Tulsa Book Review September 2015

Tulsa

event guide

INSIDE! September 2015

Book Review 2 4

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 F

R E E

NEW AND OF INTEREST

C H E C K

The Last True Vampire True love never dies. Page 5

I T

Black Broadway Hard work, perseverance, talent

O U T

Page 7

Herbal Goddess The spirit of healing herbs

8 14

Page 10

I’ll fly away! The Invention of Wings By Sue Monk Kidd Viking, $32.95, 373 pages Check this out! Get up close and personal with Sue Monk Kidd on Oct. 1 at Tulsa Reads. See Page 5 for more details. Sue Monk Kidd’s latest book, The Invention of Wings, is a moving novel narrated by two remarkable women: Sarah Grimke, the daughter of slave-holding parents in early 18th century Charleston, and Handful, the house slave who is presented as a gift to Sarah on her 11th birthday. Sarah is repelled at the thought of owning another human being and at-

tempts to reject the gift, but as a young female, has no right to do so. These two characters are complex and their stories are equally compelling. Kidd relates this painful story of slavery with elegance and beauty, her words soaring like the blackbird wings Handful’s mother sews onto her quilts, symbolizing freedom, which is the primary theme of this lovely, heartbreaking book. Sarah Grimke, an abolitionist who also fought for women’s rights, actually existed, and Kidd uses her life as a jumping off point for her novel. The relationship between Sarah and Handful is nuanced See The Invention, cont’d on page 5

Enormous Smallness Lively and informative Page 13

A Taste of Cowboy Happy trails to you! Page 15

61 Reviews INSIDE!

Book Reviews Category

Crime Fiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War By P.W. Singer, August Cole Eamon Dolan, $28.00, 416 pages Check this out! Sometime in the not too distant future, World War III has just broken out when China launches a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Though U.S. soldiers fight back, most of their machines and vehicles are powered by computer chips bought from China that the Chinese slowly have been corrupting over the years. The result is widespread malfunction and a complete victory on the part of the Chinese. With Hawaii now occupied by enemy forces, America prepares to fight back and the Ghost Fleet, a grouping of retired ships in the Navy, is quickly called out of retirement in the hopes that its lowgrade technology will make it less able to be hacked. Authors P.W. Singer and August Cole have created a disturbingly realistic scenario of a future world war, its weapons and possible destructive outcome. Thoroughly researched and impeccably paced, the storyline darts back and forth between multiple points of view and exhibits the tight plot and suspense of a Tom Clancy bestseller. Singer and Cole effortlessly guide the storyline, leaving the readers on the edge of their seats until the final epic battle. Ghost Fleet is the book to watch and provides the perfect plot for adaptation into a movie. If you read one book this summer, make sure this is it! Reviewed by Stacy Shaw Finders Keepers: A Novel By Stephen King Scribner, $30.00, 448 pages Check this out! In the second novel featuring the now private detective Bill Hodges, most of the book focuses on the story of renowned author John Rothstein, who is brutally killed by

Morris Bellamy for money and a significant number of notebooks featuring unpublished works the world has never seen. Because the items are too hot to sell, Bellamy buries them and soon gets caught for rape, beginning a very long life sentence. Years later Pete Saubers finds a buried trunk with some special notebooks. There is also a large amount of money. The question is should Pete turn in what he has found to the authorities, or perhaps use the money to help his family who is in deep financial troubles and at risk of divorce? King is clearly having a lot of fun writing in this genre, as Finders Keepers is a well-developed and well-crafted mystery that builds on a strong an interesting foundation. This is one of those Stephen King books where you really enjoy the 200 pages of setup, and then the last third of the book is thrilling action, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats, wondering how it’s all going to work out. Reviewed by Alex Telander The Cartel: A Novel By Don Winslow Knopf, $27.95, 640 pages Check this out! Before reading The Cartel, ask yourself how many dead bodies you can handle in one book. In this novel of the Mexican cartel wars, heads roll through dance clubs, and men burn in barrels. The drug war is its own game of thrones, with all the gore and none of the glory. The Car- tel is the follow-up to Winslow’s deep dive into the drug war, The Power of the Dog. DEA agent Art Keller

returns, now settled into a quiet life. He left the game after putting drug kingpin and arch nemesis Adán Barrera behind bars. But once Barrera escapes, Keller returns to work to hunt the fugitive. From hiding, Barrera attempts to take back his drug empire, causing the cartels to erupt with ever-escalating violence. Despite the novel’s length (just over 600 pages), the pace is breakneck. The sprawling story features an array of well-crafted characters: journalists from Juárez, Barrera’s beauty queen lover (with a head for the business), and an 11-year-old assassin. Winslow’s 10 years of research into the North American drug trade allow the novel to examine this huge issue with depth and precision. Reviewed by Kali Lux Where They Found Her: A Novel By Kimberly McCreight Harper, $26.99, 336 pages Check this out! Molly had lost a baby, and it had devastated her, but with the love and support of her husband, Justin, and her need to be a good mother to her daughter, Ella, Molly has climbed from that abyss of sadness and started a new career as arts writer

for the local small university town newspaper. The editor calls Molly from out of town. He needs her to cover a dead-body story because the news writer is out sick. She goes to the site only to discover the body is that of an infant. With difficult memories rolling over her, she hangs on and begins to uncover a twisted web of strange relationships and what looks like a murder at the same place a generation earlier. The campus police try to protect the institution, and the town police try to protect their families and town history. Kimberly McCreight seems to have taken Churchill’s description of Russia, “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma,” as inspiration for this book. That is a good description of this story, and McCreight does a bang-up job. The writing is tight, the characters fascinating, the setting perfect and the story compelling. Don’t miss it. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck

BESTSELLERS COMING SOON

TO TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY Search the library’s catalog at www.TulsaLibrary.org to reserve your copies now.

Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 2

Tulsa

Book Review Tulsa City-County Library 400 Civic Center Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 Ph. (918) 549-7323

IN THIS ISSUE Crime Fiction............................................... 2 Best Sellers Coming Soon............................. 2

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ross Rojek ross@1776productions.com Editor/Coordinator Jackie Hill Tulsa City-County Library

Fiction.......................................................4, 5 Tulsa Reads.................................................. 5

GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Steph Rodriguez COPY EDITORS Michelle Baker Michael Julian Heather Osborne

Historical Fiction......................................... 6 History .....................................................6, 7

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Christopher Hayden Faith Lewis

Speculative Fiction....................................... 7

WEBSITE TulsaBookReview.com

Teens............................................................ 8 Youth Nonfiction Coming Soon.................... 8 Nonfiction......................................... 9, 10, 11 Kids’ Books...........................................12, 13 The Tulsa Book Review is published monthly by City Book Review. The opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Tulsa Book Review or City Book Review advertisers. All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders. All words ©2015, City Book Review

Children’s Fiction Coming Soon.................. 13

FROM THE PUBLISHER Dear Readers, Our students are back in school and it’s time to make sure they are armed with their best option for improving their grades and chance for success in school: a library card. September is Library Card Sign-up Month and every student who attends a Tulsa County school is eligible to have their own Tulsa City-County Library card. Library cards provide access to books such as those found in this publication and so much more. One additional offering you can access with your library card is Homework Help Now – the library’s free online homework assistance and tutoring service. Students can connect with live tutors who are grade-level subject matter experts from 2 to 11 p.m. daily. While they don’t do the homework for the students, they do get them unstuck. Be sure to check it out at www.TulsaLibrary.org/homeworkhelp; it will help give the student in your life the wings they need to fly! Speaking of wings, Tulsa City-County Library is proud to partner with the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers at OSU Tulsa, which will bring Sue Monk Kidd, author of the new book The Invention of Wings, to Tulsa on Oct. 1 as the featured author for Tulsa Reads. Leading up to her talk, please join Tulsa City-County Library for the free program “Novel Talk Presents I’ll Fly Away,” featuring a panel discussion on The Invention of Wings on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Harwelden Mansion. For more information, see Page 5 of this issue of the Tulsa Book Review. Last, Sept. 8 marks International Literacy Day. To celebrate, I recommend that you read a book to a child or share a book with a friend, as the ability to read is such a profound gift. And, if you’re not too busy, please join us and three exciting authors on Sept. 10 for our annual literacy fundraiser “Chapters: A Casual Evening of Books, Bards and Bites.” Details may be found at www. tulsalibrarytrust.org/chapters. In the interim, please enjoy this issue of the Tulsa Book Review, as well as your local branch of the Tulsa City-County Library. Warmest regards,

Cooking, Food & Wine...........................14, 15 Gary Shaffer Tulsa City-County Library CEO

Book Reviews Category

takes chances to so many more. If there is such a thing as story noir, it can be found here. Throughout, there is a naivety and rawness and unevenness to the writing readers will find hard to relate to Elmore Leonard. Yet, the stories are surprisingly readable, though some seem unfinished and unsatisfying. Still, for writers in the springtime of their careers, these can be particularly instructive when placed next to Leonard’s later works. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck

Fiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid: A Scandalous Highlanders Novel By Suzanne Enoch St. Martin’s Paperbacks, $7.99, 352 pages Check this out! When Rowena returns to her clan in Scotland from a season in London, she has all but forgotten her foolish infatuation with Lachlan, one of the clan’s chieftains. Lachlan sees Rowena as a child, and has no romantic interest in her whatsoever. He rebuffs her flirtations. But he changes his mind when, upon her return, she brings a pack of friends with her, some of whom are men who view Rowena as an eligible bachelorette, with a hefty dowry. The men who have spent time with Rowena in London lavish her with attention and treat her like an adult. Rowena declares to Lachlan that she’s over him, but Lachlan takes it as a challenge and decides to pursue her anyway. An interesting plot twist at the end adds some adventure to the typical back-and-forth between hero and heroine. Lachlan’s ham-fisted relentlessness can be interpreted as dogged and predatory to the romance skeptic. It doesn’t help that Rowena’s brothers hover around, threatening to harm any man who hurts her. While some of the gender dynamics can be frustrating, Suzanne Enoch’s latest romance would be a great read to take on a vacation. It’s quick, sweet and effortless. Reviewed by Caryn Shaffer Valley Fever: A Novel By Katherine Taylor Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $26.00, 304 pages Check this out! After getting her heart broken yet again, Ingrid Palamede decides to do something she swore she’d never do: she returns home to her parents in Fresno. There, wallowing in self-pity eventually gives way to her concerns about her parents’ health and finances, as well as their many acres of farmland. The longer Ingrid spends at home, the more

she rediscovers just how much she loves her homeland … and how good she is at helping with the vineyards. Ingrid can’t fix everything, but perhaps she can find some measure of peace in the very first place she left behind. Valley Fever by Katherine Taylor is a complex novel that explores themes of home, family, friends and personal truths. Many readers will love and identify with the story’s smalltown feel: characters you can’t escape, everyone knowing everyone else’s business, a landscape that quickly becomes familiar in every way. Ingrid is smart and funny, and the banter between her and other characters (especially her sister, Anne, and her former best friend, Bootsie) flows with its own special type of dry wit. This is a fantastic novel that will hook readers early and not let go. Reviewed by Holly Scudero Charlie Martz and Other Stories: The Unpublished Stories By Elmore Leonard HarperLuxe, $25.99, 256 pages Check this out! Every writer has a drawer or box or closet full of early efforts that never went anywhere, and with good reason. It’s part of the process of becoming a writer – homework, if you will – the practice that allows one to grow into a writer. These very early stories of Elmore Leonard exhibit a real understanding of how to create interesting characters, structure settings that are believable, and tell stories that are compelling and realistic. The stories take place in the Old West, in midcentury American cities and farm country and ranchland, wartime in Kuala Lumpur, and more. Characters range from a sheriff to a bullfighter to a daddy’s girl who

The Beauty: Poems By Jane Hirshfield Knopf, $26.00, 107 pages Check this out! For all lovers of poetry and those new to reading it, sit back and let this accomplished poet delight you with this volume. Jane Hirshfield has written eight books of poetry and is widely acclaimed for her skill in this endeavor. Also, the publisher has created quite a beautiful volume. Many of the poems deal with ordinary objects looked at with originality and insight. I also learned several new words from this literate poet: words like chthonic, aplysia and flensing. It is delightful to find new vocabulary among this treasure trove of poems. All of the poems are stunning, in particular “In My Wallet I Carry a Card.” In “Quartz Clock,” Hirshfield says “the ideas of poets turn into only themselves.” For those of us who admire poets like Hirshfield, we quite agree. Somerset Maugham thought that “the crown of literature is poetry.” If this book of poems is a crown, it is filled with glittering diamonds. The book has several sections. In the “Pebbles” section are found little scraps of poems or koans. It is delightful to reflect upon each one and wonder how the ideas of the poet became this wonderful book. Take it with you on your travels and be rewarded. Reviewed by Julia McMichael Working for Bigfoot By Jim Butcher, Vincent Chong (illustrator) Subterranean, $35.00, 136 pages Check this out! Jim Butcher, author of the best-selling Dresden Files, released his first short-story collection, Side Jobs, in 2010, but he continues to write stories set in the Dresden universe for various anthologies, and it’s probably going to be a while before he releases his next collection. Thankfully, he is releasing his collected Bigfoot stories with Subterranean Press. Working for Bigfoot features the three stories (so far) where Harry Dresden

Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 4

helped out a client he clearly respects, the Bigfoot Strength of a River in His Shoulders. In each of the stories, Dresden ends up having to help the Bigfoot’s son, Irwin, whose mother is human. So while he looks like a normal person – albeit very big and muscly – as he grows through his teenage years, he begins to develop his “abilities” as the son of a Bigfoot. Naturally, there are those who can sense the power and ability within him, and wish to prey on that. It’s up to Dresden to help keep the kid out of trouble. The stories are classic Dresden Files, but also about Harry’s growing respect for young Irwin and the world of magic that is the Bigfoot. Reviewed by Alex Telander In the Unlikely Event By Judy Blume Knopf, $27.95, 416 pages Check this out! Judy Blume’s first adult novel in 17 years centers, ironically, around a teenage girl named Miri living in Elizabeth, New Jersey (Blume’s hometown) in the ‘50s. With her days full of times spent with friends and family, the most complicated aspect of Miri’s life is the long-lost father that her single mother refuses to speak of. It is only when Miri witnesses a plane crash near her school on her way home one day that her carefree life is truly turned upside down. Then, when two more plane crashes occur, it seems as if the very fabric of Miri’s life - and the town of Elizabeth, itself - is completely falling apart. Blume, who has proved herself time and time again as a master of bringing characters to life, brilliantly weaves the tales of many different citizens of Elizabeth into one intertwined, heartbreaking, yet optimistic story. As with any novel using several points of view, the first few chapters take awhile to adjust to, but Blume infuses enough empathy into each character that it does not take long to begin feeling a connection with each and every one. The plot may not be fast-moving, but the enjoyment of watching the characters gradually develop and move on with their lives truly makes In the Unlikely Event the kind of novel you will not want to put down. Reviewed by Bailey Tulloch

Book Reviews Fiction cont’d from page 4

If I Fall, If I Die By Michael Christie Hogarth, $25.00, 336 pages Check this out! Michael Christie’s newest novel, If I Fall, If I Die is a full helping of literary feast. With deep, authentic and flawed characters; lush and poetic prose; and a sound storyline, Christie has created a world of wonder. Will is a young, intelligent and bookish boy who lives on the inside of his home literally, he never goes outside. With each room’s namesake a famous locale, he scales within the confines of his created walls. His mother, a sweet-natured agoraphobe, is in bondage to her fears, not excluding imagined household disasters. Her life is sheltered, and the only human contact she has is Will and the delivery men, who drop all of her living essentials to her front door. Life is as comfortably routine as the fear allows, until it isn’t. Will wants to venture out, at first with his helmet (that he evens wears inside the house), as he desires adventure and to test out the hypothesis that life outside is indeed dangerous. This is a coming-of-age story, a chronicle of one family’s endurance with mental illness, and a stark account of a mother and son as they live and fight for light. Powerfully depicted, slow reading at certain points, but a push through is worthy. Reviewed by Sky Sanchez-Fischer The Last True Vampire By Kate Baxter St. Martin’s Paperbacks, $7.99, 384 pages Check this out! Delicious, dangerous and deadly, The Last True Vampire is a welcome bite introducing the seductive Michael Aristov, the sexy Claire Thompson and the sly author Kate Baxter who brings these gorgeous creatures to life. This is the first book in what is shaping up to be a mustread series for fellow vampire groupies. Michael is the last of his kind, the sole survivor of the Vampire race who has wandered the earth untethered for centuries without kin, without love,

without purpose, without a soul—until Claire. The first time he sees Claire, the entire Otherworld feels it. The chemistry is electric, and so is the promise of their bond. An entire race of beings have remained dormant, stuck in a cocoon-like stage, since the Vampires were all but made extinct. Another race has reveled in their victory, having destroyed the preeminent race on earth, supplanting them as the most powerful beings unknown to man. All wait to see what this meeting will mean. All wait to see if the Ancient Ones will once again rise. All wait to see if the war is over, or if it has just begun. This is an intriguing first book that leaves me eager for more. I’d say Kate Baxter has done her job and masterfully. Reviewed by Kate Stephenson The Invention cont’d from cover

and avoids s e nt i me nt a l ity, as demonstrated by Ha nd f u l ’s thoughts when Sarah explains she must go north to help her father recover his health. “I was sorry for her. Sarah had jimmied herself into my heart, but at the same time, I hated the eggshell color of her face, the helpless way she looked at me all the time. She was kind to me and she was part of everything that stole my life.” Their relationship is further illuminated by Handful as she later says to Sarah, “My body might be a slave, but my mind is free. For you, it’s the other way round.” Kidd doesn’t flinch when describing the horrors of slavery. She describes the grotesque and torturous punishments administered for the slightest of crimes and the suffering it causes. But at the same time the book is also full of hope and humanity, dreams and desire, as Sarah and Handful mature over several decades and come into their own as fully realized women. Reading this book is both pleasurable and distressing. Kidd exposes one of the most shameful periods in America’s history through the voices of two intractable and unforgettable women whose lives are inextricably intertwined. She shows the best and the worst in each of her characters, resulting in a moving, powerful story. Reviewed by Cindy Hulsey, adult services coordinator, Tulsa City-County Library

Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 5

PRESENTS

Up Close and Personal With

Sue Monk Kidd Thursday, Oct. 1 • 7 p.m.

Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. • Ticket Cost: $10 Sue Monk Kidd, internationally acclaimed author of such titles as The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair, will talk about her writing life, answer questions from the audience and sign books. Sue’s latest novel, The Invention of Wings, an Oprah pick, was the No. 1 selling title on Amazon for all of 2014. Books will be available for purchasing. Visit http://myticketofﬁce.com to purchase tickets. Visit http://poetsandwriters.okstate.edu/TulsaReads for additional Tulsa Reads events.

Category

Teens

TO TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY Search the library’s catalog at www.TulsaLibrary.org to reserve your copies now.

Beastly Verse by Joohee Yoon

SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show on Earth By Laura A. Woollett Chicago Review Press, $18.95, 176 pages Check this out! It was a hot July afternoon in 1944 when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to Hartford, Connecticut. Even as World War II raged and many fathers were gone, this was an exciting day for many. Since the circus train had been late, the Saturday matinee was cancelled. Consequently, Sunday’s matinee was a full house with over 6,000 people crowded into the big top. Because of the lateness of getting the tent up the day before, some things were left undone. Perhaps most importantly, fire extinguishers were not placed around the arena. Some of the staff had to leave their posts at the seats to help move chutes blocking exits after the animal act. Suddenly, flames appeared high up on the side of the tent. Thus began the worst circus tragedy to date. To write a book about such a terrible event that is for young readers is a difficult task, but author Laura A. Woollett has used impeccable research and personal stories of people involved to tell the story in a way young people will find fascinating and will inspire them to learn more. This is nonfiction at its very best. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans By Don Brown HMH Books for Young Readers, $18.99, 96 pages Check this out! Drowned City covers the events in the affected areas of Hurricane Katrina that are easily ignored. It talks of things many news stations simply overlooked, such as the ineffectiveness of our officials

during this tragic time. Lootings occurred after the storm, criminals taking advantage of people’s houses and businesses, while they were escaping the floods. There were many good things, too, like simple people helping those affected by the floods. Those that had boats went around rescuing those trapped in their own houses. There is some sense of heroism, looking back at Hurricane Katrina. Drowned City was a hard-hitting and intriguing comic that revealed many things that I had not known before. It got rid of the pretense that after Hurricane Katrina America simply pulled itself together to deal with the problem at hand. Results took time, and everything wasn’t all sunshine and roses. However, it shows that after this problem occurred, America’s disaster plans have been highly improved since this time, merely 10 years ago. This would be a worthwhile source to use in research papers or other studies. I highly recommend this book. Reviewed by Lauren Rademacher Emmy & Oliver By Robin Benway HarperTeen, $17.99, 352 pages Check this out! Ten years ago, Emmy’s neighbor and friend disappeared, kidnapped by his own father. And ever since then, Emmy’s own parents have let fear rule their lives, but they don’t realize that the restrictions they’ve placed on their daughter – with the best intentions – are smothering her. She just wants a little more freedom, but she’s not sure her parents will ever relax their worrying, even when Oliver finally comes

Poetry and children belong together, and for a long time, the music and playfulness of verse wove itself through children’s days and lives. Beastly Verse aims to help return the wonder of poetry to children’s lives through 16 exquisitely illustrated poems, four of which have the surprise and pleasure of being foldouts.

Mason Jar Crafts for Kids

by Linda Z. Braden Mason jars are no longer just for canning. Today we use them to drink from, to cook inside and with almost limitless possibilities to craft with. In this fabulous new book, Linda Braden, author and owner of MasonJarCraftsLove.com and ItAllStartedWithPaint. com, offers up a collection of fun and creative Mason jar crafts for kids.

Mission: Sea Turtle Rescue

by Karen Romano Young Inspiring young animal lovers to get up close to sea turtles and the real-life challenges they face is what Mission: Sea Turtle Rescue is all about. Kids can connect their love of animals with their passion to help save them, discovering amazing true adventure stories, gorgeous photography, hands-on activities, fascinating information and more.

home after discovering the truth about his own kidnapping and engineering an escape. But his homecoming has been far from perfect, and Oliver needs time to think … and people to truly listen to him. Emmy is willing to listen, and soon they find themselves drawn closer together. With Emmy’s help, Oliver has a chance at figuring himself out. And with Oliver, Emmy just might be able to get through to her own parents. Emmy & Oliver is a beautiful and heart-wrenching love story that grabs readers and refuses to let go. It’s hard to not get caught up in the strong emotions in this novel: friendship, loss, betrayal, love so strong that it almost hurts. On top of that, Emmy is an amazing character: realistically flawed, unique, with a strong sense of identity and a hilarious sense of humor that many readers will either identify with or find themselves wanting to emulate. This book is impossible to put down. Reviewed by Holly Scudero Duplicity By N.K. Traver Thomas Dunne Books, $18.99, 256 pages Check this out! Brandon Eriks is a 17-year-old hacker, cracking the codes to bank accounts for the wealthiest residents in Bank Pueblo’s database. Brandon would have chalked that up to the weirdest thing in his life,

Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 8

but that was before he saw his reflection blink. At first Brandon sorts that out to lack of sleep, but when his reflection starts changing things, like causing his piercings to disappear right before his eyes, he decides he has gone insane. However, that is before the switch is complete. Brandon wakes up in a digital prison, caught by the Project, an Internet superstition. His jailer is JENA, a supercomputer that had been tracking his every move by way of mirror. His sentence: 20 years. Now Brandon must rush to get out of his prison cell and save the only person he cares about. Brandon is an extremely believable character. His reactions to each situation are priceless and make this book a joy to read. Many people may not understand the reasons for his choices, but I found it refreshing that his motto for saving others wasn’t for the “greater good.” This book was intriguing yet hysterical, always great qualities for a book to have. Reviewed by Lauren Rademacher

www.TulsaLibrary.org

918.549.READ

SEPTEMBER 2015

A FREE MONTHLY GUIDE TO YOUR COMMUNITY LIBRARY, ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Meet authors Marisa de los Santos, Lauren Smith and Keija Parssinen. PAGE 2

adults & all ages BIXBY LIBRARY A-Book-A-Month Discussion Group Wednesday, Sept. 23 • 2-3 p.m. Read "The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" by Jonasson Jonas and then join us for this lively discussion. For adults.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY Open Book Discussion Group Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 6:30-7:45 p.m. Read "Caleb's Crossing" by Geraldine Brooks and then join us for this lively discussion. For adults.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH Great Decisions Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 12:30-2:30 p.m. Join Sherry S. Clark, program director of RSVP Tulsa, as she discusses the Tulsa County Family Safety Court Watch volunteer program. Court Watch uses volunteers to observe cases in the courts related to family

L I B R A R Y CLOSINGS

Spend an evening with author Isabel Quintero Sept. 10 at Martin Regional Library. PAGE 3

safety and then provide feedback to participants and the community about the process, with the larger goal of increasing safety of victims and their children and improving accountability for abusers. Great Decisions Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 12:30-2:30 p.m. Join us for a lively discussion about current events and social issues.

Snoopy says it's cool to have a library card! PAGE 8

Patchworkers Tuesday, Sept. 8 • 6:30-8 p.m. If you want to learn to quilt or are already an experienced quilter, join us for a fun and informative evening.

COMMUNITY VENUES

Great Decisions: Bruce Plante Wednesday, Sept. 30 • 12:30-2:30 p.m. How controversial is cartooning anyway? If you're Bruce Plante, editorial cartoonist for the Tulsa World, the answer is "plenty"! Join us for a lively discussion with Plante, who has won awards for exploring serious issues through comedy.

Novel Talk Presents I'll Fly Away: Freedom of the Body and Freedom of the Mind in Sue Monk Kidd's "The Invention of Wings" Tuesday, Sept. 15 • 7-8:30 p.m. LOCATION: Harwelden Mansion, 2210 S. Main St. • A distinguished panel will discuss the themes of freedom and slavery of both body and mind in the novel "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. For adults. This program complements Tulsa Reads.

COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY

GLENPOOL LIBRARY

All Thumbs Knitters Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 noon-2 p.m. • All levels of knitting expertise are welcome to join us for this fun and instructional afternoon.

Fiber Arts Saturday, Sept. 12 • 1-3 p.m. Bring your own project, such as knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning, cross-stitch, needlepoint, hand sewing or whatever fiber craft you do, and share it with others. We always have a fun time!

Collinsville Book Discussion Tuesday, Sept. 8 • noon-1 p.m. Read "The Eye of God" by James Rollins and then join us for a lively discussion. Copies of the book are available at the library.

Regional libraries will be closed on Sunday, Sept. 6, and all Tulsa City-County Library locations will be closed on Monday, Sept 7 for Labor Day.

To search for events, scan this code using your mobile device and QR scanner app.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Start-Up Basics Thursday, Sept. 3 • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Location: Pecan Room Want to start a business? Get the help you need with SCORE experts. Learn the essentials of business start-ups, get action steps for your business and receive one-to-one mentoring. SCORE is a nonprofit association of volunteer business experts. Registration is required. Go to www.tulsa.score.org to register. 3-D Printer Demonstration Thursdays, Sept. 3, 24 • 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 • 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 • 10-11 a.m. Location: Digital Lounge See what 3-D printing is all about with a demonstration of the Ultimaker2 3-D printer! For all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tracking Ancestors Through Census Records Wednesday, Sept. 9 • 1:30-2:30 p.m. Location: Pecan Room Follow a family as they appear in federal and state census records on AncestryLibrary Edition. Discover how these records can answer questions about migration, relationships and other family research dilemmas.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS ARE MARKED WITH THIS SYMBOL.

a d u l t s

a l l

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DIY for Adults: Learn How to Brew Your Own Beer Tuesday, Sept. 22 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Maple Room Join Desiree Knott, owner of High Gravity, a home brewing supply store, as she demonstrates the steps to make your own craft beer. She is an avid craft brew fan and is involved with the Fellowship of Oklahoma Alemakers (FOAM). For ages 21 and older.

Hot Topics: A Series for Teens and Their Parents – Dating Safety Thursday, Sept. 17 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Oak Room • Healthy relationships are all about respect. Join Samantha Wade and Lori Aery Gonzalez of Domestic Violence Intervention Services as they discuss dating safety. Teens will explore skills to develop healthy, safe relationships, and parents will learn skills to help them talk to their teens about dating abuse, safety and healthy relationships. Teens will meet in the Ash Room; parents will meet in the Oak Room. Light refreshments will be served.

HELMERICH LIBRARY Books People Are Talking About Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 12:15-1:15 p.m. We will read and discuss stories of survival and resilience focusing on the harrowing account of the Chilean miners in "Deep Down Dark" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hector Tobar. Light refreshments will be served.

BookSmart Tulsa Presents Garth Stein Saturday, Sept. 19 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Connor's Cove Garth Stein, author of the bestselling novel "The Art of Racing in the Rain," will discuss his latest book, "A Sudden Light." A book signing will follow and books will be available for purchasing. For ages 16 and older.

c o n t i n u e d us! All skill levels are welcome. We have kits available for checkout.

JENKS LIBRARY Jenks Library Book Discussion Group Thursday, Sept. 17 • 1:30-2:30 p.m. Participants should read the selected book prior to the program. Call 918-549-7570 for book title.

KENDALL-WHITTIER LIBRARY Mexican Fiesta Night Friday, Sept. 11 • 7-9 p.m. Viva Mexico! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a fun fiesta for the whole family. Bring a lawn chair. Refreshments are provided.

LIBRARIUM KnitWits Knitting Group Wednesday, Sept. 9 • 3:30-5 p.m. Do you like to crochet or knit? Join

Orientation to 3-D Printing and Carving Thursday, Sept. 17 • 3:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 • 3:30-4 p.m. Librarium has an Ultimaker 2, a Makerbot 3-D printer and a Shapeoko CNC carving machine. Join us for a brief orientation on the use of these machines and then sign up to use them yourself! For all ages. Book Discussion: "The Dinner" by Herman Koch Wednesday, Sept. 30 • 2-3 p.m. Join us to discuss this tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives – all over the course of one meal. For adults. Participants should read the book prior to the program.

MARISA de los SANTOS

KEIJA PARSSINEN

FEATURING AUTHORS:

LAUREN SMITH

A CASUAL EVENING OF BOOKS, BARDS AND BITES BENEFITING TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY’S RUTH G. HARDMAN ADULT LITERACY SERVICE

AND DELECTABLE APPETIZERS FROM SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10 • 6:30 P.M.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY • 8316 E. 93RD ST. • $50 PER PERSON

CALL 918-549-7494 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE RESERVATIONS. www.tulsalibrarytrust.org • 2015

www.TulsaLibrary.org

Hearing loop available. Switch hearing aid to T-coil.

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MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH

An Evening With Isabel Quintero Thursday, Sept. 10 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Auditorium Isabel Quintero, author of the award-winning novel "Gabi, a Girl in Pieces," will discuss her inspirations and experiences in writing her book, speak about her life and works, answer questions from the audience and sign books. Books will be available for purchasing. For ages 16 and older. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center.

Teen Advisory Board Friday, Sept. 4 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Work on a fun craft project while discussing programming ideas, book recommendations and volunteer opportunities at the library. Snacks are provided, and you'll receive volunteer hours for attending! For ages 12-18.

SKIATOOK LIBRARY Osage Language Class Thursdays, Sept. 17, 24 ● 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Osage Nation Language Department will teach the basics of the Osage language. For all ages. Sponsored by the American Indian Resource Center.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Book-A-Librarian Sept. 1-30 • Need individualized instruction on a library service or product? Whether you want to learn how to download digital content or improve your job skills, we are here to help. Book-A-Librarian appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis and generally last 30-60 minutes. Registration is required. Call 918-5497683 to schedule an appointment. Osage Language Class Wednesdays, Sept. 16, 23, 30 6:30-7:30 p.m. • The Osage Nation Language Department will teach the basics of the Osage language. For all ages. Sponsored by the American Indian Resource Center.

teens & tweens BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY BA Teen Time (BATT) Tuesday, Sept. 8 • 5:30-6:45 p.m. Come and join BATT! Give your input about future library displays and programs, plus enjoy activities and snacks. Read or Die Anime Club Saturday, Sept. 19 • noon-2 p.m. Hang out with us! We'll watch some anime, draw some manga and eat some snacks. Come in cosplay or just as you are. For ages 12-18.

In the Middle Book Group Monday, Sept. 21 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join other “in the middle” kids ages 9-12 as we discuss "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson. We'll have refreshments, door prizes and games too! You should read the book prior to the program.

BROOKSIDE LIBRARY DIY Craft: Crepe-Paper Braided Bracelets Monday, Sept. 21 • 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Stop in for the books, stay for the paper crafts! Learn how to braid crepe paper into a bracelet for yourself or someone special. Supplies are provided. For ages 7-18.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Minecraft Gaming Thursday, Sept. 3 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab Put your imagination to the test building your own world in the popular game Minecraft. For ages 12-18. Hardesty Teen Anime/Manga Club Saturday, Sept. 12 • 1-2:30 p.m. Location: Digital Lounge • Discuss your favorite manga characters and books, and make a craft. For ages 12-18. Hot Topics: A Series for Teens and Their Parents – Dating Safety Thursday, Sept. 17 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Ash Room • Healthy relationships are all about respect. Join Samantha Wade and Lori Aery Gonzalez of Domestic Violence Intervention Services as they discuss dating safety. Teens will explore skills to develop healthy, safe relationships, and parents will learn skills to help them talk to their teens about dating abuse, safety and healthy relationships. Teens will meet in the Ash Room; parents will meet in the Oak Room. Light refreshments will be served.

HELMERICH LIBRARY Teen Time Saturday, Sept. 5 • 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring a friend and try out STEMrelated activities @ your library.

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AT THE

LIBRARY LIFE’s Vintage Guide to Housing & Services is Northeast Oklahoma’s most comprehensive guide to senior living options and services, home and community-based services, and programs and resources for older adults and family caregivers. This 252-page guide also features articles and checklists on aging issues, including: and Older Adults • Driving 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease • Helping Seniors Remain at Home With the ADvantage Program • Legal Matters Older Adults • Understandingand Hospice Care • Pick up your free copy today at any Tulsa City-County Library. Random Fandom for Teens Tuesday, Sept. 8 • 5:45-7:15 p.m. What's your fandom? Are you a wizard, a tribute, a timelord, a detective, a hobbit or a Jedi? What's your canon? Join us for discussion, books, snacks and more! h-tag# Tuesday Teen Advisory Group Tuesday, Sept. 29 • 4:45-6:45 p.m. Teens, bring a friend and join us for our first meeting of the school year. We will discuss download options and other ideas for using your library card. Snacks will be provided!

MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Teen Time Wednesdays, Sept. 9, 23 • 4-5 p.m. Location: Auditorium Come and join us for Wii gaming and board games! For ages 10-18. An Evening With Isabel Quintero Thursday, Sept. 10 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Auditorium Isabel Quintero, author of the award-winning novel "Gabi, a Girl in Pieces," will discuss her inspirations and experiences in writing her book, speak about her life and works, answer questions from the audience and sign books. Books will be available

for purchasing. For ages 16 and older. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center. Minecraft Night Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 6-8 p.m. Come and create your own world in Minecraft online! For ages 1018. Class is limited to 12 on a first-come, first-served basis. Lego Lab Saturday, Sept. 19 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Storytime Castle Learn new building ideas, partner with other children during team building and explore free building. Leave your Legos at home and come play with ours. For ages 6-12. Registration is required and begins Sept. 14. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7590 to register. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust. Manga-Ai Manga/Anime Club Saturday, Sept. 26 • 2-3:30 p.m. Location: Conference Room Watch Japanese animation. Enjoy food, films and fun! For ages 12-18.

NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Get Your Game On! Thursday, Sept. 24 • 3:30-4:45 p.m. Play Kinect Adventures Games, Mario or Sports Wii games with us. For ages 10-18.

TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY EVENT GUIDE

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OWASSO LIBRARY Knitting for Teens Thursday, Sept. 17 • 6-7 p.m. Join us for a knitting session where we will go over the basics and provide advice and materials for future knitting projects. For ages 12-17.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Teen Movie Club Saturday, Sept. 5 • 1-3 p.m. Join us for an interactive movie experience! Grab a snack and a seat, and watch a great movie in a whole new way. For ages 10-18. Minecraft Night Thursday, Sept. 24 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab Put your imagination to the test building your own world in the popular computer game Minecraft! For ages 10-18. Seating is limited.

computers, devices &

digital services BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY Book-A-Librarian Sept. 1-30 • Get individualized instruction from professional library staff. Book-A-Librarian appointments are scheduled on a first-come, firstserved basis and generally last 30-60 minutes. Topics include navigating the library's website, database research, career services, computer basics, and audio and ebook tutorials. For adults. Registration is required. Call 918-5497500 to request an appointment.

COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY Job Lab Monday, Sept. 21 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Make an appointment to get one-toone assistance with your job search. Library staff will help you update your résumé, create an email address, search for jobs online, complete online applications, or explore a new career in this special lab just for job seekers. You will have access to Microsoft Office software and the Internet. USB flash drives are available for purchasing, or you can bring your own to save your work. Standard printing charges apply. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7528 to register.

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HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY MS Word 1 Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to use toolbars and menus, set margins, apply spell check, and preview, save and print documents. You should have some experience using a computer keyboard and mouse prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 2 Tuesday, Sept. 8 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create and format tables, use bulleted and numbered lists, and apply and format columns in a document. You should take MS Word 1 prior to attending. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. Résumé Tips and Tricks Saturday, Sept. 12 • 9:30-10:30 a.m. Location: Computer Lab Bring your job history information and learn the latest tips for creating a great résumé using the library's resources and databases. Basic computer and Microsoft Word skills are necessary. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7550 to register. MS Word 3 Tuesday, Sept. 15 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create and use borders and shading, headers and footers, page numbering and drawing tools. You should take MS Word 2 prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 4 Tuesday, Sept. 22 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class explores mail merge, and shows how to use tables to perform calculations and create onscreen forms. You should take MS Word 3 prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. iPad Drop-in Clinic Thursday, Sept. 24 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. Location: Computer Lab Stop by with your iPad to find out about all the free apps Tulsa CityCounty Library offers for books, movies, music and more! For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis.

www.TulsaLibrary.org

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MS Publisher 101 Tuesday, Sept. 29 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create fun and colorful signs and fliers. You should take MS Word 2 prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis.

read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Class size is limited.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY

Elementary, My Dear Book Club Thursday, Sept. 24 • 5:45-6:30 p.m. Join us for this lively book discussion. Participants should read the selected book prior to the program. Call 918549-7500 for title. For ages 5-10.

Really Basic Computer Class Wednesday, Sept. 30 • 1:30-3 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class is designed for new computer users who have little or no previous experience using computers, Windows, a mouse or the Internet, and little or no knowledge of basic computer terms. For adults. Class is limited to 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.

children BIXBY LIBRARY PAWS for Reading Tuesday, Sept. 8 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Call 918-549-7514 to register. Walkins welcome if space is available. Preschool Storytime Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, 28 11-11:30 a.m. • For ages 2-5.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY My First Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-10:50 a.m. • For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Explore and Play Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11 a.m. • Join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 1-5 and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Wednesday, Sept. 9 • 4-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to

Preschool Storytime Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • For ages 3-5.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH Growing Readers Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • Read … learn … grow! This storytime focuses on helping young ones ages 2-5 develop literacy skills – especially the love of reading! Stay and Play Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 11-11:30 a.m. • After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 2-5. Baby and Toddler Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11 a.m. • For newborns to 3-year-olds and their caregivers. Sing and Learn Circle Storytime Thursday, Sept. 17 • 11:30 a.m.-noon Join Miss Laura for a special musical storytime where we will sit in a circle and sing all of the stories! Enjoy finger plays, songs, games and early literacy fun. Great for infants up to age 5. PAWS for Reading Friday, Sept. 18 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust.

BROOKSIDE LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:15-10:45 a.m. • For ages 2-5. My First Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 11-11:20 a.m. • For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers.

c h i l d r e n DIY Craft: Crepe-Paper Braided Bracelets Monday, Sept. 21 • 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Stop in for the books, stay for the paper crafts! Learn how to braid crepe paper into a bracelet for yourself or someone special. Supplies are provided. For ages 7-18. Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band Friday, Sept. 25 • 10:30-11:30 a.m. These Latin Grammy Award winners are back in town to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Named by USA Today as the best new band on the children’s music scene, this show is a hip-shaking, head-bopping, Los Angeles-based explosion of fun! For all ages. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center.

COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY Stories From the Rocking Chair Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • For newborns to 4-year-olds and their caregivers. Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band Friday, Sept. 25 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. These Latin Grammy Award winners are back in town to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Named by USA Today as the best new band on the children’s music scene, this show is a hip-shaking, head-bopping, Los Angeles-based explosion of fun! For all ages. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center.

GLENPOOL LIBRARY Ms. Tatiana's Family Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11 a.m. • Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 4 and younger.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY My First Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, 28 10-10:20 a.m. • For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Toddler Time Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 11-11:20 a.m. • For ages 2-3 and their parents/caregivers.

c o n t i n u e d Mr. Paul's Preschool Storytime Mondays, Sept. 14, 21, 28 11-11:30 a.m. • For ages 3-5. Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band Saturday, Sept. 26 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Connor's Cove These Latin Grammy Award winners are back in town to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Named by USA Today as the best new band on the children’s music scene, this show is a hip-shaking, head-bopping, Los Angeles-based explosion of fun! For all ages. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center.

HELMERICH LIBRARY Family Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • For all ages.

HERMAN AND KATE KAISER LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 2-5. My First Storytime Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11:30 a.m. • For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Wednesdays, Sept. 9, 23 • 3:30-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-9 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7542 to register. Sensory Storytime Saturday, Sept. 19 • 10:30 a.m.-noon Does your child have difficulty sitting through storytime? If so, this inclusive, interactive program of stories, songs and activities may be just what you are looking for! Sensory Storytime focuses on learning with all five senses and is especially designed for children with a variety of learning styles or sensory integration challenges. Registration is required. Register online at http:// kids.tulsalibrary.org/sensorystorytime or by calling 918-549-7542. For ages 1-7 and their caregivers.

Tulsa City-County Library will offer free After-School Homework Clubs for children in grades 3-8 at 12 libraries, starting in September and continuing through May.

The following libraries will offer one-to-one homework assistance. Hardesty Regional Library Martin Regional Library Maxwell Park Library Nathan Hale Library South Broken Arrow Library Zarrow Regional Library

The following locations will offer educationbased activities focusing on STE(A)M – Science, Technology, Engineering, (Arts) and Mathematics. Brookside Library Collinsville Library Jenks Library Owasso Library Rudisill Regional Library Suburban Acres Library

Please check with the host library for days and times. Registration is required to participate in the clubs. The library also needs volunteers and homework coaches to help out with the After-School Homework Clubs. If you would like to sign up as a volunteer, register your child for a club or learn more about the clubs, please visit

http://guides.tulsalibrary.org/homeworkclub.

Mr. Paul's Family Storytime Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 6:30-7 p.m. • For all ages.

TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY EVENT GUIDE

SEPTEMBER 2015

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JENKS LIBRARY My First Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10-10:15 a.m. • For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11 a.m. • For ages 3-5.

JUDY Z. KISHNER LIBRARY Terrific Tuesday: Pirates in Pajamas Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 6-7 p.m. Join us for this back-to-school

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Terrific Tuesday kickoff for the Sperry Pirates! For ages 5-10. Build-a-Reader Storytime Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 10-11 a.m. • Join us for thematic storytimes with developmentally appropriate activities for ages 2-5.

KENDALL-WHITTIER LIBRARY Bilingual Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30 10-10:45 a.m. • Enjoy favorite stories and activities in English and Spanish. For ages 3-5.

LIBRARIUM Family Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 8, 22 • 3:30-4 p.m. For ages 8 and younger and their families. PAWS for Reading Saturday, Sept. 12 • 1-2 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust.

tulsa city-county library locations 25 Bixby Library 20 E. Breckenridge, 74008 • 918-549-7514 M-W, 10-6; Th, 12-8; Fri., 12-6; Sat., 11-5 19 Broken Arrow Library 300 W. Broadway, 74012 • 918-549-7500 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 23 Broken Arrow Library/South 3600 S. Chestnut, 74011 • 918-549-7662 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 17 Brookside Library 1207 E. 45th Place, 74105 • 918-549-7507 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 9 Central Library Closed for renovation 400 Civic Center, 74103 • 918-549-7323 8 Charles Page Library 551 E. Fourth St., Sand Springs, 74063 918-549-7521 • M, 10-6; T, 10-8; W-Fri., 10-6; Sat., 11-5 2 Collinsville Library 1223 Main, 74021 • 918-549-7528 M, 10-6; T, 12-8; W-Th, 10-6; Fri., 11-6; Sat., 10-5 24 Glenpool Library 730 E. 141st St., 74033 • 918-549-7535 M, 10-6; T, 12-8; W-Th, 10-6; Fri., 12-6; Sat., 11-5 22 Hardesty Regional Library and Genealogy Center 8316 E. 93rd St., 74133 • 918-549-7550 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 21 Helmerich Library 5131 E. 91st St., 74137 • 918-549-7631 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 18 Herman and Kate Kaiser Library 5202 S. Hudson Ave., Suite B, 74135 918-549-7542 • M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 20 Jenks Library 523 W. B St., 74037 • 918-549-7570 M-W, 10-6; Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 11-5 3 Judy Z. Kishner Library 10150 N. Cincinnati Ave. E., Sperry 74073 • 918-549-7577 M, 10-6; T, 12-8; W-Th, 10-6; Fri., 12-6; Sat., 11-5

11 Kendall-Whittier Library 21 S. Lewis, 74104 • 918-549-7584 M-Th, 10-6; Fri., 11-6; Sat., 10-5 10 Librarium 1110 S. Denver Ave., 74119 • 918-549-7349 M-Th, 9-7; Fri.-Sat., 9-5 15 Martin Regional Library and Hispanic Resource Center 2601 S. Garnett Road, 74129 • 918-549-7590 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 7 Maxwell Park Library 1313 N. Canton, 74115 • 918-549-7610 M-Th, 10-6; Fri., 11-6; Sat., 10-5 14 Nathan Hale Library 6038 E. 23rd St., 74114 • 918-549-7617 M-Th, 10-6; Fri., 11-6; Sat., 10-5 4 Owasso Library 103 W. Broadway, 74055 • 918-549-7624 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 12 Pratt Library 3219 S. 113th W. Ave., Sand Springs, 74063 • 918-549-7638 M-W, 10-6; Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 11-5 6 Rudisill Regional Library and African-American Resource Center 1520 N. Hartford, 74106 • 918-549-7645 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 13 Schusterman-Benson Library 3333 E. 32nd Place, 74135 918-549-7670 • M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 1 Skiatook Library 316 E. Rogers, 74070 • 918-549-7676 M-W, 10-6; Th, 12-8; Fri., 11-6; Sat., 10-5 5 Suburban Acres Library 4606 N. Garrison, 74126 • 918-549-7655 M-Th, 10-6; Fri., 12-6; Sat., 11-5 16 Zarrow Regional Library and American Indian Resource Center 2224 W. 51st St., 74107 • 918-549-7683 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5

www.TulsaLibrary.org

MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Bilingual Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10-10:45 a.m. Location: Storytime Castle Enjoy stories, songs and activities in English and Spanish. For ages 3-5. Toddler Time Wednesdays, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30 10-10:45 a.m. • For ages 1-3 and their caregivers. Siblings up to age 5 also may attend.

c h i l d r e n Lego Lab Saturday, Sept. 19 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Storytime Castle Learn new building ideas, partner with other children during team building and explore free building. Leave your Legos at home and come play with ours. For ages 6-12. Registration is required and begins Sept. 14. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7590 to register. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust.

PAWS for Reading Thursday, Sept. 10 • 6-7 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7624 to register.

Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band Thursday, Sept. 24 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Auditorium These Latin Grammy Award winners are back in town to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Named by USA Today as the best new band on the children’s music scene, this show is a hipshaking, head-bopping, Los Angelesbased explosion of fun! For all ages. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center.

Preschool Storytime Thursdays, Sept. 10, 17, 24 10:30-11:15 a.m. For ages 5 and younger with an adult.

NATHAN HALE LIBRARY

My First Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10-10:20 a.m. • For newborns to 3-year-olds and their caregivers.

Storytime With Mrs. Cindy Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11 a.m. For ages 7 and younger. PAWS for Reading Saturday, Sept. 19 • 2-3 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust.

OWASSO LIBRARY My First Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10-10:25 a.m. • For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11 a.m. • For ages 3-5. Stay and Play Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 11-11:30 a.m. • After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger. Homeschool Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 2-2:45 p.m. • Join us as we read stories and make a craft. For ages 5-10.

PRATT LIBRARY

SCHUSTERMANBENSON LIBRARY Preschool Stay and Play Storytime Tuesdays, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11:30 a.m. For ages 5 and younger.

My First Stay and Play Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For newborns to 3-yearolds and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Monday, Sept. 14 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Mad Science Monday Monday, Sept. 21 • 4-4:45 p.m. Join us for fun experiments from things that you may have around your house! For ages 5-12. Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band Thursday, Sept. 24 • 10:30-11:30 a.m. These Latin Grammy Award winners are back in town to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Named by USA Today as the best new band on the children’s music scene, this show is a hip-shaking, head-bopping, Los Angeles-based explosion of fun! For all ages. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust and Hispanic Resource Center.

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Storytime With Miss Brittany Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 11-11:30 a.m. For ages 6 and younger.

Stay and Play Storytime Wednesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games and activities that foster early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger.

PAWS for Reading With Miss Marley Thursdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 3:30-4:30 p.m. • Read to our fourlegged friend Miss Marley and take home a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. For ages 5-12.

PAWS for Reading Saturday, Sept. 12 • 2-3 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-10 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust.

PAWS for Reading With Miss Fred Saturdays, Sept. 5, 19, 26 noon-1 p.m. • Read to our fourlegged friend Miss Fred and take home a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. For ages 5-12.

Patrocinado por el Centro Hispano y el Fideicomiso de las Bibliotecas de Tulsa. Informes al 918-549-7597.

en español

www.TulsaLibrary.org/hrc

programas para adultos y adolescentes

con una fiesta para toda la familia - música de mariachi y ¡a darle a la piñata! Trae tu silla portátil. Habrá refrescos, chips y salsa.

BIBLIOTECA REGIONAL MARTIN Una Noche con Isabel Quintero Jueves, 10 de septiembre • 7-8 p.m. La autora de la novela “Gabi, A Girl in Pieces,” la cual ha obtenido diversos premios, hablará sobre sus inspiraciones y experiencias al escribir su libro. También hablará sobre su vida, sus logros, y responderá preguntas de la audiencia. Además, estará autografiando libros. Habrá libros disponibles para comprar. Para adolescentes y adultos.

programas para toda la familia

programas infantiles BIBLIOTECA KENDALL-WHITTIER Cuentos Bilingües Miércoles, 9, 16, 23, 30 de septiembre • 10-10:45 a.m. Cuentos, canciones y actividades en inglés y español. Para las edades 3-5. BIBLIOTECA REGIONAL MARTIN Cuentos Bilingües Martes, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 de septiembre • 10-10:45 a.m. Cuentos, canciones y actividades en inglés y español. Para las edades 3-5.

BIBLIOTECA KENDALL-WHITTIER Noche Mexicana Viernes, 11 de septiembre • 7-9 p.m. Vamos a dar el grito en la biblioteca

Free and Open to the Public If you are hearing-impaired and need a qualified interpreter, please call the library 48 hours in advance of the program. The Tulsa Book Review and Tulsa City-County Library Event Guide are printed on partially recycled paper.

The Tulsa City-County Library Event Guide is produced by the Public Relations Office of the Tulsa City-County Library. For questions or concerns, call 918-549-7389.

The Peanuts Movie is coming Nov. 6 to a theater near you!

Book Reviews Category

Nonfiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God By Lauren F. Winner HarperOne, $24.99, 304 pages Check this out! What do you picture when you think of God? When you imagine or describe a religious experience, what form does he take? God means so many things to so many people, yet the cultural images that come to mind when we discuss God seem limited to a few given forms: shepherd, father, physician, etc. Wearing God is one person’s attempt to widen that scope by exploring other forms God took in the Bible and what those other forms mean to a believer in the modern day. Representing or envisioning God as clothing, laughter, fire or food may not come as easily as other images, but Lauren F. Winner points to the Bible itself as a touchstone for other ways to picture and embrace God and his actions in the Bible. It’s an intriguing mission, bringing God and belief into aspects of everyday life that may have eluded his followers for centuries, and Winner isn’t afraid to shy away from some of the hard questions the Bible raises when it comes to God’s less forgiving and more brutal moments. Winner talks about the importance of what she calls “meeting God,” but Wearing God implies that God is reaching out in ways you might not expect. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness By Kerry Hannon Wiley, $19.95, 208 pages Check this out! The “Your” in this book’s title is intentional. This book is about loving the job you currently have, not transitioning to a new job or career you might love. It is especially geared toward a middle-age audience. Because of the harsh reality of a still unsteady job market and the very real need for uninterrupted income, Kerry Hannon advocates falling back in love with your existing job.

Readers are presented with sensible suggestions for doing so, such as making an attitude adjustment and thinking more positively, or making changes in your outside life that will result in more satisfaction in the workplace. Unlike other career books, this is not a stepby-step guide. After the first few chapters, pick and choose the chapters most relevant to your situation. While those interested in a reboot or who feel that a job or career change is impractical will benefit most from this book, others set on making a transition to another workplace will find Hannon’s recommendations for updating skills particularly useful. Hannon’s considerate tone reflects years of experience as a career adviser; she does not minimize the reality of an unsatisfying workplace situation as she leads you to a more optimistic outlook and experience of your work. Reviewed by Africa Hands

goals, to identifying and reconciling competing goals, before arriving at a plan for quitting victory. Through stories of successful quitters and tons of research, readers are encouraged to reframe quitting as goal disengagement – to see quitting as an activity that can be accomplished with careful planning and self-exploration rather than as an emotional reaction to a bad day. Inventories are sprinkled throughout the text to facilitate reflection; however, the authors provide no detailed interpretations. Obviously written for the unhurried quitter, endnotes and bibliography are included for a deeper dive into the literature. Reviewed by Africa Hands Humankind: How Biology and Geography Shape Human Diversity By Alexander Harcourt Pegasus, $27.95, 368 pages Check this out! Why are we, as humans, what we are, where we are? Why do we differ, and in what ways are we the same? These are the questions Alexander Harcourt addresses in this excellent book. He begins with human evolution, from our deepest origins in Africa, to the diaspora across the globe. Geography affects how humans differ from each other, and barriers such as rivers, oceans,

Quitting: Why We Fear It – and Why We Shouldn’t – in Life, Love, and Work By Peg Streep, Alan Bernstein Da Capo Lifelong Books, $15.99, 272 pages Check this out! Quitting has incredibly negative connotations. When someone quits a job, school or a relationship, friends and family often ask if she tried to make it work. Many of us are hard-wired to stick it out and give it another go, sometimes to the detriment of happiness, health and the pursuit of more life-giving goals. It is this psychology of persistence that authors Streep and Bernstein counter in Quitting: Why We Fear It – and Why We Shouldn’t – in Life, Love, and Work. Readers looking for 10 quick steps to quitting are advised to look elsewhere. Streep and Bernstein take the long route, from exploring the motivation behind Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 9

deserts and mountains, influence genetic as well as cultural diversity, which mimics biological diversity in other species. Other influences affect us as well – our diets, the size of our other species as well as

environments, each other. The topic is huge, and Harcourt’s analysis is far-ranging, a comprehensive compilation of many, many studies and the current extant research. He carefully reminds readers that science is not fixed, controversies remain about many facts, and he fairly presents the various theories that have been proposed, along with his own opinion and reasons for it. The book is balanced and well-reasoned. Harcourt also cautions that just because we don’t know everything, doesn’t mean we can’t be sure of some things. His conversational, introspective tone is thoughtful and extremely engaging, and makes his topic highly accessible as well. Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner

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Download the Guide to Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives for diners on this route and many others.

Book Reviews 100 Skills You’ll Need for the End of the World (as We Know It) By Ana Maria Spagna Storey Publishing, LLC, $14.95, 224 pages Check this out! The world is ever-changing, and as the population continues to soar and hostilities escalate, one would be foolish to not think about the fact that the world as we know it may not exist a great deal longer. So, how should one prepare the future? Author Ana Maria Spagna lives far off the grid, and the small community in which she lives is a great place to train for the changes we will all be facing. This little tome is filled with practical advice on how to answer a veritable plethora of problems one will face in a new world order — everything from making one’s own shoes to brewing one’s own beer, from weaving cloth to butchering animals, from porch sitting to negotiating, from keeping bees to throwing pots. She lays out what tools and materials are needed, and then gives a very rudimentary overview of the skill. One has to do a lot of work on one’s own to become truly adroit at these skills. The text is specific, yet fun at the same time. Every section has tongue-in-cheek illustrations, adding to the humor found throughout the book. This one is worth your time. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck On Elizabeth Bishop (Writers on Writers) By Colm Tóibín Princeton University Press, $19.95, 224 pages Check this out! Colm Toibin explores his leading literary influence with thoughtful reflections and deeply personal narratives in this concise work, simply and unambiguously titled On Elizabeth Bishop. Through the exploration of Elizabeth Bishop’s poetry and prose, as well as personal letters and biography, Toibin writes about her with a precise and delicate hand. Bishop is quoted extensively in this work, and Toibin, with his beautifully light prose, illuminates the spaces between the lines of her poems, so that an intensely private and taciturn woman is revealed as deeper and more introspective than her work often suggests. If possible, Bishop’s losses become even

Nonfiction more keen and more apparent through this sensitive and eloquent introduction to the poet, her work and her influences. Bishop’s life in many ways is also mirrored by Toibin’s experiences as an Irishman living in various cities abroad. The tone of the work feels intensely intimate and will bring readers closer than ever to Bishop’s work, especially if they’ve never encountered her before. This is a wonderful introduction to the spare, haunted work of Elizabeth Bishop and to the mind of Colm Toibin as a leading literary author, as well. Reviewed by Axie Barclay How to Survive Anything: A Visual Guide to Laughing in the Face of Adversity (Lonely Planet Pictorial) By Rob Dobi (illustrator) Lonely Planet, $19.99, 224 pages Check this out! Everyone, deep down, wants to believe they’re a badass, capable of surviving a gunshot, escaping death, or handling themselves in a knockdown, drag-out fight. But do you really know what to do if you’re bitten by a snake, caught in an avalanche, locked out of your hotel room naked or shipwrecked at sea? Well, fear not! The folks at Lonely Planet have just the guide for you with How to Survive Anything, an illustrated handbook that covers everything from bad breakups and children’s tantrums to spacewalks and plane crashes. No matter how mundane or horrific the crisis, you’ll be ready. Although the instructions themselves are clearly well-researched and helpful, the true highlights of this book are the illustrations. Rob Dobi manages to be both informative and subversively funny with his step-by-step visuals. (My particular favorite: the masked wrestlers in “How to Survive as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry (and Vice Versa).”) Here’s hoping a sequel is on the way. Maybe “How to Survive Anything 2: The Stuff We Missed Last Time,” covering bear attacks and forgetting someone’s name. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas Herbal Goddess: Discover the Amazing Spirit of 12 Healing Herbs With Teas, Potions, Salves, Food, Yoga, and More By Amy Jirsa Storey Publishing, LLC, $19.95, 256 pages Check this out! Whether you’re looking to energize and uplift, or calm and heal, this book allows you to bring the versatility of everyday herbs into your daily routine. Explore how mental, physical and spiritual health can be uplifted and edified with the aid of herbs, yoga and magical potions. Each with their own healing powers,

12 herbs are discussed with preparation basics designed for the type of results for which you are searching. Body care, food and yoga paired with salves, oils and teas are all included, helping to recover your power naturally. Obtain life balance with the mood lifting, sunny side of chamomile that releases tension and reduces anxiety, to the all encompassing immune boosting, cleansing turmeric. Let Herbal Goddess wrap you in the sanctity of herbs while she encourages you to find your own personal inspiration for wellbeing. Experiment with tonics for burns, scalp stimulating rinses, blending your own toothpastes, or whip up a batch of turmeric sweet potato soup. Lighthearted and personal, Amy Jirsa takes you on an intimate journey that will recover your power through healing, encouraging readers to take steps each day to improve their health and wellbeing, leaving readers to feel energized and confident. Reviewed by Amy Shane

The Elimination Diet By Tom Malterre, Alissa Segersten, Jeffrey Bland (foreword) Grand Central Life & Style, $16.00, 352 pages Check this out! If you’ve ever felt that what you eat can affect how you feel, then The Elimination Diet: Discover the Foods That Are Making You Sick and Tired—and Feel Better Fast is for you. Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre have created the guidebook to determine what foods might be creating difficulties within your body. The book isn’t focused on a weight-loss diet or plan to identify foods that you may have an immediate allergic reaction to, but those foods that may leave you feeling lethargic, unable to sleep, causing inflammation in your body or other problems. I found the book a great read to understand why foods might be affecting me and to determine what those foods are. Segersten and Malterre really break

? s d r o w e Lov

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Book Reviews down the body and show how to support yourself with the Elimination Diet with a well-explained three-phase plan that focuses on detox, eliminate and reintroduce foods. It’s not a starvation diet, but a way to find what makes you not perform at your optimum. Although an explanation of the plan is the majority of the book, the authors also include more than 100 pages of recipes. Highly recommended if you’ve ever been curious about how your body works with food. Reviewed by Elizabeth King Humphrey Happily Ali After: And Other Fairly True Tales By Ali Wentworth Harper, $25.99, 225 pages Check this out! I love Ali Wentworth’s sense of humor. Like a best friend, her take on life is always spontaneous and uncensored. She is a delight. This book is a perfect summer or anytime read. Like many of us, Ali is getting older and is not very happy about it. She would like to look better, be thinner and live life with mindfulness. These stories about her life demonstrate how these goals are not easily achieved. With a can-do attitude, Ali sets about finding a faster easier way to achieve a perfect life. This book is a perfect antidote to Oprahisms “be your greatest self.” While Oprah has apparently achieved this nirvana, most of us would rather watch a romantic comedy and have a glass of wine. For all of us, I’m sure, this book was written. In reality, Ms. Wentworth is married to the once coined “the sexiest man alive” George Stephanopoulos. She has two children, and she gets to travel all over the world. Still, it’s nice to think that she struggles as we do and falls far from the demanding goals of female perfection. Pick up her “fairly true tales” and see for yourself. Reviewed by Julia McMichael Kaleidoscope City: A Year in Varanasi By Piers Moore Ede Bloomsbury USA, $26.00, 224 pages Check this out! Enraptured by the teeming spectacle of life in India, but most especially by the city of Veranasi, located on the banks of the worshiped Ganges river, the author records his impressions from his year’s immersion in its culture. Overwhelmed by the sights, smells, sounds, colors, actions

Nonfiction and diversity of the multitudes of residents, Piers Moore Ede tackles different aspects of the pulsating region, which is home to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Interviewing residents, he delves into their histories; the role of the caste system; the holy role of the Ganges; the rites of cremation, sex and the city; technology versus ancient crafts; and the daunting problems of uncontrolled bureaucracy and corruption. Exchanges between locals and professionals disclose the problems inherent in the sewage accumulation of the Ganges and the lack of any corrective infrastructure. The pervasiveness of rodents among the streets and the enticing aromas of street food, the slow erosion of native crafts with the loss of possible earnings for the artisans by the invasive imitative technology, captured here are the eclectic characteristics, personalities, rituals and practices of an ancient city that worships both death and life and its manifold flaws along with the magic that sustains it. Reviewed by Aron Row Edward S. Curtis: One Hundred Masterworks By Christopher Cardozo Prestel, $65.00, 184 pages Check this out! This stunning selection of 100 masterpieces from a collection of more than 40,000 photographs archived from the records of ethnographic photog rapher Edward Curtis recalls the tragic history of the North American Indians. Between the junction of the 19th and 20th century, this selftaught image-taker traversed the northern and western expanses of this country to record the faces and arts of 80 Indian tribes. Printed in sepia color, these imposing portraits of a persecuted population impress the viewer with their human dignity. Prepared more than a century ago using various print techniques developed and enhanced by the photographer, the images reach out and seize the reader’s eye. While these representations lack the cold perfection and cutting sharpness of digital technology, they so richly display the warmth and humanity inherent in the spirit of a people. One of the vintage icons that resonates in this volume is a small gelatin silver print of a wrinkled, yet en-

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Each swipe benefits the campaign to renovate the Central Library. The Visa Debit Card is available with an Oklahoma Central Credit Union checking account. There are no annual fees and it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. Visit any Oklahoma Central Credit Union location or go to me.occu.org for more information. This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

during Princess Angeline, last daughter of Chief Seattle taken in 1896. The eyes of the Indian girl portrayed on the cover stare into one’s soul, and all the portraits evoke a haunting nobility. Photography that absorbs the spirit of its subject and translates its story to the viewer is a precious chronicle. As such, these timeless images are preserved within this volume. Reviewed by Aron Row Syria: A History of the Last Hundred Years By John McHugo The New Press, $26.95, 320 pages Check this out! John McHugo’s Syria is essentially a timeline of the last 100 years of Syrian history with curious breakpoints here or there. D e s p i t e the numerous evocations to Assad’s involvement in murder after murder, the phrase dictator appears but never the attribute “murderous.” The author calls

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Hafez al-Assad a dictator but not a murderous dictator. McHugo points out French duplicity on the issue of self-determination, sovereignty and independence. Fully aware of a disregard for the Syrians, the French, during as well as after World War II, renege on promise after hallow promise. Lenient, however, on the intrigues of foreign intelligence agencies, the book briefly explores, but fails to delve into, the history of planned overthrows, assasinations or covert acts of terrorism perpetrated throughout the many years of Central Intelligence Agency’s (C.I.A) involvement in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq from the period following WWII to the present day civil war. There are informative anecdotes, like when Iskander Ahmad Iskander, the Minister of Information, denies every hearing denunciations to the effect that Robert Fisk’s coverage of the February 1929 rebellion is “mischievous lies.” Iskander smiles, handing the latter a Cuban cigar. Anecdotes such as these are no substitute for probing examinations of foreign policy developments. Reviewed by Ariel Plotnik

Book Reviews Category

Kids’ Books SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Ranger in Time #2: Danger in Ancient Rome By Kate Messner, Kelley McMorris (illustrator) Scholastic Press, $17.99, 160 pages Check this out! Ranger has been trained as a searchand-rescue dog. He is a golden retriever, and the family he lives with has two young children to keep him busy and happy. He found a firstaid kit in the backyard that has magical powers. When it glows, Ranger pulls the strap around his neck and is transported to a place and time where someone needs his help. In this adventure, Ranger finds himself in ancient Rome at the Coliseum. There, he meets a young boy, Marcus, and a new gladiator-in-training, Quintus. Ranger isn’t sure which of them needs his help, but he is busy dealing with the strangeness of the blood-filled sand and wild animals he finds in the underground area of the Coliseum. Can Ranger figure out his mission and safely get back to his family? Kate Messner has clearly done her research to make this story a good picture of a historical time and place that will be really interesting and fun for younger middle graders. The characters are well-rounded, the story exciting and the setting fascinating. Readers should not miss the author’s note, glossary, sources and further readings at the end. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Watch Out for Flying Kids! How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community By Cynthia Levinson Peachtree Publishers, $22.95, 224 pages Check this out! When most people think of a circus, they probably think of a big tent and clowns and wild animals, but there is another kind of circus people should know about. Fortunately, Cynthia Levinson has written a marvelous new book to tell the story of the social youth circus. Basically that means putting

young people together who normally would be on opposite sides of something— class or race or politics or religion — then teaching the kids performance skills that require trust and cooperation. One of these circuses is in St. Louis, Missouri, and one is in Israel. Readers are introduced to members of the companies and some of their instructors through very insightful profiles and photographs. The St. Louis circus, Arches, visits and works with the one in Israel, Galilee Circus. The young performers are further challenged by language differences, being homesick, unfamiliar foods and even acts of violence in the area. A great deal of extra information is presented throughout in sidebars that enhance this inspiring story – a story of courage, perseverance and, most of all, hope. It will appeal to children as young as 9 and to people as old as 109, and deserves a broad readership. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Genius!: The Most Astonishing Inventions of All Time By Deborah Kespert Thames & Hudson, $19.95, 96 pages Check this out! Most American middle-school children have a passing knowledge of Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers, but few have ever heard of Karl Jansky, Stephanie Kwolek or John Logie Baird. Yet, these people came up with inventions as important and amazing, as those more well-known. This book has five main sections covering Pioneers, Communication, Technology, Transport and Into Space, and discusses inventors and inventions over the last two millennia. Each inventor has four to six pages devoted to his or her work, and all have

wonderful illustrations and photographs, explanations of their works and information about how these relate to our world today. A spread in the back with extras such as inventions by teens and unusual inventions and an excellent glossary finish things off. The writing is snappy and fun, the graphics are bright and inviting. This will be a great hit with the middle-grade audience for which it is intended, and they will soak up a lot of knowledge without even realizing it. Anyone who has a chance to read this wonderful book will enjoy every page. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Ruby on the Outside By Nora Raleigh Baskin Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $16.99, 176 pages Check this out! When you are 11 years old and ready to start middle school, everything, absolutely everything is a big deal. But if that is your life and your mother is in prison and you don’t have a best friend, it is much worse. This is the life Ruby Danes has — her mother in prison and Ruby has a chance at a new friend, Margalit, who could become that best friend. But when Margalit tells Ruby her brother is dead, his name triggers something in Ruby. She does some research and finds something that makes it seem everything will fall apart. Nora Raleigh Baskin has written a really important book that speaks for a segment of our society that is badly underrepresented, but please don’t let that scare you away. This book is well-written with a compelling plot, great characters, and a message that will resonate with young people and more. While this book is marketed to upper middle graders, it deserves a much broader audience. This story speaks to problems many young people face and may help readers be more understanding and compassionate. This is a touching, moving story that readers will really enjoy. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Mummy Cat By Marcus Ewert, Lisa Brown (illustrator) Clarion Books, $16.99, 48 pages Check this out! Mummy Cat awakens once a century to search for his love, girl-queen Hat-shup-set. As he wanders the empty, maze-like corridors, he gazes upon paintings that remind him of happier times. He sees a mural of the two of them sailing boats on the river; in another he models while Hat-shup-set paints. Because the two remain inseparable, he shares her fate. There is nothing he can

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do to prevent the scorpion bite that kills his queen and him as well. Mummy Cat’s search and reminiscences come to an end in the last room when he finds Hatshup-set’s sarcophagus. Here, he waits patiently to be reunited with his best friend. Mummy Cat provides an interesting introduction to the burial rites of ancient Egypt in a format children can understand. The rhyming story is catchy, and the sad cat, with his adorable entourage of mice, pulls at the heart strings. My 5-year-old was intrigued by the hieroglyphics and had questions about the process of bandaging a mummy. I was disturbed by the dark undertone of the murals — Hat-shup-set’s replacement plots her death in the background of each — but my son didn’t seem to notice. The cat’s sweet search distracts from his reason for being there, death, but I think it will be hard to read this book without discussing the subject eventually. Reviewed by Tammy McCartney When the Earth Shakes: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis By Simon Winchester Viking Books for Young Readers, $18.99, 80 pages Check this out! Certainly since man first walked the earth, there must have been great curiosity about why the land and the sea would sometimes shake, rattle and roll, or the mounta ins would blow their tops. Nothing has changed. The curiosity is still great and, especially on the part of young people, good explanations are not easy to find. Take an Oxford trained geologist who has a love of adventure and writing, turn him into a journalist, and you have the perfect person to write an absolutely fascinating book that explains much about those earthshaking events: volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Simon Winchester is just such a man. Put him together with the Smithsonian, which has access to vast archival photographic resources, and the result is a book for the middle-grade set that will have older siblings and parents and even grandparents stealing a look. The information presented is rich and captivating with enough detail to satisfy readers. The photographs, graphics and illustrations are perfect to complete the stories told. Winchester’s research is impeccable, and he fills the pages with extraordinary statistics and particulars that will have readers turn-

Book Reviews ing pages as quickly as they can absorb the words. Don’t miss this book. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Boy, Were We Wrong About the Weather! By Kathleen V. Kudlinski, Sebastia Serra (illustrator) Dial Books, $16.99, 32 pages Check this out! The beliefs about weather since ancient times have been interesting and everchanging. Ancient Sumerians believed the god of weather, Enlil, was angry. Taino Indians told Spanish explorers their storm god Huracan made huge storms at sea. The Spanish didn’t believe them. A wise man in ancient Greece thought everything was a mix of four elements: air, fire, wind and earth. He thought weather was caused by these. They and many others were all wrong. Now we have a much greater understanding of what causes weather, but we are still learning and changing our ideas. Kathleen V. Kudlinski has written an interesting overview of how weather was thought of through the years, and compares it with our understanding today. The writing is light and full of factual information that lower-elementary children should enjoy. Sebastian Serra’s illustrations are cute and appropriate for the subject matter and the audience. There is not a lot of pizzazz in this book, but weather is not a very jazzy subject. This book will serve well as a good discussion starter in the home or classroom. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Putting the Monkeys to Bed By Gennifer Choldenko, Jack E. Davis (illustrator) G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, $16.99, 32 pages Check this out! When bedtime comes around, Sam, it seems, is never ready. Even after Mama has read his very favorite story and given him goodnight kisses, Sam still isn’t ready. And the questions begin. If Sam were a monkey, would he have to go to sleep? Well, he’s not a monkey, but after Mama leaves the room, Sam’s stuffed monkeys want to start playing, and these monkeys are not very quiet. They jump and hop and smash and crash and carry on until Mama yells. Sam gets back into bed, but those monkeys just aren’t ready to go to sleep. What can Sam do to get everyone settled down?

Kids’ Books Gennifer Choldenko has written a story that virtually every child and every parent can relate to. It can also slow things down and bring things to a quiet end of the evening. Jack E. Davis’ bright, funny illustrations are the perfect complement to Choldenko’s text. They are rich with details that add much to this story. He brings the characters to life, especially all those monkeys, and will charm the obstreperousness right out of any fussy child. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Happy Halloween, Witch’s Cat! By Harriet Muncaster HarperCollins, $15.99, 32 pages Check this out! A little girl likes to pretend she is her “good witch” mother’s special witch’s cat, and together, they are getting ready for Halloween! But what should a witch’s cat dress up as for Halloween? A green frog, perhaps? Or a black vampire? How about a pink ballerina? But nothing feels quite right, so witch’s cat and her mom go home to think about it some more. But then witch’s cat gets a brilliant idea! Will her mom go along with it? In Happy Halloween, Witch’s Cat! author and illustrator Harriet Muncaster revisits the world of her previous picture book. This book has a cute story written in simple words that will appeal to younger readers (while parents will likely appreciate how easy it is to read!). What really shines in this book, however, are the illustrations. Muncaster handcrafted every picture in this book using fabric, paper and other household items, and then photographed each scene; the results are amazing and will make readers of all ages eager for more. This delightful book is sure to be requested all year-round! Reviewed by Holly Scudero

comfortable in the winter as he worked on his writing. As time went on, he bravely developed a style all his own, challenging the standard forms of poetry and rules of grammar. He became the writer he always hoped he would be. Author Matthew Burgess, a poet himself, has written an enchanting biography of Cummings, one that should engender interest and curiosity on the part of young readers. He cleverly inserts some of Cummings’ poems in the text so they seem part of the story. Illustrator Kris Di Giacomo’s whimsical and charming collage illustrations are the perfect complement for the story. This is a book that will satisfy both the adults who read it to children and the children who are lucky enough to hear it. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch By Chris Barton, Don Tate (illustrator) Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, $17.00, 50 pages Check this out! John Roy Lynch was born to an Irish father and an African-American woman, who was a slave. His father was an overseer, who hoped to earn enough to buy his family’s freedom, but before he could, he became ill and died. In a few years, the Civil War began, and John Roy, at age 16, found a job working on a union

transport s teamer and worked his way up to better jobs. After the war and the Emancipation Proclamation, John Roy decided to stay in the South and try to change things for the better there. John Roy worked hard to educate himself and become a landowner. He ran for office and eventually was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Author Chris Barton writes a compelling history of this important figure in U.S. history with great detail and clearly thorough research. Don Tate’s charming illustrations help to carry the story forward and keep young readers engaged. These are complemented by excellent historical notes, a timeline of the main events in John Roy’s life and important events on a state and national level, and a good list of further suggested readings. This is a winner not to be missed. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck

CHILDREN’S FICTION COMING SOON

TO TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY Search the library’s catalog at www.TulsaLibrary.org to reserve your copies now.

Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings By Matthew Burgess, Kris Di Giacomo (illustrator) Enchanted Lion, $17.95, 64 pages Check this out! E.E. Cummings, it seems, was a poet nearly from the time he could talk. His parents were incredibly nurturing of his talent. His mother wrote down his poems before he was able to write for himself. His father built Cummings a tree house so he could be among the birds he so loved, even putting a stove in to heat it so Cummings would be Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 13

Out of Bounds by Fred Bowen

Eighth-grader Nate Osborne is a forward on his U-14 soccer team, the Strikers. He and the rest of his teammates are very competitive, especially when it comes to playing against their rivals, the Monarchs. They want to win so badly that they’re willing to root against them when they play other teams.

Looking for Winston by Poppy Green Sophie Mouse’s brother, Winston, wants to help her build a fort in the woods, but Sophie Mouse tells him he should go home because he’s too little. When she realizes that she could use his help, he’s nowhere to be found!

The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable Fib by Adam Shaughnessy

When 11-year-old Pru and new boy ABE discover another world beneath their quiet town, where Viking gods lurk just out of sight, they must race to secure the Eye of Odin, source of all knowledge – and the key to stopping a war that could destroy both human and immortal realms.

Book Reviews Category

Cooking, Food & Wine SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

The Geeky Chef Cookbook: Real-Life Recipes for Your Favorite Fantasy Foods - Unofficial Recipes From Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and More By Cassandra Reeder Race Point Publishing, $21.99, 144 pages Check this out! No matter what geeky thing you happen to call yourself a superfan of, you’re going to want to add The Geeky Chef Cookbook to your collection. As she does on her popular blog, Cassandra Reeder, aka The Geeky Chef, has compiled a list of recipes that feature well-loved book series, movies, TV shows and video games. You’ll find recipes from the Harry Potter books, The Legend of Zelda, Game of Thrones and many more. A few that I was thrilled to see were the mouth-watering Lamb Stew craved by Katniss in the Hunger Games, and a twist on Fish Fingers and Custard that makes it way more palatable than what the 11th Doctor Who devours in his debut episode. The real fun in this collection is the sheer novelty of having some of these recipes brought to life. While some of them aren’t so pretty to look at (I’m looking at you, Bacon Pancakes and Soylent Green) and some just don’t sounds very appetizing (Cram), it’s a great concept for a cookbook and satisfies a deep-seated need in every superfan to bring more pieces of the books, games, movies and shows that we all obsess about into our lives! Reviewed by Becky Vosburg Honey: Everyday Recipes for Cooking and Baking With Nature’s Sweetest Secret Ingredient By Angelo Prosperi-Porta TouchWood Editions, $22.95, 208 pages Check this out! This book is a tribute to bees, written with love and appreciation. Readers will learn about bees and honey, including

various uses of several different varieties, mostly interjected as fact boxes interspersed with the recipes, which comprise the bulk of the book. These are unique and interesting, covering breakfasts, breads, appetizers, sides, entrees, desserts and condiments. Perhaps you would create a meal of fresh fig and brie bruschetta on honey fig bread, honey-glazed flank steak, steamed green beans with almond-honey butter and honey-roasted parsnips, and then finish with rhubarb, honey and fresh thyme sorbetto, or maybe honey vanilla-bean ice cream topped with honey peaches. Why not? The recipes are generally simple and easy to prepare; many can be put together in less than 30 minutes. Ingredients are widely available, and the recipes are meant to be unfussy and casual. Although all contain honey, many use a surprisingly small amount – perhaps just a tablespoon or less – just to balance the other flavors and add a hint of sweetness to otherwise savory dishes. Pictures are few, but beautiful and rustic, many of honeycomb, artfully arranged. This book will be delicious for all honey lovers. Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner Vegan with a Vengeance, 10th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock By Isa Chandra Moskowitz Da Capo Lifelong Books, $22.99, 288 pages Check this out! It’s been 10 years since vegan chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz published her first book. Now Vegan With a Vengeance is back with a 10thanniversary edition, complete with updated recipes, a few new recipes

and more tips from the infamous Fizzle, Moskowitz’s cat. Readers who already have a tattered copy of the original will love the simplified directions and shortened ingredients lists, as well as the inclusion of several popular recipes from the author’s blog and other cookbooks. New readers will fall in love with Moskowitz’s accessible and flavorful style of vegan cooking, not to mention the pages and pages of mouthwatering photographs. Try some amazing Lemon-Poppy Seed Muffins for breakfast, Chili sin Carne al Mole for lunch, and Seitan-Portobello Stroganoff for dinner. Learn how to make your own seitan for that matter and get some ideas for amazing pizza topping combinations. Make a pan of Deluxe Cocoa Brownies or a couple dozen Buttery Lemon Cutout Cookies. Or try out other desserts, like Coconut Heaven Cupcakes or Raspberry Blackout Cake. Eating vegan is not boring, and it is definitely not a sacrifice of any kind when a cookbook like this is available! Reviewed by Holly Scudero The Apple Cookbook: 125 Freshly Picked Recipes By Olwen Woodier Storey Publishing, LLC, $14.95, 240 pages Check this out! If you have access to good apples or are lucky enough to have an apple tree or two, Apple Cookbook is a useful addition to your cookbook collection. This trade paperback by Olwen Woodier is profusely illustrated with many professional photos, both of finished recipes and photos of orchards and apples. In the introduction, Woodier reviews the history of apples, varieties, buying and cooking guide, and current breeding research on new varieties. The recipes range over the entire spectrum of cooking, from breakfast (apple-ring fritters, baked applecranberry oatmeal), drinks and snacks (apple and mango smoothie), through salads, sides and meals (avocado and apple composed salad, apple ratatouille) and of course desserts (meringue-topped baked apples, apricot-apple dumplings). The last chapter, “Preserving the Apple Harvest” is very useful as well as is the chapter “Apple Varieties.” The recipes generally are not difficult, ingredients easily available and recipe writing is very good, with clear steps to follow and list of ingredients on one side. Layout is also good; each recipe occupies a single page, avoiding page turning during cooking. Woodier includes many informative sidebars and recipe headnotes that are worth reading. A short page of interesting

Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 14

information on each of three orchards is nice. Reviewed by George Erdosh Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes From Around the World By Kevin Gillespie, David Joachim Andrews McMeel Publishing, $29.99, 240 pages Check this out! If you enjoy cooking with pork, Pure Pork Awesomeness is an excellent addition to your cookbook shelf. Professional chef Kevin Gillespie does an awesome job in every aspect with his cookbook. He presents a large collection of pork recipes, choosing from old standards (pan fried pork chops) through an array of selection from the international scene, mostly Asian and Mexican, some Western European and some unusual ones (candied bacon, cooking with Coca-Cola). It even includes sausage making. Gillespie’s introduction is good, giving us everything we need to know about the seven breeds of pigs and about pork. In the subsequent seven chapters, he breaks down recipes according to the pork cut (ham, shoulder, belly/ribs). The recipe writing is very good, and most are not hard to prepare, using readily available ingredients. The layout is also friendly; only in a few recipes do instructions f lip to overleaf pages. After most recipes, he includes a brief, but useful “Good to Know” or “Worth Knowing” sidebar. The chapter introductions are good and easy-toread on the subject of that chapter, including such information as buying and decoding labels. His headnotes are also very good and worth reading. Professional photo illustrations are excellent. Index is well cross-referenced. Reviewed by George Erdosh Milk Bar Life: Recipes & Stories By Christina Tosi Clarkson Potter, $35.00, 256 pages Check this out! Here is an excellent cookbook with a huge collection of mostly unusual (but not difficult) recipes, many of which you’ll be tempted to try. Milk Bar Life was written by professional baker Christina Tosi, who successfully trans-

Book Reviews lated her bakery recipe collection for the home kitchen. The emphasis is on the sweet things, in fact, every chapter starts with them. The recipe ingredients are mostly easy-to-find, and you’ll not spend hours laboring over them. The recipe writing is very good, easyto-follow, and layout is excellent: no page f lipping while following instructions. Profuse professional photo illustrations are also excellent. The many small photos and just as many full-page illustrations help you visualize Tosi’ staff and creations. Many recipes are unusual (egg soup, blue cheese pretzels, pickle-juice-poached fish), but you’ll also find the ordinary (roast chicken, lemon bars, oatmeal cookies). Besides cookies and cakes, Tosi lists appetizers, drinks, main dishes and salads, outdoor cooking and party foods. Most recipes include useful sidebars enclosed in circles. Thankfully, no nutritional information is added. In the headnotes and chapter introductions, you read a little bit of Tosi’s biography. The index is brief, not cross-referenced and missing recipes. Reviewed by George Erdosh

Cooking, Food & Wine A Taste of Cowboy: Ranch Recipes and Tales From the Trail By Kent Rollins and Shannon Rollins Rux Martin, $30.00, 256 pages Check this out! The idea of herding cattle in the sweeping plains of the West, riding under a hot sun and sleeping under the stars is a romantic one. The idea of chuckwagon food, maybe not so much. Until, that is, a great cook like Kent Rollins with his sidekick and wife, Shannon Keller Rollins, take over the chuck wagon and turn it into a rolling fourstar restaurant. Now, they have put together a terrific cookbook, with nearly 100 trail-tested recipes along with what one needs to set up a chuck wagon (or a good kitchen), the tools of the trade, how to season and care for cast-iron kettles, a cowboy glossary, pithy quotes, an occasional poem, gorgeous photographs of cowboy life and the prepared

dishes, and a raft of fascinating, well-told stories. Because a chuck wagon isn’t parked next to a Whole Foods store, Rollins has to use ingredients common to most cupboards, rather than specialty items that will send cooks running to the store. It’s an everyman’s cookbook. This book is a full of humor, great information, and recipes that will dazzle your family and friends. It is a real keeper. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck The Waste Not, Want Not Cookbook: Save Food, Save Money and Save the Planet By Cinda Chavich TouchWood Editions, $24.95, 281 pages Check this out! Americans are among the most wasteful people on the planet. Cinda Chavich’s cookbook The Waste Not, Want Not Cookbook is an excellent addition to any cook ’s library who feels strongly about food waste reduction. Chavich starts with an 11-page introduction to educate us on wastefulness in the kitchen, including such concepts as what is safe to eat regarding “ best before” labels and many

tips on smart food strategy. The main body of the cookbook is in three sections. In the first, she lists 26 common fruits and vegetables, and under each she gives tips on how to buy, store and serve, and some 10 tips under “Don’t Waste It.” The tips are particularly useful. These are followed by two or three reasonably simple and good recipes. In the second section, she deals with 11 staples (bread, peanut butter), again, starting with the same four paragraphs as under produce, followed by recipes. In the third section, “Weekly Feast,” she tackles salmon, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and beef, including recipes. Her recipe writing is very good and so is the recipe layout. Some are illustrated with full-page photos, some with simple sketches. This is an excellent cookbook with plenty of very good tips. Reviewed by George Erdosh

TCCL

AND

PRESENT...

GARTH STEIN

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 2-3 p.m.

Hardesty Regional Library, Connor’s Cove • 8316 E. 93rd St. The author of the New York Times best-selling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain will discuss his latest book, A Sudden Light. A book signing will follow and books will be available for purchasing.

Tulsa Book Review • September 2015 • 15

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