10/24/2004
A contemporary master.
The title for Betsy Sholl's latest book of poetry comes from the fact that it considers 'the themes of those ancient songs of joy and grief,' but the examination comes 'late' in that it was written 'in an age defined by questioning and irony.' What results is something as beautiful as some of the...
9/10/2004
The end of the world as we know it
Photographer Richard Ross chronicles a true underground movement in Waiting for the End of the World, a photo journal of bomb shelters around the world. Included in his book is the Greenbriar Hotel in West Virginia, which fosters a shelter large enough for the entire United States Congress and an...
9/5/2004
When the well runs dry.
With gasoline prices seemingly spiraling out of control, books about oil production that may have previously appealed to only a specialized audience now seem noteworthy. One such book is The Coming Oil Crisis by geologist C. J. Campbell. The author says he had no desire to write a book, but when he...
8/27/2004
Children and the parents they nag.
In her latest book, parenting expert Michele Borba, Ed.D., (No More Misbehavin') tackles the most annoying childhood characteristic ? attitude ? the whining, complaining and noncompliant behaviours that leave parents feeling drained at the end of the day. Borba calls the widespread occurrence of...
8/9/2004
How to flag the toads.
How's a girl to know if she's found her Prince Charming? How's she to know if she's kissing a frog instead? Yolanda Nave answers these questions in "Red Flags," a slim volume that outlines, 'What every girl should look out for�'
Amusing drawings accompany each pointer, such as a girl trying to...
8/4/2004
Hitting the books while dumpster diving!
The college years are a time of noble pursuit of knowledge, intellectual development ? and unending peril!' So says the back-cover copy for The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for College. Between the covers are tips on how to sleep in class, how to ask your parents for money, how to write a...
7/30/2004
A wonder drug gone bad.
OxyContin, a powerful prescription painkiller derived from opium and similar to morphine, was first brought to market in 1996 to help alleviate pain for cancer patients and other chronic pain sufferers, and was heralded as a wonder drug that dramatically reduced suffering. Its time-release formula...
6/26/2004
How much is enough?
How do you define success? Is it achieving a high level of status in business or your career, even though you may have to make great personal sacrifices to achieve it? Is it leaving a legacy through a brilliant discovery, dedication to a cause, or correcting social injustice? Is it about commitment...
6/8/2004
A poet at his best
When he was still in high school, poet Brian Bartlett was invited to join the Ice House Gang, a group of poets who took their name from the fact that they gathered Tuesday nights at the University of New Brunswick's historic Ice House. There he found both encouragement and inspiration from fellow...
5/27/2004
The ex files.
Have you ever thought about the ones that got away? Ever found yourself thinking "what if" about past relationships? Journalist Susan Shapiro has. In fact, she wrote a book about it. In the midst of a midlife crisis on the brink of her 40th birthday, she found herself a frustrated novelist and...
