BAM RECOMMENDS

The Emergency Gift Book

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Swensson, Kristen

Are you pressed for time or prone to procrastination? Do you hate to shop? Or maybe you simply dislike shopping for other people? "Emergency Gift Book" to the rescue for the slacker and the stumped alike This book contains everything you need to acknowledge family, friends, coworkers, cohabitants, and loved ones whenever a special occasion comes out of freaking nowhere. Inside you'll find IOU coupons, nifty gift card enclosures (to use instead of generic store packaging), and hilarious DIY-on-the-fly novelty gifts, all of which you can punch out and present to friends and loved ones (so much better than showing up with nothing but excuses).

Related Subjects:Books > Humor > General

ISBN-13: 9780307450531
ISBN-10: 0307450538
Publisher: Potter Style
Date: October 2009
Page Count: 128
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Twitter Tips, Tricks, and Tweets

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: McFedries, Paul

A full-color, portable guide to getting all the fun and productivity from Twitter

Twitter is hot It's used by everyone from teens keeping up with their friends to fundraising charities and organizations responding to natural disasters; even President Obama tweets. "Twitter Tips, Tricks, and Tweets" gets you in on the fun, taking you all the way from setting up an account to incorporating cool third-party applications.

Defined as microblogging, Twitter allows you to be as active or passive as you choose in keeping up with the conversation. Limited to 140 characters per comment, or "tweet," it's designed for here-and-now communication. This handy guide gives you everything you need to know. Guides you through setting up an account and following Twitter rules Explains how to tweet from mobile devices Shows how to add Twitter to a blog or to other social networking sites such as Facebook Offers ideas for using Twitter in business as well as for personal contacts Covers Twitter terminology Provides useful tips and tricks for expanding Twitter's usefulness through third-party applications

"Twitter Tips, Tricks, and Tweets" explores all the features of Twitter, so you can join the conversation and discover what all the buzz is about.

Related Subjects:Books > Computers & Internet > Internet - General

ISBN-13: 9780470529690
ISBN-10: 0470529695
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Date: May 2009
Page Count: 00249
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

John Deere

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Campbell, Tony

Incorporating bright, beautiful photographs with simple words and concepts, "Go, Tractor, Go" enchants children and encourages them to drive the toy tractor all around the farm on the pages of the book, and wherever else their imagination can take them.
(c)2009 John Deere & Company. Books created and produced by Parachute Publishing, L.L.C.

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Nonfiction > Transportation - Cars & Trucks

ISBN-13: 9780756644499
ISBN-10: 0756644496
Publisher: DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley)
Date: September 2009
Page Count: 00016
Reading Level: Ages 04 - 07

Waddle!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Seder, Rufus Butler

It's "Waddle " And it's in color. And boy, is it irresistible. In the same way that kids can't read "Gallop " without wanting to gallop around the room, "Waddle ," an animals-in-motion Scanimation book, will inspire prancing, hopping, stomping, and scampering. And did we mention color? Created by the optical genius behind the phenomenal #1 and #2 "New York Times" bestselling children's books, "Gallop " and "Swing ," "Waddle " adds touches of color to the images and integrates it into the text. That prancing pig is pink, the leaping dolphin is blue, the slithering snake yellow. The Scanimation itself is also more lifelike, as the author continues to refine his patented Scanimation process, resulting in a more fluid, realistic motion. Nothing else compares.
"Waddle " teaches color and movement. Its language is a joy, the rhymes inspiring, the animals full of life. And one more thing: Waddle has a surprise ending. Something else to grab the reader-literally.

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Nonfiction > Concepts - General

ISBN-13: 9780761151128
ISBN-10: 0761151125
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Date: October 2009
Page Count: 00020
Reading Level: Ages 04 - 08

Bananagrams!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Edley, Joe

Game of the Year winner at the 2009 International Toy Fair, Bananagrams is the international phenomenon that started with a simple idea: "An anagram game that is so fast it will drive you bananas " Doing for letters what Sudoku did for numbers, it's the obsessive new puzzle craze that starts with 144 letter tiles in a banana-shaped bag and captures all the fun of crosswords and word games like Scrabble and Boggle.
Now comes "Bananagrams The Official Book," which translates the brain-twisting word fun of the game onto the page, and adds much, much more. Even if you've never dipped your hand into the Bananagrams pouch, the book stands on its own with hours of challenging play. Written by the only three-time National Scrabble Champion, Joe Edley, "Bananagrams " offers sixteen clever puzzle types, including Banana Trees, where the object is to build word grids based on a theme; Banana Splits, a collection of four quick anagram puzzles to be solved in rapid-fire style; Banana Leaves, with its four-, five-, six- and seven-letter words; Banana Filling-what happens when you add a "K"?; and more. The puzzles have four levels of difficulty, from one banana to four bananas. Plus, there are glossaries; special strategies for Bananagrams: The Game; a list of "Weords"-weird words that are cool to play; two- and three-letter words to take your game to the next level; fun banana facts; and, of course, an answer key.

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Nonfiction > Games & Activities - General

ISBN-13: 9780761156352
ISBN-10: 0761156356
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Date: September 2009
Page Count: 00283
Reading Level: Ages 04 - 08

Christmas Ideals [With Christmas Recipes]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Ideals

The magazine that has inspired readers for 65 years shines in this anniversary edition. Loyal readers are drawn to Ideals magazine for its celebration of life's most treasured moments. This anniversary issue, a new installment of the much-collected Christmas volume, serves as a touching reminder of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday and special family traditions.

Heartwarming poetry and prose are joined by beautiful full-color photographs and fine-art masterpieces. Here, beloved writer Pamela Kennedy reflects on the holiday; poet Eileen Spinelli spins a charming yuletide verse; and the story of the first Christmas, as told in the Holy Bible, is illustrated with fine art depicting the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.

As a special anniversary gift, each copy will be packaged together with Ideals Christmas Recipes, a 16-page collection of holiday recipes.

ISBN-13: 9780824913236
ISBN-10: 082491323X
Publisher: Ideals Publications
Date: September 2009
Page Count: 64
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

New edition! An inexpensive edition of the book that SCRABBLE players call their bible. Ideal for recreational and school play. More than 100,000 playable two- to eight-letter words including 4,000 new entries. Includes variant spellings. Endorsed by the National SCRABBLE Association.

Related Subjects:Books > Games > Word & Word Search
Books > Games > Reference

ISBN-13: 9780877799290
ISBN-10: 0877799296
Publisher: Merriam-Webster
Date: January 2005
Page Count: 00674
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Eric Carle Mini Library

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Carle, Eric

This padded box set of Eric Carle's classic tales includes full-length mini editions of Rooster's Off to See the World, Papa Please Get Me the Moon, Pancakes Pancakes, and A House for Hermit Crab. Each mini-book slips into a sleeve bound into a padded cover featuring Carle's signature colors and patterns.

The set ties together with two different brightly colored satin ribbons, adding a whimsical touch to this sweet collection of stories. This perfectly proportioned portable box set will be an essential addition to the libraries of both young and old Eric Carle fans.

ISBN-13: 9781416985167
ISBN-10: 1416985166
Publisher: Little Simon
Date: October 2009
Reading Level: Ages 04 - 08

Bro on the Go

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Stinson, Barney

From the mind of "New York Times" bestselling author Barney Stinson comes the ultimate companion to "The Bro Code" - a handy reference guide crafted for today's active Bro. With new rules, inspirations, and wisdom, coupled with classics staples from the original "Code, Bro on the Go" is designed to quickly aid a busy Bro in any situation he might face - at the beach, on the job, at the game, or with the ladies. Plus, it looks good stuffed in your pocket.

Related Subjects:Books > Humor > General

ISBN-13: 9781439173138
ISBN-10: 1439173133
Publisher: Fireside Books
Date: November 2009
Page Count: 00129
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Lolcats

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Ulysses Press

By combining adorable photos of felines with clever and hilarious captions, LOLcats have become an internet sensation. Now, this ultimate collection of LOLcats takes "teh internet kitteh" phenomenon to new heights of hilarity! A perfect gift for cat- and humor-lovers everywhere, this book is packed with hundreds of LOLcats doing ridiculous things -- from ceiling-climbing cats to laptop-typing kittens. Each photo is accompanied by a caption that is not misspelled English but, in fact, purrrfectly accurate LOLcats' speak. There are purebreds and mixed breeds, calicos and stripeys, angry cats and sad cats, happy cats and fat cats. Sometimes they fight, sometimes they play, and sometimes they just ham it up for the camera -- but they're always hilarious. The easy-to-scan layout and binding make the images in this book easy to share with friends and family.

Related Subjects:Books > Humor > Topic - Animals
Books > Pets > Cats - General

ISBN-13: 9781569757253
ISBN-10: 1569757259
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Date: March 2010
Page Count: 00192
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Moleskine Weekly Notebook Planner

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Moleskine

The Moleskine 18 Month Weekly Notebook, soft cover pocket, is dated from July 2009 to December 2010. Formatted to show the week's appointments on the left and a ruled page for notes and ideas on the right, this popular planner style is perfect for students, teachers, and professionals.
This Moleskine planner is thread bound and has a soft cover with rounded corners, acid free paper, a bookmark, an elastic closure and an expandable inner pocket that contains the Moleskine history.

Related Subjects:Books > Non-Classifiable > Non-Classifiable

ISBN-13: 9788862930376
ISBN-10: 8862930372
Publisher: Moleskine
Date: April 2009
Page Count: 00208
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Burt's Bees Head to Toe Starter Kit

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

This kit is a selection of sample size creams and cleansers, lotions and balms--everything you need to cleanse, moisturize and pamper yourself from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, naturally.

Pomegranate Lip Balm (.15 oz)

Peppermint Foot Lotion (.47 fl. oz)

Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Lotion (1 fl. oz)

Deep Cleansing Cream (.39 oz)

Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo (1 fl. oz.)

Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Conditioner (1 fl. oz.)

Lemon Butter Cuticle Crme (.30 oz)

Hand Salve (.30 oz)

Radiance Day Crme (.25 oz)

Naturally Nourishing Body Wash (1 fl. oz)

Wide Tooth Comb

PID:: 0001236106

Breaking Dawn [With DVD]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Meyer, Stephenie

This special edition of the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga includes a full color Bella and Edward poster.
Also includes: an exclusive Breaking Dawn Concert Series DVD featuring a performance from Blue October's Justin Ferstenfeld and a reproduction of his handwritten lyrics for "My Never".

ISBN-13: 9780316044615
ISBN-10: 031604461X
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Date: August 2009
Page Count: 00754
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 17

Blood Promise

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Mead, Richelle

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa--the one she has sworn to protect no matter what, and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Fiction > Fantasy & Magic
Books > Juvenile Fiction > Love & Romance

ISBN-13: 9781595141989
ISBN-10: 1595141987
Publisher: Sleuth RazorBill
Date: August 2009
Page Count: 00503
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 17

Shadowland

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Noel, Alyson

"Enter the realm of the Immortals--the #1 New York Times bestselling series that's been acclaimed as breathtaking, mesmerizing, flawless and extraordinary."

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives--and fought off the world's darkest enemies--so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death--plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick--and gets help from an unexpected source...a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love--and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger--and tests her love for Damen like never before...

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Fiction > Fantasy & Magic
Books > Juvenile Fiction > Love & Romance

ISBN-13: 9780312590444
ISBN-10: 031259044X
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date: November 2009
Page Count: 00368
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 17

Invisible I

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Lennon, Stella

Amanda Valentino changed everything.

Callie Leary has exactly one thing, and one thing only, in common with Nia Rivera and Hal Bennett: They were each chosen by Amanda to be her guide. When Amanda arrived at Endeavor High, she told Callie she moves around a lot and always picks "one" person to help her navigate the choppy waters of a new school. Why did Amanda lie?

Following a course that they suspect Amanda deliberately plotted, Callie, Nia, and Hal piece together some cryptic clues. But they find more questions than answers and quickly realize that before they can figure out what happened to Amanda--the girl who changed their lives--they'll need to solve the most important mystery of all: Who is Amanda Valentino?

ISBN-13: 9780061742125
ISBN-10: 0061742120
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date: October 2009
Page Count: 00292
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 17

Fragile Eternity

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Marr, Melissa

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone--but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her--but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

ISBN-13: 9780061214714
ISBN-10: 006121471X
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: May 2009
Page Count: 00389
Reading Level: Ages 12 - UP

Blue Moon

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Noel, Alyson

"Alyson's Noel's bestselling Immortals series has been hailed as "addictive" "beautiful" "haunting" and "mesmerizing." In the second installment, Ever can bring her family back from the dead--but only if she's willing to sacrifice the guy she loves more than life itself." Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers are increasing, Damen's are fading--stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.
Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen's past--the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden--but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them--or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

ISBN-13: 9780312532765
ISBN-10: 0312532768
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date: July 2009
Page Count: 00289
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 17

City of Glass

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Clare, Cassandra

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the "New York Times" bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

ISBN-13: 9781416914303
ISBN-10: 1416914307
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Date: March 2009
Page Count: 00541
Reading Level: Ages 13 - 17

Tenth Grade Bleeds

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Brewer, Heather

Itas another sucky year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. The evil vampire DaAblo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vladas powers. His best friend Henry doesnat want to be his drudge anymore. And as if all that werenat enough, itas getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on the people around him. When months go by with no word from Uncle Otis and DaAblo shows up demanding Vladas fatheras journal, Vlad realizes that having a normal high school year is the least of his concerns. Vlad needs to act fast, and even his status as the Pravus wonat save him this time . . .

ISBN-13: 9780525421351
ISBN-10: 0525421351
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Date: June 2009
Page Count: 00292
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 12

Shiver

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Stiefvater, Maggie

For Grace, one yellow-eyed wolf is a chilling presence in the woods behind her house. During winter, Sam lives in the frozen woods and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, he lives a few precious months as a human. Soon, Grace and Sam find themselves risking everything to remain together.

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Fiction > Love & Romance
Books > Juvenile Fiction > Animals - Wolves

ISBN-13: 9780545123266
ISBN-10: 0545123267
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date: August 2009
Page Count: 00392
Reading Level: Ages 13 - 17

Along for the Ride

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Dessen, Sarah

Itas been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parentsa divorceaor since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life sheas been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Fiction > Love & Romance

ISBN-13: 9780670011940
ISBN-10: 0670011940
Publisher: Viking Children's Books
Date: June 2009
Page Count: 00383
Reading Level: Ages 12 - 17

Harry Potter Set, Books 1-7 [With Stickers]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Rowling, J. K.

All seven books in the Harry Potter saga are housed in a collectible trunk-like box with sturdy handles and privacy lock. Bonus decorative stickers are included in each box set.

Related Subjects:Books > Juvenile Fiction > Fantasy & Magic
Books > Juvenile Fiction > School & Education

ISBN-13: 9780545044257
ISBN-10: 0545044251
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: October 2007
Reading Level: Ages 09 - 12

The Alchemist

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Coelho, Paulo

My Heart Is Afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky."Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. "The Alchemist" is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, "The Alchemist" has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come."The Alchemist" is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found.

From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Click here to see a live one-hour event on September 17th at 3:00 EST.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > Literary

ISBN-13: 9780061122415
ISBN-10: 0061122416
Publisher: HarperOne
Date: May 2006
Page Count: 00197
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Into the Wild

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Krakauer, Jon

What We're Reading Now
"Though the story is tragic, there's much inspiration to be found in Chris McCandless' quest for a life that went against the norm."
Sara Kruszka - Books-A-Million, Raleigh, NC

In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild.

Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and , unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw the maps away. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished into the wild.

Jon Krakauer constructs a clarifying prism through which he reassembles the disquieting facts of McCandless's short life. Admitting an interst that borders on obsession, he searches for the clues to the dries and desires that propelled McCandless. Digging deeply, he takes an inherently compelling mystery and unravels the larger riddles it holds: the profound pull of the American wilderness on our imagination; the allure of high-risk activities to young men of a certain cast of mind; the complex, charged bond between fathers and sons.

When McCandless's innocent mistakes turn out to be irreversible and fatal, he becomes the stuff of tabloid headlines and is dismissed for his naiveté, pretensions, and hubris. He is said to have had a death wish but wanting to die is a very different thing from being compelled to look over the edge. Krakauer brings McCandless's uncompromising pilgrimage out of the shadows, and the peril, adversity , and renunciation sought by this enigmatic young man are illuminated with a rare understanding--and not an ounce of sentimentality. Mesmerizing, heartbreaking, Into the Wild is a tour de force. The power and luminosity of Jon Krakauer's stoytelling blaze through every page.

ISBN-13: 9780385486804
ISBN-10: 0385486804
Publisher: Anchor Books
Date: February 1997
Page Count: 00224
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Atlas Shrugged

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Rand, Ayn

What We're Reading Now
"Thought provoking, honest and insightful. Recommeded reading for anyone of any age."
Roxanne Randow - Books-A-Million, Alexandria, LA

Ayn Rand's epochal novel, first published in 1957, has been a bestseller for more than four decades as well as an intellectual landmark. It is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world--and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies but against those who needed him most--and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world's motor--and the motive power of every man? Tremendous in its scope, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life--from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy...to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction...to the philosopher who becomes a pirate...to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad...to the lowest track worker in her Terminal tunnels. Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's masterpiece. It is a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > Classics

ISBN-13: 9780451191144
ISBN-10: 0451191145
Publisher: Signet Book
Date: August 1996
Page Count: 01075
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Thompson, Hunter S.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page. It is also the tale of a long weekend road trip that has gone down in the annals of American pop culture as one of the strangest journeys ever undertaken.

Now this cult classic of gonzo journalism is a major motion picture from Universal, directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. Opens everywhere on May 22, 1998.

ISBN-13: 9780679785897
ISBN-10: 0679785892
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
Date: May 1998
Page Count: 00224
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Glass Castle

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Walls, Jeannette

Books-A-Million Book Club January 2008 Selection:
In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing to the horrific. Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover.

ISBN-13: 9780743247542
ISBN-10: 074324754X
Publisher: Scribner Book Company
Date: January 2006
Page Count: 00288
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Great Gatsby

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Fitzgerald, F. Scott

Click here for discussion questions!

Literary Book Club June 2007 Selection:
The exemplary novel of the Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgeralds' third book, The Great Gatsby (1925), stands as the supreme achievement of his career. T. S. Eliot read it three times and saw it as the "first step" American fiction had taken since Henry James; H. L. Mencken praised "the charm and beauty of the writing," as well as Fitzgerald's sharp social sense; and Thomas Wolfe hailed it as Fitzgerald's "best work" thus far. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when, The New York Times remarked, "gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession," it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s that resonates with the power of myth. A novel of lyrical beauty yet brutal realism, of magic, romance, and mysticism, The Great Gatsby is one of the great classics of twentieth-century literature.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > Classics

ISBN-13: 9780743273565
ISBN-10: 0743273567
Publisher: Scribner Book Company
Date: September 2004
Page Count: 00180
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Kite Runner

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Hosseini, Khaled

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Books-A-Million Book Club August 2006 Selection:
The Kite Runner follows a young boy, Amir, as he faces the challenges that confront him on the path to manhoodtesting friendships, finding love, cheating death, accepting faults, and gaining understanding. Living in Afghanistan in the 1960s, Amir enjoys a life of privilege that is shaped by his friendship with Hassan, his servant's son. Amir lives in constant want of his father's attention, feeling that he is a failure in his father's eyes. Hassan, on the other hand, seems to be able to do no wrong. Their friendship is a complex tapestry of love, loss, privilege, and shame.

Striving to be the son his father always wanted, Amir places the fate of his relationship with his father on the outcome of a kite running tournament. Amir wins the tournament. Yet just as he begins to feel that all will be right in the world, a tragedy occurs with his friend Hassan in a back alley on the very streets where the boys once played. This moment marks a turning point in Amir's lifeone whose memory he seeks to bury by moving to America. There he realizes his dream of becoming a writer and marries for love but the memory of that fateful day will prove too strong to forget. Eventually it draws Amir back to Afghanistan to right the wrongs that began that day in the alley.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > General

ISBN-13: 9781594480003
ISBN-10: 1594480001
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Date: April 2004
Page Count: 00400
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Hour I First Believed

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Lamb, Wally

When high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, a school nurse, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, while Caelum is away, Maureen finds herself in the library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed. Miraculously, she survives, but at a cost: she is unable to recover from the trauma. When Caelum and Maureen flee to an illusion of safety on the Quirk family's Connecticut farm, they discover that the effects of chaos are not easily put right, and further tragedy ensues.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > General

ISBN-13: 9780060988432
ISBN-10: 0060988436
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date: August 2009
Page Count: 00735
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Stein, Garth

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope--a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > General

ISBN-13: 9780061537967
ISBN-10: 0061537969
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date: June 2009
Page Count: 00336
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Love in the Time of Cholera

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Garcia Marquez, Gabriel

From the Nobel Prize-winning author of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" comes a masterly evocation of an unrequited passion so strong that it binds three people's lives together for more than 50 years.

In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermino Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again.

With humorous sagacity and consummate craft, Garca Mrquez traces an exceptional half-century story of unrequited love. Though it seems never to be conveniently contained, love flows through the novel in many wonderful guises--joyful, melancholy, enriching, ever surprising.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > Literary

ISBN-13: 9780307389732
ISBN-10: 0307389731
Publisher: Vintage Books USA
Date: October 2007
Page Count: 00348
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Shaffer, Mary Ann

January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

Related Subjects:Books > Fiction > Literary

ISBN-13: 9780385341004
ISBN-10: 0385341008
Publisher: Dial Press
Date: May 2009
Page Count: 00290
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Wordy Shipmates

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Vowell, Sarah

In this "New York Times" bestseller, the author of "Assassination Vacation" "brings the Puritan] era wickedly to life" ("Washington Post").
To this day, America views itself as a Puritan nation, but Sarah Vowell investigates what that means-and what it should mean. What she discovers is something far different from what their uptight shoebuckles- and-corn reputation might suggest-a highly literate, deeply principled, and surprisingly feisty people, whose story is filled with pamphlet feuds, witty courtroom dramas, and bloody vengeance.
Vowell takes us from the modern-day reenactment of an Indian massacre to the Mohegan Sun casino, from old-timey Puritan poetry, where "righteousness" is rhymed with "wilderness," to a Mayflower-themed waterslide. Throughout, "The Wordy Shipmates" is rich in historical fact, humorous insight, and social commentary by one of America's most celebrated voices.

ISBN-13: 9781594484001
ISBN-10: 1594484007
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Date: October 2009
Page Count: 00254
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Foster, Thomas C.

What does it mean when a fictional hero takes a journey?. Shares a meal? Gets drenched in a sudden rain shower? Often, there is much more going on in a novel or poem than is readily visible on the surface--a symbol, maybe, that remains elusive, or an unexpected twist on a character--and there's that sneaking suspicion that the deeper meaning of a literary text keeps escaping you.

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

Related Subjects:Books > Literary Criticism > Books & Reading
Books > Literary Criticism > Reference
Books > Reference > General

ISBN-13: 9780060009427
ISBN-10: 006000942X
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date: March 2003
Page Count: 00336
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

How Fiction Works

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Wood, James

In the tradition of E. M. Forster's "Aspects of the Novel" and Milan Kundera's "The Art of the Novel," "How Fiction Works" is a scintillating study of the magic of fiction--an analysis of its main elements and a celebration of its lasting power. Here one of the most prominent and stylish critics of our time looks into the machinery of storytelling to ask some fundamental questions: What do we mean when we say we "know" a fictional character? What constitutes a telling detail? When is a metaphor successful? Is Realism realistic? Why do some literary conventions become dated while others stay fresh?

James Wood ranges widely, from Homer to "Make Way for Ducklings," from the Bible to John le Carre, and his book is both a study of the techniques of fiction-making and an alternative history of the novel. Playful and profound, "How Fiction Works" will be enlightening to writers, readers, and anyone else interested in what happens on the page.

ISBN-13: 9780312428471
ISBN-10: 0312428472
Publisher: Picador USA
Date: July 2009
Page Count: 00265
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Twilight and Philosophy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Housel, Rebecca

The first look at the philosophy behind Stephenie Meyer's bestselling "Twilight" series

Bella and Edward, and their family and friends, have faced countless dangers and philosophical dilemmas in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" novels. This book is the first to explore them, drawing on the wisdom of philosophical heavyweights to answer essential questions such as: What do the struggles of "vegetarian" vampires who control their biological urge for human blood say about free will? Are vampires morally absolved if they kill only animals and not people? From a feminist perspective, is Edward a romantic hero or is he just a stalker? Is Jacob "better" for Bella than Edward?

As absorbing as the Meyer novels themselves, "Twilight and Philosophy":
Gives you a new perspective on "Twilight" characters, storylines, and themes Helps you gain fresh insights into the "Twilight "novels and movies Features an irresistible combination of vampires, romance, and philosophy

"Twilight and Philosophy" is a must-have companion for every "Twilight" fan, whether you're new to the series or have followed it since the beginning.

ISBN-13: 9780470484234
ISBN-10: 0470484233
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Date: September 2009
Page Count: 00259
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

Defining New Moon

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Leaf, Brian

"Brian Leaf has done it again Just as "Defining Twilight" did, "Defining New Moon" continues to help students improve their vocabulary while reading Stephenie Meyer's New Moon."
--Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight saga movies)

Why is Bella desolate and haggard? Will Jacob win her over with his infectious affability? Can Edward dare to flout the rules and summon the belligerent ire of the Volturi? State your allegiance: Team Edward or Team Jacob? Join Bella, Jacob, and Edward as you learn more than 600 vocabulary words for the *SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT With hundreds of new vocabulary words, this book can be used completely on its own or as a follow-up to "Defining Twilight."

Use this workbook side-by-side with your own copy of Stephenie Meyer's "New Moon"

Each chapter of the workbook gives you eight words taken from New Moon, with page references for you to read the words in the context of your favorite novel

Define the words on your own before turning back to the workbook for their actual definitions

Take SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT drills and quizzes to review and integrate what you've learned

Plus, you'll learn synonyms, Latin word parts, and memorization tools throughout the workbook

ISBN-13: 9780470532997
ISBN-10: 0470532998
Publisher: Wiley Publishing
Date: October 2009
Page Count: 00183
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Lexicon

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Vander Ark, Steve

This unauthorized guide to the popular novels by author J.K. Rowling is a 400 page companion work perfect for the curious reader who wants to know more about this remarkable series. Extensive new commentary adds to the fun of using this reference work.

The Lexicon is written by Steve Vander Ark, the creator of the famous Harry Potter Lexicon website. Internationally recognized as a top authority on the Harry Potter novels and films, Vander Ark has written this new book especially for fans of his website who have been requesting this lexicon for years. Filled with fascinating new content that does not appear on the www.HP-Lexicon.org website, this reference book is perfect for fans of the series who would like to know much more about the bestselling books.

Readers of The Lexicon will learn more about the characters and places and their relationship to each other, as well as other details such as rivalries, activities and family history. The only fully-documented unauthorized encyclopedia available today, The Lexicon is based on author's many years of in-depth study and research. The American Library Association has named the Lexicon website one of the top websites for kids, and with more 25 million visitors to the www.HP-Lexicon.org website annually, VanderArks prodigious research has been highly-praised by all fans of the Harry Potter series.

ISBN-13: 9781571431745
ISBN-10: 1571431748
Publisher: RDR Books
Date: January 2009
Page Count: 00368
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

X-Men and Philosophy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Irwin, William

Is mind reading an invasion of privacy?

What's wrong with genetic experimentation?

How many identities can one person have?

Are the X-Men advocates of civil rightsand social change?

Do mutants have "human" rights?

X-Men is one of the most popular comic-book franchises ever, captivating millions with its teeming X-Verse of genetic mutants who have been unleashing their unique special powers in the service of both good and evil since 1963. Focusing on identity and personal conflict as much as action and adventure, this bestselling series is full of complex characters and storylines that are deeply influenced by important philosophical questions. Through philosophical greats like Aristotle, Sartre, Camus, Levinas, and others, X-Men and Philosophy shows how this remarkable series speaks not only to generations of pop culture audiences, but to the very heart of the human condition.

Related Subjects:Books > Philosophy > General
Books > Social Science > Popular Culture - General

ISBN-13: 9780470413401
ISBN-10: 0470413409
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Date: March 2009
Page Count: 00251
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Mitford Bedside Companion

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Karon, Jan

"A must-have treasury with original essays, personal photos, and much more"
For the millions of fans who love the Mitford Years series, this lushly illustrated keepsake will be the perfect book to curl up with. What was that Uncle Billy joke about the census taker? Where was that beautiful prayer Father Tim offered? "The Mitford Bedside Companion" will make it easy to find the greatest of the countless gems that grace each of Karonas novels. Fans will relish favorite scenes, casts of characters, a Mitford crossword puzzle, and a bevy of original essays by Karon on everything from the life of a writer to her grandmotheras secret to good health. With a color insert of family photos and Karonas early Mitford drawings, as well as new illustrations, this is a beautifully packaged volume everyone will cherish.

Related Subjects:Books > Literary Criticism > American - General
Books > Literary Criticism > Reference

ISBN-13: 9780143112419
ISBN-10: 0143112414
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date: October 2007
Page Count: 00487
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA

The Book of William

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:02 CST

By: Collins, Paul

The first popular narrative history of Shakespeare's First Folio, the world's most obsessively pursued book.

One book above all others has transfixed connoisseurs for four centuries--a book sold for shillings in the streets of London, whisked to Manhattan for millions, and stored deep within the vaults of Tokyo. The book: William Shakespeare's First Folio of 1623. Paul Collins, lover of odd books and author of the national bestseller "Sixpence House," takes up the strange quest for this white whale of precious books.

Broken down into five acts, each tied to a different location and century, "The Book of William"'s travelogue follows the trail of the Folio's curious rise: a dizzying S otheby's auction on a pristine copy preserved since the seventeenth century, the Fleet Street machinations of the eighteenth century, the nineteenth century quests for lost Folios, obsessive acquisitions by twentieth century oilmen, and the high-tech hoards of twenty-first century Japan. Finally, Collins speculates on Shakespeare's cross-cultural future as Asian buyers enter their Folios into the electronic ether, and recounts the book's remarkable journey as it is found in attics, gets lost in oceans and fires, is bought and sold, and ultimately becomes immortal.

ISBN-13: 9781596911956
ISBN-10: 1596911956
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Date: July 2009
Page Count: 00246
Reading Level: Ages NA - NA