Buyers' Choice

This issue - December 2002.

The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

	The South Seas and a box of paints, by Pauline Bewick. (1996) Pauline Bewick has caught the real spirit of the South Pacific with a wondrful blending of images and colors that capture so much of its feelings and moods (James Michener) In 1989 Pauline Bewick left Ireland with her two daughters and an armful of sketchbooks and headed for the South Pacific.Captivated by the warmth and exuberance, she felt compelled to return in 1991. This book is a remarkable collection of watercolours and sketches from this period. (Amazon)
	Truffles: ultimate luxury, everyday pleasure , by Rosario Safina & Judith Sutton. (2002) Truffles have long reigned as the gold standard of edible funghi, the supreme culinary delicacy. Yet increased availability of derivative products,truffle oils, pastes, and flour,which deliver the flavor without the cost, have given this luxurious ingredient a new accessibility and fresh creative possibilities. This title covers the lore and magic of truffles, and offers information and recipes for both fresh black and white truffles and for all the truffle products. (Amazon)
	The Lord of the Rings: the two towers visual companion, by Jude Fisher. (2002) The Two Towers Visual companion is a full-colour guide to the characters, places and landscapes of J R R Tolkien's Middle-earth as depicted in the second film in The Lord of The Rings Trilogy, and features a special introduction by Viggo Mortensen who plays Aragorn. The companion offers an unforgettable tour of the haunted Swamp of the Dead Marshes and the lovely but dangerous land of Ithilien which borders Mordor, the breathtaking kingdom of Rohan, home of the Horse-lords, its seat of power, Edoras, and the ancient fortress of Helm's Deep, and provides an invaluable introduction to Peter Jackson's The Two Towers. (From inside book jacket)
	The Lord of the Rings : the making of the movie trilogy by Brian Sibley.(2002) Charting the making of Peter Jackson's film, this is a behind-the-scenes guide featuring colour photographs of the cast, locations, sets, monsters and costumes, and an overview of the making of the film trilogy. Designed as a celebration of the films, the book includes material from "The Two Towers". (Amazon)
	House : American houses for the new century by Cathy Lang Ho & Raul A. Barreneche.(2002) The idea and function, image and built reality of the house vary from culture to culture. Houses do much more than provide a roof over our heads. They are sanctuaries, havens,and our private kingdoms, our personalized cocoons. House features twenty recently built houses that have been designed by some of todays leading architects (From inside book jacket)

The demon in the freezer : a true story, by Richard Preston. (2002)
- today the variola virus exists officially in only two storage depots, in Russia and at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (in the freezer of the title). To believe that variola is not held elsewhere, however, is nonsense, argues Preston, who delves into the possibility that several nations, including Iraq and Russia, have recently worked or are currently working with smallpox as a biological weapon. (Publishers Weekly)

How to rule the world : a handbook for aspiring dictators, by Andre de Guillaume. (2002)
Learn how you too can hold sway over history, own the hearts and minds of your fellow human beings and get things done. What kind of power is right for you? how do you get it? how do you keep it? What do you do with it once you've got it? Test yourself against Genghis Khan and Bill Gates. (Amazon)

And some amazing books for children :
Diary of a wombat, by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley(illustrator)(2002)
A delightful and entertaining peek into the life of one very busy wombat! Find out how one wombat – between scratching, sleeping and eating - manages to fit the difficult job of training humans into her busy schedule. Ages 3-7. (Publisher's blurb)

Loveykins, by Quentin Blake. (2002)
Blake's trademark quirky illustrative style is perfect for this gently satirical story. The facial expressions of the characters (especially Augustus's look of bliss when he's being fed or his stunned reaction to being wrapped up like a baby) are a source of delight throughout. Suitable for ages five and upwards. --Alison Drury (Amazon)

Who's afraid of the big bad book , by Lauren Child. (2002)
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Book? finds Herb accidentally falling into a 30-page book of fairytales, where he causes mayhem to the storylines. One theme is that it is naughty to tamper with books, but Herb's "scribbling and snippering" creates much humour and children will enjoy recognisable traits as they spot the queen with a moustache in biro and learn that Prince Charming has gone missing as he has been cut out by Herb for a birthday card. (Amazon)

Previous Recent Pick edition

Check your card I New fiction, DVD and cd lists I How to place a reserve I Borrowing I Contact us