Posted: 06 May 2010 11:03 PM PDT

-- Library Journal, 5/7/2010

The week ending May 7, 2010

Fiction | Nonfiction

Fiction

Goldstone, Lawrence. The Astronomer. Walker. May 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-8027-1986-7. $24. F
Goldstone's second historical thriller (after The Anatomy of Deception) is set in 1534 Paris, where a student at the Catholic Collége de Montaigu carrying a packet of letters for the Inquisition is murdered by members of an extremist Lutheran sect. His replacement is Amaury de Faverges, a classmate and the illegitimate son of a duke. Promised a decree of legitimacy, Amaury goes undercover to infiltrate the Lutheran plot and report back to the Inquisition leaders. An excellent student of natural science and astronomy, Amaury confronts his own religious doubts when he discovers a copy of Copernicus's shocking manuscript showing the sun at the center of the universe. It is a race to preserve this pivotal piece of natural and spiritual history and ward off a church entangled in chaos as it seeks to preserve its wealth and power.
Verdict This richly atmospheric thriller, populated with the likes of such historical figures as Rabelais, John Calvin, and Copernicus, will send shivers down readers' spines in its vivid depiction of the battle between science and the spirit. Historical fiction fans will enjoy.—Ron Samul, New London, CT

Nonfiction

Barabási, Albert-Laszlo. Bursts: The Hidden Pattern Behind Everything We Do. Dutton. 2010. c.350p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-525-95160-5. $26.95. PSYCH
Not sure whether you're in the mood to read about the potential of data collection to predict human behavior, or about a 16th-century Transylvanian crusade–turned–peasant revolt? Have we got the book for you! Barabási, a professor of computer science and an authority on complex networks (see his previous Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else), has two intriguing things to say here. The first involves the massive amount of data collected from computer records, cell phones, video cameras, etc.—it does give us enough information to predict any individual's actions successfully. Second, any category of activity seems to occur in "bursts," that is, a number of frequent events of a given kind, followed by long intervals of inactivity. Unfortunately, readers are left feeling confused rather than enlightened because almost half of the book is devoted to telling the story of the hero of the crusade against the Turks in 1514. The reason for this, apparently, is that some other Transylvanian court figure predicted that things would go bad in exactly the way that they did. There's also a great deal of text devoted to an Indian American conceptual artist who is hassled by the FBI.
Verdict If you want to learn about Georgy Dózsa Székely, the Transylvanian crusader, read the even chapters. If you're interested in networks and the behavioral sciences, you're likely better off trying Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler's Connected, then perhaps skim the odd-numbered chapters in this maddening book. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]—Mary Ann Hughes, Shelton, WA

Bishop, Kyle William. American Zombie Gothic: The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Walking Dead in Popular Culture. McFarland. May 2010. 247p. photogs. filmog. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7864-4806-7. pap. $35. FILM
In this seminal study, Bishop (American literature & culture, Southern Utah Univ.) navigates well the oil and water–like mix of serious analysis and zombie cinema. It isn't often that one comes across Marxian dialectics and graphic descriptions of cannibalism in the same paragraph, but Bishop's understated style makes it work. Starting with the genre's roots in gothic literature, voodoo mythology, and pulp fiction of the Twenties, Bishop takes us through the zombie film canon, devoting a lot of space to the oeuvre of George Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and ending with a consideration of postmodern zombie films such as 28 Days Later. Of particular interest is a meditation on the uptick in zombie film production during times of civil unrest.
Verdict A serious examination of a lurid subject that should find a place in most libraries with a sizable film collection.—John Frank, Los Angeles P.L.

Raichlen, Steven. Planet Barbecue! Workman. May 2010. c.768p. illus. ISBN 978-0-7611-5919-3. $35; pap. ISBN 978-0-7611-4801-2. $22.95. COOKING
Raichlen, a food writer and host of Primal Grill on PBS, has been sharing his love of barbecue since 1998, when he wrote The Barbecue! Bible. His latest is similar to his earlier book in format—recipes are interspersed with articles on technique, culture, personalities, and food. With fewer recipes (still, there are 275), this is pared down to include mostly grilled dishes (including vegetarian recipes), a few side dishes and relishes, and less familiar items like grilled breads and Smoked Egg Pâté. Raichlen visited 53 countries, and the reader will note his familiarity with the chefs he introduces.
Verdict This celebration of barbecue's many cultural variations will satisfy anyone's hunger for the grill. [With a 30-city tour.]—Ginny Wolter, Toledo-Lucas Cty. P.L.

United States on the Road. Insight Guides, dist. by Langenscheidt. 2010. 464p. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-981-282-075-4. pap. $23.99. TRAV
Even with high gas prices and folks seeking ways to save money in the recession, the great American road trip endures. This updated edition of a 1999 book seeks to appeal to those in the United States and abroad who dream of hitting the open road. This guide, with loads of beautiful photos and several narratives that describe the history of wanderlust in the United States and the culture of the road, helps one begin visualizing a trip. The bulk of the book is divided into five regional routes with descriptions of towns and attractions along the way. The regional maps are overviews—travelers will need to consult a road atlas for more detail—and unconventionally display the route from the top to the bottom of the page regardless of cardinal direction. This ambitious guidebook also includes very basic travel tips regarding, e.g., car rental, lodging, eating, and activities.
Verdict Recommended, with the use of other U.S. travel guides and a detailed road atlas, for those planning a U.S. road trip.—Louise Feldmann, Colorado State Univ. Lib., Fort Collins

Wildavsky, Ben. The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities Are Reshaping the World. Princeton Univ. May 2010. c.248p. index. ISBN 978-0-691-14689-8. $26.95. ED
Wildavsky, a Kauffman Foundation Fellow, guest scholar at Brookings Institution, and former education editor for U.S. News & World Report, describes the efforts of various for-profit and not-for-profit educational institutions to capitalize on the international mobility of students. In insightful, straightforward, and accessible writing, he discusses the strategic value of universities extending their influence and brand throughout the world, noting that "knowledge changes the world." Wildavsky likens the exchange of ideas, students, and faculty to the "free trade of minds." Touted by the publisher as "the first popular account of how international competition for the brightest minds is transforming the world of higher education," this book achieves its ambitious goals.
Verdict Readers who are relatively unfamiliar with the globalization of higher education will appreciate this, while seasoned global educators will welcome its complete and compelling picture of how postsecondary education benefits a nation's livelihood and economy. A worthy addition to libraries with larger international education collections and institutions with study abroad programs and/or foreign campuses.—Elizabeth Connor, The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina Lib., Charleston

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Kansas Sampler snapshots - Morning Sun

Posted: 06 May 2010 10:20 PM PDT

For those of traveling to Leavenworth anytime soon, be sure to try the New York Strip at Mama Mia's and Annie's Amber Ale at the High Noon Saloon … you can't go wrong.

In other related items from the 21st annual Kansas Sampler Festival in Leavenworth last weekend:

• There was a beautiful 1957 Ford Fairlane parked in the center of the Southeast Kansas Tourism Tent courtesy of Jerry and Laura Elkins of Leavenworth. It made the theme, "Cruisin' through Southeast Kansas …" all that much better.

• Michelle Martin of Bartlesville, Okla., did a dead-on persona of Kate Bender (pun intended) and fans flocked to the Southeast Kansas performance stage to see her bring Caroline Ingalls to life.

• Jim Harkness of Fredonia – better known as Harkey the Clown – told the story of Sedan native Emmett Kelly.

• Ellery Robertson of Humboldt told the story of a Civil War era resident from Humboldt.

• Michael Travelletti from Elgin (south of Sedan) provided live folk music drawing crowds into the Southeast Kansas tent.

All told, 20 booths, one stage and one classic car brought Southeast Kansas to life at the event with an announced attendance of 8,500 despite heavy rains and hail on Sunday.

The festival featured a plethora of Kansas food and drink products – including a large Kansas beer and wine tent that had lines going in and out of both days.

Following the conclusion of the festival on Saturday, Marci Penner, Executive Director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, presented the 2010 We-Kan Awards to individuals who help preserve and sustain rural culture as appreciation for dedicated work at the grassroots level.

Those honored included Cathy Albert from Wakeeney as the Invaluable Community Promoter; Linda Clover from Cawker City as the Caretaker of a Community Asset; Kathie and Jack Crispin from Lincoln as the Outstanding Keepers of History; Judy Dayhoff from Boulder, Colo., as a Champion Explorer; Kaye Kuhn from Medicine Lodge as the Caretaker of Important History; Nancy Nolte from Blue Rapids as a Champion Explorer; Glenda Purkis from Abilene as a Steady and Positive Influence; Tom Reed from Horton for being a Deluxe Entrepreneur and Good Guy!; and Lea Ann Seiler from Hodgeman County as the Positive Force for Forward Motion.

Each winner received a ceramic plate created and decorated by Steve and Jane Fry of Elk Falls Pottery in Elk County here in Southeast Kansas.

New travel guides

The new Southeast Kansas Day Trips and Adventures Guide are now available at the Crawford County CVB.

As discussed last week, the new 62-page full-color book features suggested day trips, itineraries and themed getaways throughout Southeast Kansas – instead of spending time finding what there is to do, this book tells you what to do, where to go and what to see.

The third such effort between Southeast Kansas Living Magazine and Southeast Kansas Tourism Region, 20,000 copies were made for distribution.

Among the information in the book includes day trips and adventures in all 14 members counties of the Southeast Kansas Tourism Region – Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Coffey, Cherokee, Crawford, Elk, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties.

The new 2010 Hutchinson Visitors Guide is now available as well as copies of the new 2010 Travel Kansas guide, a publication of the Wichita Times.
All these publications, as well as many more, along with visitors guides and maps are available for free at the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, located inside the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, 117 West Fourth Street, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Upcoming events

If you are looking to watch some of the best NCAA Division II track and field athletes, be sure to head out to Carnie Smith Stadium this weekend for the MIAA Conference track and field championships. Otherwise, get out and about and enjoy these events this weekend and on into next week in Crawford County:

• Today, the USD 250 Foundation presents the second annual Feast and Follies. For more information, contact Memorial Auditorium at (620) 231-7827 or log onto www.memorialauditorium.org

• Sunday, the Colonial Fox Theatre presents its Second Sunday Theatre Tours as the historic Colonial Fox Theatre opens it doors to the public for guided tours on the second Sunday of each month from March through October. Visitors are allowed the opportunity to see the interior, learn the history of theatre and become aware of the vision for the future of this classic performance venue. Admission is free, donations are appreciated. For more information, contact Erin Sims with the Colonial Fox Theatre at (620) 235-0622, e-mail at erin@colonialfox.org or log onto www.colonialfox.org.

• Thursday, the Franklin Community Center and Heritage Museum presents its monthly Lifelong Friends program from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The program will feature a musical program by Janelle Bunney accompanied by Carolyn Hartman following lunch. Admission is free but reservations are required for lunch. Via Christi Medical Center will conduct a free health screening with blood pressure tests and bone density tests from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. For more information or to RSVP for lunch, contact Peggy Dorio at (620) 347-4220 or log onto www.franklinkansas.com.

Craig Hull is the director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It is the purpose of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote travel and tourism in Crawford County, Southeast Kansas and the Midwest. He can be reached at chull@pittsburgareachamber.com or at 1-800-879-1112.

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New travel guides keep your trip moving - PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Posted: 01 May 2010 09:00 PM PDT

NEW YORK -- Spring is the time when many travelers plan their biggest vacations of the year: Leisurely road trips, family getaways with kids out of school and travel abroad over the peak summer season. Here are some of the new guidebook releases to inspire you and help plan your itineraries. They include titles from Lonely Planet, Frommer's, DK Eyewitness, a luxury hotel group and Budget Travel.

Once upon a time, the stereotypical Lonely Planet reader was an adventurous young backpacker on a budget, ready to rough it and explore. But today, Lonely Planet fans include older travelers, travelers who don't mind spending more for comfort, and travelers looking for advice about basics and must-sees, not just offbeat adventures.

To cater to this audience, Lonely Planet has launched a new series called "Discover," with thick $25 paperback books just released on Australia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain and Thailand. The books are ideal for planning one- to two-week trips. "Discover Europe" will be added to the series May 10.

The full-color books include maps, best-of lists, recommendations for a variety of budgets, tips from locals on visiting major attractions, and suggested itineraries organized by region, theme and length of trip. One especially nice touch: "If You Like" features direct readers to less well-known attractions by comparing them to better-known places. For example, the Venice section of the Italy guide says that "If you like the masterpieces of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, we think you'll like these other modern art gems," and it goes on to list Ca' Pesaro and Museo della Fondazione Querini Stampalia.

Frommer's "Day by Day" city guides have been among the brand's best-selling books for years. Earlier this year, Frommer's launched full-size "Day by Day" guides to countries, states and other large regions. The full-color books are itinerary-based, include more than 100 maps and a pocket with a large pullout map and are chock-full of photos.

"Frommer's Italy Day by Day," "Frommer's Ireland Day by Day" and "Frommer's Hawaii Day by Day" are available now, while Costa Rica and Spain are due out in October.

The guides, all under $30, include easy-to-use features like what to see if you have a day, three days or a week, and "best-of" lists for lodging, dining and shopping. The Ireland guide, for example, includes a list of favorite moments (taking afternoon tea at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, visiting the Giant's Causeway, and seeing the murals of the Belfast peace wall), along with a list of favorite small towns (Carlingford, Inistioge, Kinsale, Kenmare, Dingle).

Also new from Frommer's is "500 Adrenaline Adventures," providing inspiration for daredevils, geeks and other travelers with a taste for unusual, wacky and heart-racing experiences. Among the ideas listed in the $20 paperback: ziplining, wildlife encounters, extreme eating contests -- like the famous Coney Island hot dog competition -- and the annual Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Race in England.

Road trips are a beloved way to explore America, but DK Eyewitness Travel has launched a new series this spring to inspire road trips in Europe. The "Back Roads" series includes guides to France, Italy, Great Britain, Ireland and Spain. Each $25 paperback describes two dozen "leisurely drives" designed to take anywhere from a day to a week. Tours outlined in the France book, for example, include the Alsace wine route, Obernai to Eguisheim; the Champagne route, Reims to Montagne de Reims; Normandy, from Giverny to Varengeville-sur-Mer; and the Pyrenees, from Collioure to St-Jean-de-Luz.

Other features include mapped itineraries with highlights, detours and activities; "where the locals go" listings of small hotels and restaurants with regional cuisine; a pullout country map; zip codes to make it easy to coordinate the text with a GPS; and practical information on driving conditions, road signs and parking.

This set of six paperbacks from The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a group of more than 70 hotels and resorts in 30 countries, includes guides to India, Italy, the United States, Spain, Argentina and Greece. The slim paperbacks do not offer the detailed content of traditional travel guides, but do have lush photographs, inspirational quotes and a few pages of highlights listing select museums, cultural institutions, shops and restaurants in each destination.

Each guide also includes commentary from celebrity chefs, with Mario Batali providing his thoughts on Italy, including a recipe for tortelloni with sage butter and his recommendations for favorite restaurants: Cibreo and Teatro del Sale in Florence; Al Covo, Da Fiore and Lina d'Ombra in Venice, and Ristorante Matricianella, Roscioli, Antico Forno and Checchino in Rome.

The set of six, packaged in a beautiful oversized box, costs $140. The books will be available in Luxury Collection guest rooms, in Assouline Boutiques in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, and online at www.luxurycollection.com and other retailers.

This book from Budget Travel, $14.95, is subtitled "350 Money, Time & Sanity Saving tips." Among the suggestions: Bring powdered iced-tea or fruit-punch packets to theme parks and add them to cups of water to save money on expensive drinks; find out if a membership to your local museum has reciprocal privileges at other institutions where you can get in free when you travel; and make your own picture dictionary. That way, if you don't know a foreign word for bathroom or taxi, you can get help from a local wherever you are just by pulling up the picture of the object on your phone or camera.

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