Library Journal articles from July 2007

Library Journal archives from July 2007

The library market: publishers need to keep hearing the library market song.(editorial)(the library as a publisher's market)
July 1, 2007... "I AM ONE OF THE PUBLISHING EXECS who benefited from libraries but ignored them," acknowledged Tom Dunne, publisher and editor of the eponymous Thomas Dunne Books of St. Martin's Press, at a panel at BookExpo America in June. Now he's found the...

Get a voice! Your spare-time activities matter more than what you do on the job.(blatant berry)(employment advice to librarians)
July 1, 2007... "WE REALLY WANT SOMEONE WHO IS HAPPY IN their current job, who has a vision and a voice, who is successful in the field. We have to recruit, to go out and find people to fill vacancies. We can't just select from the candidates who apply." That...

Red state "Christians".(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... It seemed rather insane when Southerners overreacted to John Lennon's statement about Jesus. After recently reviewing his remarks on a video, I have concluded that he was stating a fact and never intended to elevate the Beatles to a divine...

Time for DCPL critics.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Norman Oder reports that DC library trustee president John Hill has "little time for criticism" from my organization, the DC Library Renaissance Project (LRP) ("Cooper's Challenge," LJ 6/1/07, p. 36-40), but Hill's own comments indicate that he...

Second life games.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... I'm with Mark Y. Herring all the way in his "Back Talk" stand ["Get a (Real) Life," LJ 5/15/07, p. 59]. Second Life may be fun, but it's just a game. No more time should be spent there than one would allocate to playing cards. --Faith...

Women & technology.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Kudos on Eva Miller's "The Women Who Drive Library Technology" (LJ 5/1/07, p. 28-32). As a female librarian who works intensively with technology, I'm still a little surprised at the novelty factor that my job seems to have for people. It is...

Bisexual fiction.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... While I was impressed to see the focus on gay and lesbian fiction in a Collection Development feature (Devon Thomas, "A Place on the Shelf," LJ 5/1/07, p. 40-43), I was disappointed that bisexual fiction was not addressed. I am certain that...

Corrections.(feedback)(Correction notice)
July 1, 2007... In "Cooper's Challenge" (LJ 6/1/07, p. 36-40), LJ erroneously attributed the "Blueprint for Change" report regarding the District of Columbia Public Library to former St. Louis Public Library director Glen Holt. The author is Dubberly Garcia...

Maine Library Association underwrites Public Radio.(front desk)(support of 'The World' radio program at Maine Public Broadcasting Network)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Maine Library Association (MLA) has begun a 13-week trial effort to underwrite a radio show on Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) affiliates. Every Tuesday, during The World, a production of Public Radio International, listeners hear...

A disconnect with university presses.(front desk)(librarians as publishers)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... "In short, I am coming to the conclusion that librarians are likely to be lousy publishers. --Peter Brantley, Executive Director, Digital Library Federation, 6/8/06, on his personal blog; tinyurl.com/28fqhe"

A picture is worth a few million.(STAT WATCH)(comics industry)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... $640 million --total comics and graphic novel market in the United States and Canada $200 million --the segment of the total devoted to manga source: ICV2, via the Wall Street Journal

Heard.(front desk)
July 1, 2007... "Librarians may throw your flyers out when they get home, but they treat writers like people of value who love books as much as they do and are therefore worthy of eye contact." --AUTHOR BETSY ROBINSON (WWW.BETSYROBINSON-WRITER.COM} AFTER...

A rock band tours the libraries.(front desk)(The High Strung )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The tuneful and loud Detroit indie rock trio The High Strung (www.thehighstrung.com) is now well into its Second National Rock & Roll Library Tour, visiting at least 35 libraries from New York to California, performing anywhere from reading...

BEA was a librarian-fest; record number of librarians scouting books, authors, and programs.(BEA: CONFERENCE REPORT)(BookExpo America)
July 1, 2007... This year's BookExpo America (BEA) wasn't just about the books but about librarians, with publishers remarking on their huge presence at the show in New York City, May 31-June 3. The number of librarians swelled to 3,832, nearly double that of...

Dropping Dewey in Maricopa.(lj news)(Maricopa County Library District's Perry branch no longer using the Dewey Decimal System)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Maricopa County Library District (MCLD), Phoenix, has dropped the Dewey Decimal System in its new Perry branch, which opened in June. The 24,000-item collection is instead organized like a bookstore, drawing on the 50 or so subject headings...

Day of Dialog draws 400 librarians for five programs.(lj news)(forum for discussion of trends in book publishing)
July 1, 2007... LJ's annual Day of Dialog has grown significantly, and so has the presence of librarians at the nation's largest book conference, BookExpo America. Now in its tenth year, the event on May 31 drew neady 400 librarians to the McGraw-Hill...

Google adds 12 CIC libraries; Emory, eschewing the trend, decides to scan it own books.(NEWS)(Google Inc. scanning books from libraries of Committee on Institutional Cooperation universities; Emory University)
July 1, 2007... Google and the 12 universities in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) announced last month they have entered into an agreement to digitize up to ten million bound volumes. In one swoop, the deal represents a two-thirds jump in the...

SLA faces flexibility and risk.(SLA: CONFERENCE REPORT)(Special Libraries Association)
July 1, 2007... SLA 2007, held June 2-7 in weather-perfect Denver, came in a time of change, according to SLA president Rebecca Vargha, that "forces us to be nimble, sure-footed, and strategic." The conference theme, "Climb to New Heights," reflects...

Providence PL, city settle: funding agreement means branch services, hours to be cut.(NEWS)(Providence Public Library)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The private, nonprofit Providence Public Library (PPL) finally resolved its issues with the city that funds a significant portion of its budget. The city agreed to pay a bit more to keep all nine branches open but Jess than PPL had requested...

Michigan Pls face state cuts; ten-week freeze on state grants accelerates closings of cooperatives.(NEWS)(public libraries)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... In the face of a statewide economic crisis, the state of Michigan on March 29 froze all but essential state grants, which meant $7 million of $12 million budgeted for public libraries and 13 library cooperatives was not delivered until the...

Illinois filter bill stalled: law would tie filtering to receipt of state library aid.(NEWS)(Internet filtering rules for public libraries in the Children's Internet Protection Act)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... In Illinois, a proposed state version of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which would tie public library filtering to the receipt of state aid, has stalled and seems unlikely to pass in the current session. House Bill 1727 passed...

LJ Teaching Award debuts this year.(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The new LJ Teaching Award, sponsored by ProQuest, recognizes excellence in educating the next generation of librarians. This annual award, now in its first year, honors the winning LIS teacher with an article in the November 15 issue of LJ, a...

Will Jackson Cty. branch reopen? City of Ashland considers vote in September to operate facility.(NEWS)(Jackson County Library Services)
July 1, 2007... The possibility that branches of the Jackson County Library Services (JCLS), OR.--closed since April (see News, LJ 6/1/07, p. 14ff.)--will reopen remains murky, though the city of Ashland, home to the second-largest facility in the 15-branch...

Portland, ME, voters deny move; central library will be renovated without extra $1 million.(NEWS)(Portland Public Library in Maine)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... While the Portland Public Library (PPL), ME, board and administration sought public approval to move to a new central library created out of the former Portland Public Market, voters June 12 rejected a bond plan that would have raised an...

Calendar.(NEWS)(Calendar)
July 1, 2007... SEPTEMBER 9-11--Arkansas Library Assn., Hot Springs www.arlib.org 12-15--Wyoming Library Assn., Cheyenne www.wyla.org 19-22--Kentucky Library Assn., Louisville www.kylibasn.org 26-28--North Dakota Library Assn., Jamestown...

Deputy State Librarian of California.(people)(Stacey Aldrich)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Stacey Aldrich has been appointed Deputy State Librarian of California. She had been Assistant Director at the Omaha Public Library.

Nevada State Library and Archives.(people)(Division Administrator Daphne Arnaiz-Deleon )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Daphne Arnaiz-Deleon is the new Division Administrator of the Nevada State Library and Archives, Carson City. She previously served as the Archives and Historical Services Division Director for the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives,...

Prince George's County Memorial Library System.(people)(manager of Laurel Branch Dianne Ashworth)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Dianne Ashworth, Manager of the Laurel Branch, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Hyattsville, MD, for 22 years, has retired after a 34-year career at the library.

Georgia Public Library Service.(people)(Elaine Black as Director of Children's Services)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Elaine Black has joined the Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta, as Director of Children's Services. She most recently served as Events and Outreach Manager for the Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA.

Folsom Public Library.(people)(Katy Curl as Director)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Katy Curl, named Yolo County Librarian, Woodland, CA, earlier this year, has accepted a new position. She has been appointed Director, Folsom Public Library, CA, the city where she resides. Before her Yolo County assignment, Curl was Branch...

Bentonville Public Library.(people)(Director Hadi Dudley )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Hadi Dudley has been named Director, Bentonville Public Library, AR, succeeding Cindy Suter, who retired May 31. Dudley had been a Reference Librarian at the library.

Kanawha County Public Library.(people)(director Alan Engelbert)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Alan Engelbert will become the new Director and CEO of the Kanawha County Public Library, Charleston, WV, replacing Linda Wright when she retires this month after 22 years in the position. Engelbert currently is Director of the two-county...

Erie County Public Library.(people)(Director of Development and Communications, Stanton Hudson )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Stanton Hudson is now Director of Development and Communications at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. He has 30 years' experience in the pubhc relations field and has served as Assistant Professor and Director of a graduate program in...

DSpace Foundation.(people)(Executive Director Michele Kimpton)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Michele Kimpton, a Founding Director of the Internet Archive, has been appointed by MIT Libraries and Hewlett-Packard (HP) to serve as Executive Director of the DSpace Foundation, a new nonprofit that will provide support to DSpace users...

Prince George's County Memorial Library System.(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Kathie Marathon, most recently Associate Director for Administrative Services at Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Hyattsville, MD, has announced her retirement. She worked at the library for 33 years.

Triangle Research Libraries Network.(people)(Endeca Implementation Librarian Derek Rodriguez)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Derek Rodriguez has been appointed Endeca Implementation Librarian at the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN), based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Rodriguez will lead implementation of the Endeca platform for...

Library Development Bureau.(people)(Deputy Director Victoria Rosch)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Victoria Rosch has been named Deputy Director of the Library Development Bureau, the division of the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) that provides consultant services and technical assistance. Rosch, who joined NJSL in 2003, currently manages...

Betsy Shorb.(people)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Betsy Shorb, Young Adult Librarian at the Bowie Branch of Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Hyattsville, MD, has retired. She had a 42-year career at the library.

Ebooks face triple threat; ebrary survey finds that digitized texts still up against multiple hurdles in academe.(infotech)
July 1, 2007... A survey of libraries done by ebook vendor ebrary found that while ebooks have become morepopular, growth is being slowed for a number of reasons. According to Allen McKiel, director of libraries at Northeastern State University (Tahlequah,...

Carl Grant launches CARe Affiliates.(infotech)(CARe Affiliates, Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Carl Grant, a seasoned automation veteran most recently serving as president of VTLS, has launched CARe Affiliates, Inc., a new service company for libraries. Grant said the company was formed "in response to concerns librarians have expressed...

EBSCO buys ABC-CLIO databases.(infotech)(EBSCO Information Services acquisition of Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life databases)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... EBSCO is branching out: the company June 15 announced it had acquired ABC-CLIO's top databases, Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life, and will distribute eight additional premiere files. "With this partnership, over 1.3 million...

ProQuest drops CSA from name.(infotech)(partnership with Scopus)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... ProQuest CSA is dumping that name, which it adopted after the merger of ProQuest Information and Learning and CSA last December. The company now will be known only as ProQuest--which is what everyone calls it. The CSA handle will be retained in...

SirsiDynix signs San Diego.(infotech)(improvement of library system)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... SirsiDynix has entered into a multiyear contract with the city of San Diego "to migrate the library system to Unicorn." The vendor said that as part of the agreement, it will manage and host the system via its Software as a Service (SaaS)...

Brown mounts Military art.(infotech)(Brown University archive of artworks from Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Brown University has created a digital archive of more than 6200 artworks gleaned from its noted Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection. According to the university, this initial digitization is the first part of an "ambitious, multiyear endeavor...

New officers for TLC.(INFOTECH PEOPLE)(Library Corp.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Library Corporation (TLC) has announced several changes among its executives. Simon Marcus has joined TLC as VP and chief operating officer to help plan and implement development of products and market strategies. He most recently was COO...

Demise of the local catalog.(DIGITAL LIBRARIES)
July 1, 2007... OVER FOUR YEARS AGO I WROTE that the library catalog should be pushed into the back room where it belonged and that a unified finding tool be put in its place (LJ 2/15/03, p. 28, and LJ 6/15/03, p. 28). I still believe our users want to find...

Billions and billions.(ONLINE DATABASES)(selling of Thomson Corp. Learning division to finance Reuters Group PLC acquisition)
July 1, 2007... BY NOW YOU'VE HEARD THAT Thomson has sold its Learning Division, including Gale, using the funds to assist in its purchase of Reuters. These multibillion-dollar sales (yes, that is Billion) demonstrate that digital information sources and...

The open door director.(THE TRANSPARENT LIBRARY)(necessary traits of library directors)
July 1, 2007... THE JOB OF LIBRARY DIRECTOR is difficult and often underappreciated. These days, library directors are more like university presidents, needing to build support in the community, raise money, and make a name for themselves and their library....

The library in your tool bar: you can make it easy to search library resources from your own browser.(INFOTECH FEATURE)
July 1, 2007... Library toolbars allow users to search the library catalog, find full-text articles, get news, and contact librarians directly. Delivering library services this way adds power and convenience to a user's web explorations. For years,...

What boomers want; they're changing old age and library service with it.(LJ SERIES: PATRONSPEAK)(baby boom generation)(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... When my editor called to talk about a new series written from the vantage point of the patron, I was particularly intrigued to write about boomers, my generation. We hashed out a list of potential patron markets, and I read them to her: "an...

An RA big think: the concept of appeal is on the table, and readers advisory librarians are revolutionizing it.(LJ SERIES: REDEFINING RA)
July 1, 2007... In fall 1888, van Gogh and Gauguin painted together in Aries. For nine weeks, as Martin Gayford recounts in The Yellow House, the two artists learned from each other, referencing and reinterpreting both work and techniques. The results of their...

Anime's brave new world.(Collection Development / Anime)
July 1, 2007... Anime, or Japanese animation, first appeared as a tiny blip on the U.S. pop culture radar in the 1960s with such TV series as Astro Boy and Speed Racer. But thanks to the explosive popularity of manga, Japanese print comics, increased anime...

Patron or Customer (and Why)?(BACKTALK)(words to describe library users)
July 1, 2007... BEFORE GRADUATING FROM SIMMONS College, Boston, in 1997, I worked in the Iowa State Archives. I can't recall ever hearing the term customer applied to a library user in Iowa or Massachusetts, but this changed when I started working for Denver...

Are you experienced?(NEXTGEN)(librarian's job hunting experiences)
July 1, 2007... ONCE, WHILE SPEAKING IN AN introductory class at library school, a student expressed her concerns about finding a job after graduation, since she did not have experience in libraries. That gave me an excellent opportunity to reflect on my own...

Prepub alert.(pre-publication books)(Bibliography)
July 1, 2007... FICTION Ackroyd, Peter. The Fall of Troy. Nan A. Talese: Doubleday. Nov. 2007. 192p. ISBN 978-0-385-52290-8. $23. This latest from the award-winning novelist/biographer might have been called "The Fall of Heinrich Obermann" after its...

Mystery.(Book review)
July 1, 2007... SERIAL HITS What makes a mystery series successful are flawlessly constructed plots, lead characters readers come to love, fresh themes, interesting settings, and the belief that there is always hope in life. Bill Pronzini (Savages), Marcia...

Prepub mystery.(pre-publication books)(Bibliography)
July 1, 2007... Carter, Maureen. Hard Time. Dufour. Nov. 2007. 320p. ISBN 978..0-9551589-6-4. pap. $17.95. Birmingham sergeant Bev Morris juggles a complicated personal life, the murder of a police officer, and a mysterious ransom note in the fourth in...

Graphic novels.(Book review)
July 1, 2007... BAKER'S "QUALITY JOLLITY" Dreadlocks flying as he talked, Kyle Baker easily held the audience, though none of the other speakers for the New York Comic-Con's humor panel had shown up. Story followed story about cutting his graphic teeth at...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2007... In the 5/15/07 column introduction, p.73, Maison Ikkoku should have been listed as having 14 volumes.

Spiritual living.(Book review)
July 1, 2007... UP-TO-DATE BELIEFS We all want to be modern, even in the oratories and meditation centers; this season, Library Journal has seen an unusually insistent emphasis on the ultracontemporary, from a Protestant, everyday take on Ignatius of Loyola...

More new and fortcoming titles of interest.(self help books)(Bibliography)
July 1, 2007... Baker, John. Life's Healing Choices: Freedom from Your Hurts, Hang-ups, and Habits. Howard Bks: S. & S. Sept. 2007. 256p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4395-4. $19.99. REL The prolific author/illustrator, founder of the Celebrate Recovery ministry,...

Allen, Sarah Addison. Garden Spells.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... * Allen, Sarah Addison. Garden Spells. Bantam. Aug. 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-553-80548-2. $20. F With enough grassroots buzz, Allen's mainstream debut (she's published romances under the nom de plume Katie Gallagher) could become a best...

Baker, Ellen. Keeping the House.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Baker, Ellen. Keeping the House. Random. Jul. 2007. c.544p. ISBN 978-1-4000-6635-3. $24.95. F Newlywed Dolly Magnuson tries to be the perfect 1950s wife but quickly becomes restless in little Pine Rapids, WI, far from friends and family....

Burke, James Lee. The Tin Roof Blowdown: A Dave Robicheaux Novel.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... * Burke, James Lee. The Tin Roof Blowdown: A Dave Robicheaux Novel. S. & S. Jul. 2007. c.352p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4848-5. $26. F Dave Robicheaux makes another appearance, in what may be Burke's most personal novel. Set during the national...

Castillo, Ana. The Guardians.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Castillo, Ana. The Guardians. Random. Aug. 2007. c.224p. ISBN 979-1-4000-6500-4. $24.95. F In her latest work, award-winning novelist, poet, and essayist Castillo (Peal My Love Like an Onion) explores the gritty, grimy, and ultimately...

Clarke, Brock. An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Clarke, Brock. An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England. Algonquin. Sept. 2007. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-56512-551-3. $24.95. F When Sam Pulsifer's parents separated for three years during his childhood, his mother lied about his...

Cohen, Leah Hager. House Lights.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Cohen, Leah Hager. House Lights. Norton. Jul. 2007. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-393-06451-3. $24.95. F Beatrice Fisher-Hart should be in college, but her parents, who are both psychologists, allow her to defer higher education while she takes...

Cook, Robin. Critical.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Cook, Robin. Critical. Putnam. Aug. 2007. c.464p. ISBN 978-0-399-15423-2. $25.95. F What do you have when you combine husband-and-wife NYC medical examiners, a very nasty strain of staph infection, two sets of assassins, and a...

Crusie, Jennifer & Bob Mayer. Agnes and the Hitman.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... * Crusie, Jennifer & Bob Mayer. Agnes and the Hitman. St. Martin's. Aug. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-312-36304-8. $24.95. F After an uneven first collaboration (Don't Look Down), popular romance writer Crusie and action adventure thriller...

Dickey, Eric Jerome. Waking with Enemies.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Dickey, Eric Jerome. Waking with Enemies. Dutton. Aug. 2007. c.430p. ISBN 978-0-525-95038-7. $24.95. F Offering another breakneck read with an exciting plot and alluring European locales, this sequel to Dickey's Sleeping with Enemies opens...

Diliberto, Gioia. The Collection.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Diliberto, Gioia. The Collection. Scribner. Sept. 2007. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-7432-8065-5. $25. F This tale, told by Isabel, one of Coco Chanel's seamstresses, contrasts the deprivation of post-World War I Paris with the luxury enjoyed by the...

Drucker, Eugene. The Savior.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Drucker, Eugene. The Savior. S. & S. Jul. 2007. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4329-9. $23. F The "savior" here is just feckless enough as to be almost unlikable. A violinist in the last days of Nazi Germany, he is plucked out of his narrow...

Echenoz, Jean. Ravel.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Echenoz, Jean. Ravel. New Pr., dist. by Norton. 2007. c.128p. tr. from French by Linda Coverdale. ISBN 978-1-59558-115-0. $19.95. F Echenoz, winner of France's prestigious Prix Goncourt (for I'm Gone), recounts here the later years in the...

Ellis, Warren. Crooked Little Vein.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Ellis, Warren. Crooked Little Vein. Morrow. Aug. 2007. c.288p. ISBN 979-0-06-072393-4. $21.95. F Ellis is known to readers of comics as the writer behind, among other works, the DC Comics "Transmetropolitan" series. Now he debuts his first...

Evans, Bill & Marianna Jameson. Category 7.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Evans, Bill & Marianna Jameson. Category 7. Forge: Tor. Jul. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-765-31735-3. $24.95. F What would happen if a massive super-storm hit New York City? And what if the storm's ferocity were enhanced by human activity?...

Faqir, Fadia. The Cry of the Dove.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... * Faqir, Fadia. The Cry of the Dove. Black Cat: Grove. Oct. 2007. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-8021-7040-8. pap. $14. F Jordanian British author Faqir (Pillars of Salt) has written an exquisite novel describing the plight of Salma, a young Bedouin...

Finder, Joseph. Power Play.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Finder, Joseph. Power Play. St. Martin's. Aug. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-312-34748-2. $24.95. F Finder (Company Man) continues his exploration of the business world with this thriller, set in the aerospace industry. Although he's low on the...

Flanagan, Bill. New Bedlam.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Flanagan, Bill. New Bedlam. Penguin Pr. Penguin Group (USA). Aug. 2007. c.342p. ISBN 978-1-59420-050-2. $24.95. F Flanagan has authored a book on the band U2, a collection of conversations with musicians, and one novel, A & R. However, his...

Forster, Margaret. Keeping the World Away.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... * Forster, Margaret. Keeping the World Away. Ballantine. Aug. 2007. c.336p. ISBN 979-0-345-49633-1. $24.95. F One small painting, a still life of a corner of an attic room, is the thread that ties this moving novel together. Gwen, a young...

Furnivall, Kate. The Russian Concubine.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Furnivall, Kate. The Russian Concubine. Berkley. Penguin Group (USA). Aug. 2007. c.560p. ISBN 978-0-425-21558-6. pap. $15. F Set in prerevolutionary China between the world wars, Fumivall's debut offers up a love story as tumukuous as its...

Gee, Sophie. The Scandal of the Season.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Gee, Sophie. The Scandal of the Season. Scribner. Aug. 2007. c.352p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4056-4. $25. F Written by Alexander Pope at the request of his friend John Caryll, "The Rape of the Lock" clinched Pope's fame and assured his success....

Gibson, William. Spook Country.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... * Gibson, William. Spook Country. Putnam. Aug. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-399-15430-0. $25.95. F The characters in Gibson's latest novel (after Pattern Recognition) live in the present, but the future is catching up to them faster than to...

Griffin, Nicholas. Dizzy City.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Griffin, Nicholas. Dizzy City. Steerforth, dist. by Random. Aug. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-1-58642-132-8. $24.95. F Traumatized by his experiences on the western front, small-time grifter Ben Cramb deserts the British army in 1916 and stows...

Hage, Rawi. De Niro's Game.(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2007... Hage, Rawi. De Niro's Game. Steerforth, dist. by Random. Aug. 2007. c.280p. ISBN 978-1-58195-223-0. $23.95. F Beirut-born Hage, who lived through the nine-year civil war in Lebanon before emigrating to Canada in 1992, here mixes fantasy...