim Wenders, as well as test Polaroids taken by Helmut Newton. Plus, 150 years of photojournalism, and Cecil Beaton’s portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. Enjoy!

Light it, Shoot it, Retouch it
“Scott Kelby, the world’s #1 best-selling author of photography books, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Photoshop User magazine, and Publisher of the just-released Light It magazine, has reinvented how lighting books are written by finally revealing the entire process from start to finish. You see everything from the complete lighting setup (and all the gear used), to the shoot (including all the camera settings and a contact sheet of the progression of the shoot), to the all-important part that most books don’t dare include–the post-processing and retouching in Photoshop. This book also breaks new ground in the visual way it teaches you the lighting setup. There aren’t any sketches or 3D models – you see the lighting layout in a full-page photo, taken from above during the live shoot, so you can see exactly where everything’s positioned (the subject, the photographer, the lighting, the background – you name it – you see it all). Plus, you’ll see side, over-the-shoulder, and more behind-the-scenes views, so you can absolutely nail the lighting every time.” (Amazon.com)

Afterwards – Contemporary Photography Confronting the Past
This may sound like a difficult and unsettling subject . And it is. But the engagement is worth the reward. A collection of amazing photographs, thoughtfully captured and presented:
“Afterwards presents work from leading contemporary photographers, with each in a self-contained sequence of images. More than 30 photographers are featured, including Robert Polidori, Suzanne Opton, Raphaël Dallaporta and Simon Norfolk, inviting the viewer to contemplate the aftermath of events in modern history – the Srebrenica massacre, human trafficking and slave labour, the Hiroshima bombing, the Holocaust and natural disasters – and get a sense of the physical and emotional scars they left behind. Accompanied by essays on cognitive responses to photographs, the ability to see and empathize, the nature of trauma and others, Afterwards shows the ability of contemporary photography to question what happens in the world and begin to understand it better.” (Adapted from publisher).

Helmut Newton – Polaroids
A collection of Helmut Newton’s test Polaroids:
“Polaroids occupy a special place in the hearts of many photo enthusiasts who remember a time when ‘instant photography’ meant a one-of-a-kind prints that developed within minutes of clicking the shutter. What was once a crucial tool for photographers to test their shots before shooting on film has now become obsolete in the face of digital photography. Luckily for us, legendary photographer Helmut Newton saved his test Polaroids, allowing a privileged and rare chance to see the tests from a selection of his greatest shoots over a period of decades, including many from the TASCHEN titles SUMO, A Gun for Hire, and Work. Put together by his widow, June Newton, his collection captures the magic of Helmut Newton photo shoots as only Polaroids can.” (From amazon.com)

Wim Wenders – Places, strange and quiet
““When you travel a lot, and when you love to just wander around and get lost, you can end up in the strangest spots. … I don’t know, it must be some sort of built-in radar that often directs me to places that are strangely quiet, or quietly strange.”
Wim Wenders—painter, actor, writer, and one of the most successful contemporary filmmakers around—has assembled a fascinating series of large-scale photographs taken from 1983 to 2011 in countries all over the world. From his iconic images of exteriors and buildings to his panoramic depictions of towns and landscapes, this book presents the full range of Wenders’s photography.” (From publisher’s description)

Photojournalism – 150 years of outstanding press photography
“The events of the past few years, from 9/11 to the South Asian tsunami disaster, have once again shown us that despite round-the-clock news coverage, the Internet and multi-channel cable TV, the still image is as powerful as ever. Photography remains the ideal tool for capturing human emotion, drama and tragedy. “Photojournalism” features evocative and stirring images from the world’s greatest photojournalists, as well as providing a history of the medium. Starting with some of the first key figures such as Roger Fenton, who photographed the Crimean War with a bulky large-format camera, it moves on through the decades covering defining events in our history, from the Great Depression to space missions, the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and the recent war in Iraq.” (From publisher’s description)

Queen Elizabeth II – Portraits by Cecil Beaton
After the speech on Christmas day, here is timely collection of portraits by photographer, costume designer, avid diarist Cecil Beaton:
“A “romantic royalist”, Cecil Beaton’s glittering photographs of Queen Elizabeth II were among the most widely published portraits of the 20th century. This fascinating book explores Beaton’s long relationship with the Queen and the royal family, and describes how his royal portraits shaped the monarchy’s public image from the 1930s to the late 1960s. It is a celebration of Beaton, the enduring flair of his portraits, and the myriad sources of inspiration that resulted in photographs so powerful that they molded the world’s perception of a mother, princess, and monarch.” (Adapted from amazon.com)

Most people have a curiosity about the lives of others - we like to twitch the lace curtains and peek into the worlds of those who are those who are famous, in the public eye or just have an interesting story to tell. This is why (sometimes despite protestations to the contrary!) we’re all happy to pick up a New Zealand Woman’s Weekly or other, similar, magazine when we’re at the doctor’s or the dentist’s surgery, and catch up on all our celebrity news!! So, to round out the year, and to satisfy that itch, we have some really fascinating stories for you here – lives ancient and modern and some in between. Have a browse!

Cleopatra : a life / Stacy Schiff.
“Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Stacy Schiff brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Though her life spanned fewer than 40 years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world.” (Syndetics summary).

The horror of love / Lisa Hilton.
“‘I’ve given up everything – my friends, my family, my country, & he simply roared with laughter, and then of course so did I’ — Nancy Mitford. ‘The Horror of Love’ is a story about two middle-aged, not particularly attractive people who conducted a less than ideal love affair in post-war France. [Nancy Mitford and Free French commander Gaston Palewski.] She was febrile, needy and given to ’shrieking’, he was pompous, acne-scarred and an incorrigible philanderer. Both their lives had been blighted by war in a manner which is now almost inaccessible to the contemporary imagination. He inspired and encouraged her to write one of the funniest, most painfully poignant and best-loved novels of the late twentieth century, she supported him through a tumultuous political career. Their mutual life was spent amongst some of the most exciting, powerful and controversial figures of their times in the reawakening centre of European civilization.” (Abridged summary from Global Books)

Titanic love stories : the true stories of 13 honeymoon couples who sailed on the Titanic / Gill Paul ; [introduction by Bruce Beveridge].
“On 10th April 1912, the new RMS Titanic set sail on her fateful voyage from Southampton to New York. Among those on board were 13 newly-wed couples, with dreams of starting a new life together. Titanic Love Stories features haunting portraits of these honeymooners – true stories of love, tragedy, heroism and hope more remarkable than any work of romantic fiction” (Abridged summary Global Books)

Eva Braun : life with Hitler / Heike B. Görtemaker ; translated from the German by Damion Searls.
“The first comprehensive biography of Eva Braun: an authoritative reassessment of her role in Hitler’s life, which gives us, as well, an astonishingly revealing portrait of Hitler and his inner circle. In this groundbreaking book, German historian Heike B. Gortemaker reveals the real woman behind the myth of the vapid blonde with whom Hitler spent the last eighteen years of his life. Eva Braun’s relationship with the Fuhrer flew in the face of his proclamations that Germany was his only bride. In fact, he and Braun lived a bourgeois existence out of the public eye, and her identity was kept secret by the Third Reich until the final days of the war. Uncompromising and fiercely loyal to Hitler, she committed suicide with him two days after their marriage” (Abridged summary from Global Books)

Columbus : the four voyages / Laurence Bergreen.
“Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a trading route to China, and his unexpected landfall in the Americas, is a watershed event in world history. Yet Columbus made three more voyages within the span of only a decade, each designed to demonstrate that he could sail to China within a matter of weeks and convert those he found there to Christianity. These later voyages were even more adventurous, violent, and ambiguous, but they revealed Columbus’s uncanny sense of the sea, his mingled brilliance and delusion, and his superb navigational skills. In all these exploits he almost never lost a sailor. By their conclusion, however, Columbus was broken in body and spirit.” (Library Catalogue)

Blue nights / by Joan Didion.
“From one of America’s most powerful writers, a work of stunning frankness about losing a daughter. Richly textured with bits of her own childhood and married life with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and daughter, Quintana Roo, this new book by Joan Didion examines her thoughts, fears, and doubts regarding having children, illness, and growing old. Blue Nights opens on July 26, 2010, as Didion thinks back to Quintana’s wedding in New York seven years before. Today would be her wedding anniversary.”(Abridged summary from Global Books)

George Eliot : the last Victorian / Kathryn Hughes.
“This intensely engaging biography examines the extraordinary life of George Eliot from her childhood, through her scandalous liaison and social exile, to her hard-won status as one of Victorian England’s literary elite.” (Syndetics summary).

Here comes trouble : stories from my life / Michael Moore.
“In this smart, funny, insightful and counterintuitive book, Michael Moore will take on the major issues of our society, one by one, showing with great clarity and persuasiveness, that the two sides are really not as far apart as everyone assumes on what we conventionally view as the most divisive issues of our times. To name a few: Unions, Minimum Wage, Big Business, Immigration, Daycare, Social Security, Crime & Punishment, Taxes, The Military. The book will make us think differently about the term ‘common ground’. It will surprise people. It will make them laugh. And, most importantly, it will get them talking.” (Syndetics summary).

Jack Kennedy : elusive hero / Chris Matthews.
“Based on interviews with some of his closest associates, a portrait of the thirty-fifth president discusses his privileged childhood, military service, struggles with a life-threatening disease, and career in politics”. (Library Catalogue)

Pippa Blake : journey / Pippa Blake in collaboration with Trish Clarke.
“On 5 December 2001 New Zealand sporting and adventure hero Sir Peter Blake was killed by bandits at the mouth of the Amazon River. In this intimate account, Pippa Blake offers a private view of Sir Peter the husband and family man. Unpublished photographs from her personal albums, behind the scenes stories of Sir Peter’s sailing adventures and Pippa’s own journal entries and artworks provide a moving insight into a life shared with one of this country’s greatest sporting legends.” (Library Catalogue)