Tulsa Book Review February 2015

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INSIDE! February 2015

Book Review 5 6 11 15

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4

F R E E

NEW AND OF INTEREST

C H E C K

The Book of Strange New Things: A Novel

I T

I Feel Five!

O U T

The World of Raymond Chandler: In His Own Words

Transported light-years from home Page 6

Five years old is a state of mind. Page 9

A witty tough guy Page 10

Thirty Girls

By Susan Minot Knopf, $19.92, 309 pages February is African-American History Month. Visit TulsaLibrary.org/AARC to learn more about the library’s African-American Resource Center.

On Oct. 10, 1996, the militant Islamic group called the Lord’s Resistance Army kidnapped 139 secondary school girls from St. Mary’s College of Aboke in Uganda. The Italian deputy headmistress of the school, Sister Rachele Fasera, negotiated the release of 109 of the girls, leaving 30 in captivity as sex slaves. The story made international headlines. The horrific experience is captured in fictionalized form in Susan Minot’s

book Thirty Girls. This is the story of two women. It is a story of privilege and of horror. It is a story whose two main characters are strikingly dissimilar in their perspectives of the world and their life experiences. Esther Akello is 15 years old, African and a victim of atrocities at the hands of men who are physically See Thirty Girls, cont’d on page 13

Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life

Thinking outside the cupboard Page 12

Breathe, Annie, Breathe

Annie hates running ... but can she pull off a marathon? Page 14

51 Reviews INSIDE!

Book Reviews Category

Kids’ Books SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Brown Girl Dreaming By Jacqueline Woodson Nancy Paulsen Books, $16.99, 336 pages Check this out! Written in open verse, Jacqueline Woodson provides a rich view of herself growing up in the ‘60s in South Carolina and New York. In a time where she is still referred to as a colored girl, she takes readers on a leisurely stroll, inviting a deep excitement to swell inside as they digest her phrases, images, dreams and yearnings. Walking in her shoes, readers can feel the joy of freedom and the confusion of racism poking at the young girl unable to respond, but knowing it’s wrong, just plain wrong. Woodson’s writing is vivid, startling, fascinating and from the heart. It’s easy to see why she’s won so many writing awards. A special treat for writers, Woodson walks readers through the inside thoughts of a young writer in the making, including the joy of her first composition notebook well before she could even write. She shares the secret to her writing—listening—and with each story, she spills delectable foods across the table for readers to taste, savor and digest. This is not a book readers will want to breeze through, it is one in which readers will want to linger, contemplate and experience. Sure to be an award winner. Reviewed by Susan Roberts Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts By Nikki Grimes, Michele Wood (illustrator) Orchard Books, $18.99, 56 pages Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony are known for their contribution in freeing slaves and women’s voting rights, respectively, during the late 1800s and early 1900s. While most often recognized for their individual accomplishments, these iconic women actually were well acquainted with one another, because they were partakers in “a larger circle of historical luminaries.” It is this amazing connection that award-win-

ning author Nikki Grimes found inspiration to create Chasing Freedom. Set during 1904, it is an imaginary story of Tubman and Anthony, who discuss their involvement in historic and current events while awaiting the opening of the 28th Annual Convention of the New York State Suffrage Association, where Tubman is the guest speaker. Grimes’ conversational narrative draws young readers right into Anthony’s homey parlor, where Anthony and Tubman chat over a cup of tea. Aptly and deftly complementing their quaint conversation is awardwinning illustrator Michele Wood’s striking acrylic and oil depictions. The end result of Grimes and Wood’s collaboration highlights the powerful similarities between Anthony’s and Tubman’s callings, the people who inspired them and their personal struggles in their common cause for civil rights. Fascinating and engaging, Chasing Freedom is undoubtedly a one-of-its-kind masterpiece. Reviewed by Anita Lock Draw What You See: The Life and Art of Benny Andrews By Kathleen Benson Clarion Books, $16.99, 32 pages Check this out! Benny Andrews lived an impoverished childhood in Plainview, Georgia. Benny and other African-American children attended school only five months each year, because they were needed on the farms and in the fields of their white bosses the rest of the time. Benny loved to draw, and whenever he had time, he would draw the people around him doing everyday things. Benny dreamed of going to high school and changing his life. He See Draw, cont’d on page 13

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 2

, CHILDREN S NONFICTION

COMING SOON

Search the library’s catalog at TulsaLibrary.org to reserve your copies now.

Who Was Frederick Douglass? By April Jones Prince

Born into slavery in Maryland in 1818, Frederick Douglass was determined to gain freedom – and once he realized that knowledge was power, he secretly learned to read and write to give himself an advantage. After escaping to the North in 1838, as a free man he gave powerful speeches about his experience as a slave. He was so impressive that he became a friend of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as one of the most famous abolitionists of the 19th century.

Ballerina Dreams By Michaela and Elaine DePrince

At the age of three, Michaela DePrince found a photo of a ballerina that changed her life. She was living in an orphanage in Sierra Leone at the time, but was soon adopted by a family and brought to America. Michaela never forgot the photo of the dancer she once saw, and quickly decided to make her dream of becoming a ballerina come true. She has been dancing ever since and is now a principal dancer in New York City and has been featured in the ballet documentary First Position.

Harlem Hellfighters By J. Patrick Lewis

They went by many names, but the world came to know them best as the Harlem Hellfighters. Two thousand strong, these black Americans from New York picked up brass instruments, under the leadership of famed bandleader Lt. James Reese Europe, to take the musical sound of Harlem into the heart of war. From the creators of And the Soldiers Sang, this remarkable narrative nonfiction rendering of WWI and American history uses free-verse poetry and captivating art to tell century-old story of hellish combat, racist times, rare courage and inspired music.

Swing Sisters By Karen Deans

In 1909 Dr. Laurence Clifton Jones opened a special home for African-American orphans in Mississippi called Piney Woods Country Life School. There, students worked hard on their studies, and no one worked harder than the young musicians who played in the Sweethearts, the school’s all-girl swing band. Their music had rhythms and melodies that got people dancing! When the Sweethearts left Piney Woods, they moved to Washington, D.C., to try to make it to the big time. It wasn’t always easy, and it wasn’t always safe, but the talented Sweethearts of Rhythm ultimately became an international sensation. Joe Cepeda’s exuberant illustrations celebrate these brave musicians who chipped away at racist and sexist barriers, and whose music reminded audiences how great it feels to be alive.

Leontyne Price By Carole Boston Weatherford

Born in a small town in Mississippi in 1927, the daughter of a midwife and a sawmill worker, Leontyne Price might have grown up singing the blues. But Leontyne had big dreams – and plenty to be thankful for – as she surrounded herself with church hymns and hallelujahs, soaked up opera arias on the radio and watched the great Marian Anderson grace the stage. While racism made it unlikely that a poor black girl from the South would pursue an opera career, Leontyne’s wondrous voice and unconquerable spirit prevailed. Bursting through the door Marian had cracked open, Leontyne was soon recognized and celebrated for her leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera and around the world – most notably as the majestic Ethiopian princess in Aida, the part she felt she was born to sing. From awardwinners Carole Boston Weatherford and Raul Colón comes the story of a little girl from Mississippi who became a beloved star – one whose song soared on the breath of her ancestors and paved the way for those who followed.

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IN THIS ISSUE Kids’ Books.....................................................2

Tulsa City-County Library 400 Civic Center Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 Ph. (918) 549-7323 EDITOR IN CHIEF Ross Rojek ross@1776productions.com

Children’s Nonfiction Coming Soon................2 Speculative Fiction.........................................4 Crime Fiction.............................................. 4, 5

Editor/Coordinator Jackie Hill Tulsa City-County Library

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Fiction........................................................ 6, 7

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Bestsellers Coming Soon.................................7 Cooking, Food & Wine....................................8 My Tulsa Library Community Card.................8 Picture Books.................................................9 Children’s Fiction Coming Soon......................9 Nonfiction...................................10, 11, 12, 13 OCCJ Interfaith Trialogue............................11 Get Homework Help Now!.............................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

History......................................................... 14

FROM THE PUBLISHER February marks African-American History Month, as well as the launch of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice (OCCJ) Interfaith Trialogue series here in Tulsa. The topic of this year’s Trialogue, which takes place over three Sundays across Tulsa beginning Feb. 1, is “Race, Ethnicity, Religion, Culture: Searching for Compassion.” We all are fortunate to live in a remarkable country. I believe part of what makes us so remarkable is our diversity, as we truly are a melting pot. We certainly have had our trials these last few years, but an amazing story of hope comes from the public library in Ferguson, Mo. While schools were closed in Ferguson, the public library was not. Each day during the crisis the library opened and offered refuge. It created a learning environment, via special programs for children displaced by the chaos. Teachers and children convened at the library to carry on in spite of the school closure. Over 50 volunteers organized lunches for the children who otherwise only would have access to lunch at school. Out of chaos arises a great story of optimism. In times of trial – whether it be political turmoil, flooding, hurricanes or tornadoes – the public library serves as a bright beacon on the hill; a place where people can file insurance claims, communicate via email and/or Skype to connect with loved ones lost or services needed. The Tulsa City-County Library, however, also serves as a refuge, day in, day out, for more than 10,000 people each and every day. The library is a refuge where an entire community can come no matter their circumstances and change their lives for the better. This month, the Tulsa City-County Library and our African-American Resource Center will host a variety of programs focusing on the African-American experience. We also will partner with OCCJ on the annual Interfaith Trialogue series. I hope you will avail yourself of these offerings. Diversity makes us stronger, not weaker. And the library is the most democratic of institutions where all are welcome. I hope you will find something in this month’s Tulsa Book Review that will bring you to your community’s No. 1 resource – the public library.

Teens...................................................... 14, 15 Tweens.........................................................15

Gary Shaffer Tulsa City-County Library CEO

Book Reviews Category

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Grail Knight By Angus Donald St. Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Press, $27.99, 432 pages Check this out! After stealing from the rich and having to punish the poor who have set them up, Robin Hood, Earl of Locksley, and his trusted friend, Alan Dale, Knight of Westbury, must take on the quest for the Holy Grail. The death of King Richard has brought his duplicitous brother, John, to the throne, making Robin a hated fugitive in his own lands.

He is forced to roam the woods once more, surrounded by barbaric men, and loaning out his services for the right price. Yet it is a requisitioning gone awry that sets the quest for the most famous and blessed drinking vessel ever known in motion. While being pursued by the Templar Knights for an alleged theft, Robin and his companions must endure tireless travels, meager accommodations and countless bloody battles to attain their goal. A small fellowship consisting of outlaws, knights, a squire, a holy man and a witch must journey from England to France and seek the cup of Christ for the sake of Goodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, riches promised and wrongs in need of restitution. A legendary tale of mythical proportions befitting an infamous outlaw, Grail Knight is a fascinating story of revenge, persistence and brotherhood. Reviewed by Ruth Duran-Chea

time when the pace and inventiveness of the plot tends to flag. However, if anything, the pace here picks up. In the first two books, Arthur has upset one or two powerful people by digging around. Now he and his partner are kidnapped and questioned. They are suspected of having pocketed a billion or so dollars. This is news to them, so the rest of the book sees them attempting to discover who kidnapped them and what they are looking for. This is a highly recommended series! Reviewed by David Marshall Cold Storage, Alaska By John Straley Soho Crime, $26.95, 304 pages Check this out! Cold Storage, Alaska is not a mystery or detective novel. Rather, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a characterdriven â&#x20AC;&#x153;crimeâ&#x20AC;? novel in the tradition of a screwball comedy. Although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not laughout-loud funny, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a genuinely amusing thread of absurdity running through it to produce smiles as one thing leads to another. Yes, some people are injured on the way to the end. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a genuinely homicidal moment when death might occur. But when the flames are extinguished and

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people have a chance to reflect on events, their lives are better for the e x per ience. Even the dog who had disgraced himself by killing a cat and chewing on the arm of a gunman is able to produce the closing words to the book in his contented silence. The plot could not be simpler. A drug dealer ends his seven-year term in jail and decides to return to Cold Storage, where his family lives. On the way, he collects some money thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owed to him and becomes acquainted with a dog. Once he arrives, things both physical and emotional get warmed up despite the Alaskan climate. Overall, I was delighted. If you enjoyed movies like Get Shorty, this is very much the book for you. Reviewed by David Marshall

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A Billion Ways to Die By Chris Knopf The Permanent Press, $28.00, 272 pages Check this out! One of the more pleasing functions of a critic is to announce a success. Sadly, too many of the books that hit both the real and digital shelves are, at best, of indifferent quality. A Billion Ways to Die should be read by everyone who enjoys a good thriller. In the first book of the series, Arthur Cathcart was shot in the head. This came as a surprise, because he was leading a blameless life with a loving wife. A further surprise was that he survived. Presented with the

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opportunity to die in official records, he accepted and began a search to discover why someone had killed his wife and tried to kill him. This is the third book, normally the

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Book Reviews Death on Blackheath: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel By Anne Perry Ballantine Books, $27.00, 320 pages Check this out! Death on Blackheath is a breath of fresh air. The bookshop shelves have been groaning under the weight of steampunk novels with their fake history, unbelievable characters and superficial science fiction/fantasy. This is a detailed take on Victorian society with its class-based inequalities and innately patriarchal discriminations, all wrapped up in a Special Branch investigation into the death of a young woman, her mutilated body being found in a gravel pit close to the home of a leading government scientist. There’s considerable originality in the mechanism underpinning the plot. Although it’s been used before, this is a nicely extreme version, and it should keep the armchair detectives among you guessing until the big reveal at the end. There’s also what I take to be a conscious parallelism between the plot and relatively contemporary events, which adds a certain frisson to events as they unwind. Put all this together, and you have a delightful historical mystery that uses the right level of Victorian science, both to explain the motives of those involved and to run the investigation. Although there are a few moments when the plot slows down for drawing-room discussions, the overall pace is strong, and the outcome celebrates realpolitik. Reviewed by David Marshall The Blood of an Englishman By M.C. Beaton Minotaur Books, $32.99, 304 pages Check this out! Fifty-fewyears-old, Agatha Raisin does not believe a private detective should s l o u c h around trying to look inconspicuous. Indeed, she strives always to look her brazen best, dressed to the nines and over and again falling in love with the latest handsome heartthrob to cross her path. In this disarming series, Agatha re-

Crime Fiction tired to the country from a high-powered London career, pursues a succession of criminals, usually murderers, to the despair of the local police. In this newest venture, she is talked into supporting a local amateur production of “Babes in the Woods.” She anticipates boredom, but happens on mayhem: a cast member is beheaded under the stage after a grisly practical joke. Agatha is hired to find the perpetrator. The assorted suspects she interviews too probingly in the surrounding villages first claim the victim had no enemies, but eventually admit he was a nasty piece of work. This time, as in earlier adventures, either her ex-husband, ex-colleague, or longtime bachelor friend are on hand when she predictably finds herself in lifethreatening scrapes. Although starting to become a caricature rather than a character, in The Blood of an Englishman Agatha is still a treat with her saucy language and irreverent ways. Reviewed by Jane Manaster The Old Deep and Dark By Ellen Hart Minotaur Books, $25.99, 304 pages Check this out! Cordelia Thorn has a big project. She and her sister, Octavia, bought an old theater in Minneapolis, and Cordelia intends to bring it back to its original glory. But old buildings have old secrets, and Cordelia discovers a gangland double murder had happened in the building. While Cordelia and her PI friend, Jane Lawless, are poking around, they discover a body stashed there more recently. Jane is already busy working on a case with her lawyer father to help discover who murdered a local country western singer. Dad’s client is the wife and family of the murdered singer. When even more bodies are discovered in the theater, nobody thinks things can get much stranger until Jane figures out that all the cases are connected to the dead singer. Ellen Hart has written a terrific mystery with believable, well-rounded characters, great setting, fascinating story line and red herrings galore. She effortlessly juggles what seems to be three or four different story lines until she seamlessly brings them all together to a surprisingly logical conclusion. Those who love mysteries that are not filled with a lot of gratuitous graphic violence will really appreciate this smart, wellwritten book. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 5

World of Trouble By Ben H. Winters Quirk, $14.95, 320 pages Check this out! The world is ending, but instead of hunkering down with friends, Detective Hank Palace sets off on a journey to find his missing sister, who was hellbent on saving the world. With only two weeks before an asteroid snuffs out life on Earth, Hank, his dog and a thief named Cortez set out in search of Nico, crossing America and observing humanity’s best and worst as people prepare for the end. World of Trouble is the finale of Winters’ outstanding Last Policeman trilogy, and Winters pulls no punches as the series speeds toward its conclusion. Abandoning many common apocalyptic tropes, World of Trouble instead embraces melancholy mys-

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tery as Palace tracks Nico to Ohio and a police station where he finds more questions than answers. It’s difficult to review this book and avoid spoilers, because so much of what happens in the book is of great importance to Hank and other recurring characters, but I can say that the conclusion was both unexpected and utterly true to the spirit of the books that preceded it. I look forward to returning to this series in six months or a year and seeing how it holds up. I suspect I’ll enjoy it just as much. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas

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The Narrow Road to the Deep North: A Novel By Richard Flanagan Knopf, $26.95, 334 pages Check this out! Ostensibly a WWII story about the building of the ThaiBurma death railway, it is also the story of Dr. Dorrigo Evans, an Australian surgeon, and about his love affair with his uncle’s wife. The story weaves in and out of wartime, the present and the past. Dorrigo and his uncle’s wife, Amy, meet by chance – and in this story, chance is a major character. Who lives and dies in wartime is arbitrary and pitiless, just as the marriage that Evans is destined to make and the letter that changes his destiny and ends his love affair. The love story is but a side note to the very powerful story of the horrific conditions for Japanese prisoners of war. Forced to labor in jungle monsoons and endure cholera, ulcers, starvation and beatings, somehow Evans accepts the brutality that he endures and bargains with his captors to mitigate suffering as he can. The scenes of surgery and ulcer treatment under these conditions will stay with the reader for a while. The author’s father actually worked on the bridge and has described many of the conditions in this novel. This novel has won the 2014 Man Booker Prize – and deservedly so. Reviewed by Julia McMichael The Book of Strange New Things: A Novel By Michel Faber Hogarth, $28.00, 512 pages Check this out! Peter and Bea are steadfast in their love for each other, as well as in their love for God. This devotion to faith provides Peter with an opportunity to spread the teachings of Christ to the indigenous population of the planet Oasis, taking him light-years away from his wife Bea and miles into unknown territory. The Oasans, as he calls them, are eager to let the words of the Bible into their hearts, but the challenge for Peter is not to

lose himself while living his new life on Oasis. Mea nwh i le, back home, Bea’s faith is faltering as life on Earth gets hit with natural disasters and economic crashes. The Book of Strange New Things is a lengthy novel, but also intriguing the entire way through. Though I did feel impatience in the beginning, trying to figure out exactly where Peter was being sent and why, the rest of the novel held a good pace hitting interesting themes. But what I really enjoyed was the plot’s originality. A good example of modern literature, this book contains a mixture of ideas including sci-fi futurism, romance, personal struggle and character growth. The world on Oasis Faber created is worth reading. Reviewed by Lenna Stites The Wall: A Novel By H.G. Adler, Peter Filkins (translator) Random House, $30.00, 636 pages Check this out! After surviving the Holocaust, how would one come to terms with living on? The trauma is so great that the individual ceases to exist. H.G. Adler survived many concentration camps, although, upon transfer to Auschwitz, his wife (a medical doctor) and her mother were immediately murdered. In all, Adler’s mother and father and 16 family members were killed. In 1947, Adler fled to London when Prague fell to the communists. H.G. Adler wrote his 26 books in that kind of obscurity. This novel, written in 1956, was not published until 1989. It is now translated from the German by Peter Filkins, who also provides very helpful plot summary and char-

acter descriptions at the end of the book. Because the book is dreamlike and out-of-time sequence, this is most useful. When the main character, Arthur Landau, returns to his hometown after the war, everything is altered, and it is clear that he no longer exists in any previous form. This living death is vivid and forces the reader to live a reality that has shifted and no longer makes any sense or context. A very powerful book. Reviewed by Julia McMichael Desert God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt By Wilbur Smith William Morrow, $28.99, 432 pages Check this out! Taita, the eunuch slave, returns and is now a man of nobility and seen as a brilliant god by many in the fourth novel involving his character. In Desert God, Taita begins the work of removing the terrible Hyksos, who have controlled so much of Egypt for so long, bringing the country closer to becoming independent and Egyptian once again. As adviser to the pharaoh, Taita knows what must be done and begins the long journey first to Mesopotamia and wondrous hanging gardens of Babylon to forge friendships in this distant land, then it is on to the great island of Crete where he will escort the pharaoh’s sisters to form an alliance and forge a mighty army and navy to take out the Hyksos once and for all. But fate has something great and dooming in store for him. Fans of Wilbur Smith will be delighted with Desert God, while those trying him for the first time will do just fine, as little backstory is needed. This book shows that Smith should really just stick to writing about his favorite character, who grows older and wiser with each tale. Reviewed by Alex Telander An Unseemly Wife By E.B. Moore NAL Trade, $15.00, 336 pages Check this out! Ruth always has felt loved and protected within the Fold, her close-knit Amish community. With a loving husband and four children, a bountiful farm and friends she can rely on for anything, Ruth feels deeply blessed. But when the English appear among the community, they bring with them tales of free land in the West, tales that seem too good to be true … except Aaron, Ruth’s husband, believes. Ruth swallows her objections and tries to be the submissive wife she was brought up to be, letting Aaron build a wagon and pack up their belongings for the

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 6

2,000 -mile trek. Despite her best efforts to remain separate, Ruth finds herself accepting aid and friendship from others in the wagon train. What started as such a hopeful journey soon turns to betrayal and sickness, and Ruth finds her family changed in irreversible ways. An Unseemly Wife is downright hard to read, but for good reasons. The plot is sound, fascinating even. Ruth is a deeply nuanced character, and it is almost painful to watch her struggle to match the woman she is inside with the woman her faith expects her to be. And as sickness and tragedy begins to strike her family, readers will be torn between turning away from her pain and sticking with it to find out what happens next. Reviewed by Holly Scudero You’re So Fine By Kieran Kramer St. Martin’s Paperbacks, $7.99, 432 pages Check this out! Lacey is a single mom who has fled L.A. after her actor boyfriend left with her employer, a Hollywood starlet. Beau is an actor who is known for action movies that draw the masses to the box office. A clause in his contract states he must star in one indie movie and is cast in a chick flick. To make matters worse, his accommodations for the duration of filming have been taken over by Lacey and her son, causing Beau to have to be on his best behavior. Lacey has sworn off men, especially actors, but can she fight the obvious attraction she feels toward Beau, especially when he has fallen not only for Lacey, but her son as well? You’re So Fine is a fun, sweet romance that takes the reader on a journey to find what the definition of family really means. There are no big surprises in this book; it is a little predictable, but at the same time, it hits the spot if you’re looking for a light read with a great storyline and well-developed characters. This would make a great beach read and is perfect for fans of standalone happily-ever-afters. Reviewed by Christina McPherson-Mock

Book Reviews Wild: The Ivy Chronicles By Sophie Jordan William Morrow Paperbacks, $13.99, 274 pages Check this out! Georgia wasn’t living her life; her life was living her. She was the smart one, the reliable one. In reality, she was desperate for more, to find some joy in something, anything. The problem was that she feared no one would like the person she really was. After her boyfriend of four years unceremoniously dumped her, Georgia hadn’t exactly given up on love, she just wasn’t looking for it. She definitely wasn’t looking for Logan Mulvaney or the crazy way he made her act and feel. He brought out the person she truly was underneath the person everyone expected her to be. While she wanted to revel in that, fear caused her to stumble and make mistakes at every turn. Sophie Jordan has outdone herself with this installation of The Ivy Chronicles. Logan and Georgia have the typical young adult baggage, but they are so much more. They both seem so real that at times you could forget you’re reading a book and feel more like you are secretly snooping into someone’s life. For a quick read that will pull at your heartstrings, look no further. You also get to catch up with Pepper, Reese, Emerson and Shaw from the previous series installments. Reviewed by Jennifer Moss A Scandal to Remember By Elizabeth Essex St. Martin’s Paperbacks, $7.99, 384 pages Check this out! J.E. Burke, conchologist with the Royal Philosophical Society, is not what any of the men of the ship Te n a c i o u s expected. And Lieutenant Charles Dance is nothing that Burke could have ever imagined. This makes for a hilarious and entertaining read from Elizabeth Essex that is at once feisty, fierce and, dare I say, feminist. When J.E. Burke’s first name turns out to be Jane, the party of naturalists on a South

Fiction American expedition becomes scandalously coed. With women thought to be a pox on a nautical journey, quickly this voyage goes sour. At every turn, First Lieutenant Dance is forced to deal with danger. From mutinous sailors, stuffy aristocrats and a soused captain, to the disastrous weather that threatens the lives of everyone aboard the ill-fit, inappropriately named Tenacious— all seems doomed. Quickly. The only light at the end of the tunnel seems to be the small woman with the luminous blue eyes who weaseled her way onto the manifest and into Dance’s heart. Jane Burke is a worthy heroine, and Dance a forward-thinking hero. The two make for delicious and delightful reading— a storyline that kept me engaged, a courtship with wonderful pitfalls and trials, and a satisfying ending that didn’t make me want to throw the book. Loved it! Reviewed by Kate Stephenson The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane: Rhymes With Love By Elizabeth Boyle Avon, $7.99, 384 pages Check this out! Viscou nt Wa kef ield r e t u r n s from a tour of duty in Spain a damaged, broken man. With a wounded leg, a dead friend and many vivid memories of battle, Wa kef ield goes into hiding, consoling himself with alcohol. When Louisa Tempest arrives in Mayfair with her twin sister, Lavinia, she expects to enjoy the season, though she resolves never to marry. When her almost-feral cat, Hannibal, accidentally runs through Wakefield’s front door, Louisa views his disorganized dwelling as a challenge. As Louisa improves Wakefield’s living quarters, she improves him and eventually brings him out of hiding and into society. The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane is a humorous tale from Elizabeth Boyle’s Rhymes With Love series. The interactions between Viscount Wakefield and the characters who want to see him recover range from the serious to the hilarious. “Setting things to rights” is a constant theme throughout the book, and everything is happily resolved at the end. Even Hannibal the cat has enough presence to be a memorable character. Boyle crafts a sweet, beautiful love story that no romance junkie will be able to put down. Reviewed by Caryn Shaffer

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 7

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The Lagasse Girls’ Big Flavor, Bold Taste--and No Gluten! By Jilly Lagasse, Jessie Lagasse Swanson Da Capo Lifelong Books, $27.99, 368 pages Check this out! Emeril Lagasse is not only a great chef; it seems he is also a great father and teacher, as he has two daughters who have written a stellar gluten-free cookbook that will reward those who either choose, or are forced to, embrace a gluten-free diet. The introduction has great ideas for stocking a gluten-free pantry and an important section on food labeling. Arranged in six sections (Starters, Breakfast, Lunchtime Favorites, Accompaniments, Mains and For After), 100 recipes give readers fabulous choices for everything from comfort food to gourmet specialties. One may have to give up gluten, but one doesn’t have to give up cookies or dumplings or pasta or biscuits or mac and cheese. Many recipes are dairy-free as well. In this book, where there is a want, there is a way. Every recipe has a good write-up explaining the dish, what it might accompany well and information on the time needed. This is followed by a complete ingredients list and step-by-step instructions. Many have mouth-watering color photographs of the finished product. Back matter includes metric conversions, which recipes are quick and easy and which are dairy free, and a good resources section. Don’t miss this one. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck MEAT: Everything You Need to Know By Pat LaFrieda, Carolynn Carreño Atria Books, $39.99, 256 pages Check this out! I loved absolutely everything about this book. Pat LaFrieda, a third-generation Italian-American butcher, shares his intimate and extensive knowledge about all kinds of meat: lamb, veal, pork, poultry, beef and chopped (ground) meats. A diagram

of each animal shows the various cuts, each discussed for its flavor and use. Fullcolor recipes are included in each section, many of them from the author’s family heritage; others are from exclusive restaurants the LaFrieda family supplies. As a cookbook, it is lovely, with unique and exciting recipes written for the home cook; many are complex, but the instructions are clear and ingredients are everyday. As a reference book, it is illuminating and educational, and one readers will turn to often. However, beyond these (which are reason enough to love the book), LaFrieda has written a beautiful memoir about his experiences in the meat business, from his first jobs as a child working with his father, to his growing the company as an adult to the celebrated success it is today. Themes of integrity, quality, family and hard work run through it, and the story seamlessly combines with the reference material and recipes. It is an amazing combination, perfectly executed and absolutely delicious. Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner Betty Crocker The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners By Betty Crocker Betty Crocker, $19.99, 336 pages Check this out! As all Betty Crocker cookbooks I reviewed, The Big Book of OnePot Dinners is excellent. This edition is a trade paperback, but if you have a busy kitchen, a hardcover edition is a better choice for longevity. You will find a huge choice of recipes of one-pot dinners in six categories: Casseroles, Pot Pies,

Oven-Roasted Dinners, Stovetop Dishes, Slow Cookers and Soups/Stews/Chilis. Each recipe is conveniently placed on a single page, many with full-page photographs. The recipes have prep and start-to-finish times and nutritional information per serving. Unlike many cookbooks’ prep times (much too short), these are reasonable for the average home cook. The recipes extensively use canned foods, mixes and other prepared ingredients (e.g. jars of chicken gravy, Bisquick Mix, dry mashed potatoes, deli rotisserie chicken). The instructions are clear, easyto-follow, and most ingredients are readily available. Many recipes have symbols indicating Crowd-Pleasing and Low-Calorie. And recipes also feature Quick Variations, Healthy Twist, Time Savers, and some give substitutions. A few heirloom recipes (e.g., lasagna, chili) give alternate variations under New Twist title. For home cooks with little available kitchen time, yet wanting home cooked meals, this cookbook is an excellent choice. Reviewed by George Erdosh

Tasting Whiskey: An Insider’s Guide to the Unique Pleasures of the World’s Finest Spirits By Lew Bryson, David Wondrich (foreword) Storey Publishing, LLC, $18.95, 256 pages Check this out! L e w Bryson, managing editor of Whiskey Advocate, has been working in the world of whiskeys for 20 years. It would take an expert with this kind of experience to write such a comprehensive and knowledgeable tome as this one. Just a glimpse of the table of contents will give readers a taste of the breadth and depth of coverage for whiskeys made in North America, Scotland, Ireland and Japan. Bryson covers the history, as much as is known, of this great drink and even explains the two spellings – whiskey and whisky. Because one really needs to understand the process to be knowledgeable, he explains fermentation and distillation, including what grains See Whiskey, cont’d on page 13

MY TULSA LIBRARY COMMUNITY CARD.

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.

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 8

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918.549.READ

FEBRUARY 2015

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

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH Programs are marked with this icon.

adults & all ages BIXBY LIBRARY A-Book-A-Month Discussion Group for Adults Wednesday, Feb. 25 • 2-3 p.m. Read "Walt Longmire Mystery" by Craig Johnson and then join us for this lively discussion. For adults.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY Volunteers Have Heart Monday, Feb. 2 • 10-11 a.m. Location: Meeting Room Do you LOVE your library? You're invited to an informational coffee for prospective volunteers who would like to contribute their time and talent to the Broken Arrow Library. Learn how you can make a difference by volunteering. For adults.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH Great Decisions: "Russia and the Near Abroad" Wednesday, Feb. 11 • 12:30-2:30 p.m. Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. Join other adults in a lively discussion

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analyzing current issues and their historical precedents. For adults. Novels @ Night Book Club Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us as we discuss "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout. A limited supply of the book is available at the front desk. Call 918-549-7662 to inquire. For adults. Great Decisions: "Privacy in the Digital Age" Wednesday, Feb. 25 • 12:30-2:30 p.m. Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. Join other adults in a lively discussion analyzing current issues and their historical precedents. For adults.

PAWS FOR READING PAGES 5-8

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

BROOKSIDE LIBRARY

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Brookside Book Discussion Monday, Feb. 9 • 1:30-2:30 p.m. A different kind of love story for Valentine's Day, a current-day narrator is able to communicate in the past, a time of actual telephone calls and courtship conversations that don't involve texting or Twitter. Rainbow Rowell has written the 2014 Good Reads Best Fiction. Read "Landline," and then join us for this fun discussion fueled by each reader's perspective and some coffee. For adults.

All Thumbs Knitters Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 18 • 1-3 p.m. All levels of knitting expertise are welcome to join us for this fun and instructional afternoon. For adults. Collinsville Book Discussion Tuesday, Feb. 10 • noon-1 p.m. Join this fun group of readers for a lively discussion of "Before I Go to Sleep" by S.J. Watson. You should read the book prior to the program. Call 918-549-7528 to reserve a copy. Sponsored by the Friends of the Collinsville Library.

HEARING LOOP AVAILABLE!

Switch hearing aid to T-coil

Hearing loss is a common aspect of aging. Tulsa City-County Library recognizes that this is a hurdle to enjoying a full range of library programming, so TCCL has installed an audio induction loop at these LOCATIONS: Funding for the hearing-loop installations was provided by Founders of Doctors’ Hospital Inc. and the Hardesty Family Foundation.

All Tulsa City-County Library locations will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16 for Presidents Day.

Hardesty Regional Library • Frossard Auditorium • Connor’s Cove Martin Regional Library • auditorium Rudisill Regional Library • Ancestral Hall

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Patchworkers Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 6:30-8 p.m. If you want to learn to quilt or are an experienced quilter, join us for an informative and fun evening. For adults.

COMMUNITY VENUES Travels With Tulsans Presents "An Enchanting Tour of the Greek Islands" Wednesday, Feb. 4 • 12:10-1 p.m. LOCATION: University Village Retirement Community, Stovall Theater, 8555 S. Lewis Ave. Harry Potter, Financial Investigation and Analysis, has visited more than 30 Greek islands over the course of his 25 journeys to Greece. Join Potter for a photographic tour that will take you to major historic sites as well as paths less traveled that invariably lead to endless encounters with awe-inspiring beauty and amazing culture. The presentation will begin with a discussion of the single most important event in Greek history, which coincidentally happened to occur in the Greek islands. Sponsored by Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. Travels With Tulsans Presents "Utah Rocks" Wednesday, Feb. 11 • 12:10-1 p.m. LOCATION: University Village Retirement Community, Stovall Theater, 8555 S. Lewis Ave. Join Jan Reese, retired associate dean of students, Chicago Medical School, for a photographic road trip through Utah that takes us to five National Parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion. In October the brilliantly colored landscapes were changing as Reese and her travel companions hiked numerous trails and drove on scenic and historic byways through amazing country. Come and enjoy the ride! Sponsored by Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. Travels With Tulsans Presents "A Look at China Today" Wednesday, Feb. 18 • 12:10-1 p.m. LOCATION: University Village Retirement Community, Stovall Theater, 8555 S. Lewis Ave. Gary Shaffer, CEO, Tulsa City-County Library, traveled this past June as a guest of the Chinese government along with the University of Oklahoma's Confucius Institute director and dean emeritus, Dr. Paul Bell, and a small group of teachers and librarians. Join Gary as he tours us through the schools, libraries, museums and historical sites in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou, China. Sponsored by Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries.

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Book Discussion: “Roman’s Journey” Tuesday, Feb. 24 • 5:30 p.m. LOCATION: Charles Schusterman Jewish Community Center, 2021 E. 71st St. • Read “Roman’s Journey” by Roman Halter and then join us for this thought-provoking discussion. Roman Halter was a boisterous Jewish schoolboy when the Nazis invaded his Polish hometown in 1939. Within days, his family home had been seized, and 12-year-old Roman silently witnessed the brutal murder of his Jewish classmates. Roman then embarks upon a remarkable six-year journey through some of the

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darkest caverns of Nazi Europe, during which he endures the loss of every other member of his family, and his community. Roman tells his indelible story with a simplicity and grace that allow the facts of his suffering and survival to speak for themselves. Roman Halter was on the same transport as Tulsa’s own Eva Unterman, and we are reading this book in preparation for the communitywide 2015 Interfaith Holocaust Commemoration on April 16, when Eva will be the featured speaker. No charge but reservations are required, as complimentary pizza will be

provided. RSVP to suzieb@jewishtulsa. org or call 918-495-1100. Sponsored by the Council for Holocaust Education of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and the Tulsa City-County Library. Travels With Tulsans Presents "Cities in Eastern Europe" Wednesday, Feb. 25 • 12:10-1 p.m. LOCATION: University Village Retirement Community, Stovall Theater, 8555 S. Lewis Ave. Join Tom Campbell, president of Campbell Organizational Services Inc., for this tour of cities in Eastern Europe. The jumping off point for this two-

Celebrating American Indian Heritage, Culture, Arts and Achievements Saturday, March 7 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Hardesty Regional Library, Connor’s Cove 8316 E. 93rd St. Visit TulsaLibrary.org/AIRC for additional programs and presentations to be featured at the American Indian Festival of Words. Presented by Tulsa City-County Library’s American Indian Resource Center and sponsored by the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Cherokee Builders Inc., Dr. Frank and Mary Shaw, the Tulsa Library Trust and the Tulsa City-County Library Staff Association, with additional support provided by the Mary K. Chapman Foundation and George Kaiser Family Foundation. Free and Open to the Public

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Festival of Words Writers Award Honoring Joseph Bruchac

featuring

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10:30-11:30 a.m. • Connor’s Cove Bruchac is a traditional storyteller and author of more than 120 books often reflecting his American Indian (Abenaki) ancestry and the Adirondack region of northern New York. Bruchac will talk about his life and works, and sign books. Copies of his works will be available for purchasing.

a d u l t s week journey through historical cities and beautiful landscape is Warsaw, steeped in WWII history. The last half is a cruise on the Danube from Passau, Germany, to Budapest. Along the way there is sightseeing in Krakow and Prague. Glimpses of theaters, opera houses, cathedrals and castles round out this tour. Sponsored by Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Start-Up Basics Thursday, Feb. 5 • 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. Find Your Family in the U.S. Federal Census Records Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 9:30-10:30 a.m. Location: Frossard Auditorium Discover how the census records can help you locate your ancestors. Learn searching tips and techniques for using the records on Ancestry Library Edition.

HELMERICH LIBRARY Books People Are Talking About Wednesday, Feb. 18 • 12:15-1:15 p.m. Local author and Oklahoma Book Award winner Will Thomas will discuss his newest mystery "Fatal Inquiry," the latest title in the Barker/Llewelyn series, which has been described by Library Journal as "warm, witty and richly atmospheric." In addition, we will discuss other mysteries set in Victorian England, which is the historical setting for Thomas' works. For adults. Light refreshments are provided. Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library.

HERMAN AND KATE KAISER LIBRARY Family Fun Friday Friday, Feb. 13 • 2-3:30 p.m. Enjoy stories, crafts, games, a science activity and fun for all ages.

JENKS LIBRARY Jenks Library Book Discussion Group Thursday, Feb. 19 • 1:30-2:30 p.m. Join this lively group to discuss

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great fiction. Participants should read the selected book prior to the program. Call 918-549-7570 for book title or more information.

KENDALL-WHITTIER LIBRARY Reel Fun for Grownups Thursday, Feb. 5 • 1-3 p.m. Enjoy a movie and some popcorn, because grownups like to have fun, too! Sponsored by Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries.

LIBRARIUM Digital Clinic Wednesday, Feb. 11 • 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 • 1-4 p.m. Get personalized assistance from library staff on accessing and downloading eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines and music, plus streaming movies and more. Bring your device, and we will walk you through the process stepby-step. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7349 to register. For all ages.

OWASSO LIBRARY Mother-Daughter Book Club Wednesday, Feb. 11 • 5-6 p.m. Girls ages 9-12 and their mothers are invited to join us to discuss a great read. Copies of the featured book are available at the library. Participants should read the selected book prior to the program. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7624 to register.

PRATT LIBRARY Bless Your Healthy Heart Monday, Feb. 9 • 10:30-11:30 a.m. Chef Jay Moore returns to Pratt Library with great heart-healthy food ideas for our senior citizens. He also will share tips for choosing heart-healthy foods at restaurants and grocery stores. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7638 to register. Sponsored by the Culinary Institute of Platt College in Tulsa. For ages 50+.

RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY Exhibit: “Joe Louis Barrow: A Life in Context” Feb. 1-28 • Location: AfricanAmerican Resource Center The exhibit chronicles the life of Joe Louis (aka “The Brown Bomber”), an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from 1937 to 1949. Louis is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights

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of all time. He widely is regarded as the first African-American to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States, and his victory against Max Schmelling made international history. He also was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, breaking the sport’s color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsor’s exemption in a PGA event in 1952. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and the African-American Resource Center. Meet Pellom McDaniels III, Author of “The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy” Thursday, Feb. 5 • 11:30 a.m. Location: Ancestral Hall Pellom McDaniels III, faculty curator of African-American collections and assistant professor of AfricanAmerican studies at Emory University, will talk about his book “The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy.” McDaniels received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for “The Prince of Jockeys.” The book chronicles the life and career of Isaac Burns Murphy, who was the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three times. Murphy’s 44 percent win record remains unmatched to this day. Despite his success, Murphy was pushed out of Thoroughbred racing when African-American jockeys were forced off the track, and he died in obscurity. A book signing will follow McDaniels’ presentation. Copies of his book will be available for purchasing. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and the AfricanAmerican Resource Center. Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Start-up Basics Saturday, Feb. 21 • 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Location: Greenwood Room Want to start a business? Get the help you need with SCORE experts. Learn the essentials of business startups, 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. For adults. 2015 African-American Heritage History Bowl Monday, Feb. 23 • 6 p.m. Location: Ancestral Hall Designed around the national African-American History Month theme “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture, the trivia bowl is open to all high schools in Tulsa County. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place. All ages are

welcome to attend. To participate or for more information, contact Lee Platt at 918-549-7646. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust, AfricanAmerican Resource Center and Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library. Job Lab Tuesday, Feb. 24 • 1:30-3 p.m. Location: Computer Lab Update your résumé, search for jobs online or explore a new career in this special computer 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. Library staff and resources will be in the lab to provide assistance. For adults. Class size is limited.

SCHUSTERMAN-BENSON LIBRARY Artful Living: Creating Your Personal Style for Home and Garden Thursdays, Feb. 12, 19, 26 5:30-7:30 p.m. • The Novel Gardener brings inspiring resources for your home and garden design. Learn from Tchinina Rayburn and Rose McCracken from Three Fruits and a Veggie Family Farm how to create your own edible garden. Join Johanna Daniels of Hawley Furniture as she shares tips on using color to update and refresh your home. Planning notebooks will be provided. For adults.

SKIATOOK LIBRARY Osage Language Class Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 • 6-7 p.m. Start your journey learning the Osage language. Presented by the Osage Nation Language Department, and sponsored by American Indian Resource Center and Tulsa Library Trust. For all ages.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Osage Language Class Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18 • 6-7 p.m. Location: North Room Start your journey learning the Osage language. Presented by the Osage Nation Language Department, and sponsored by American Indian Resource Center and Tulsa Library Trust. For all ages.

TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY EVENT GUIDE

FEBRUARY 2015

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teens & tweens

CHARLES PAGE LIBRARY Teensday Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 3:30-6 p.m. • Hang out with other teens, play games or do crafts.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY

COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY

Love Me Knots Thursday, Feb. 12 • 6-7 p.m. Learn how to make heart-shaped knots and other creations out of paracord. For ages 10-18.

Sukikyo! Anime Club Wednesday, Feb. 11 • 3-4:30 p.m. Meet up with other manga/anime fans to discuss your favorite books, movies, characters and plot twists. For ages 12-18. Sponsored by the Friends of the Collinsville Library.

Elementary, My Dear Book Club: Mystery Book Discussion Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 4-4:45 p.m. Read David Adler's "Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones," and then participate in a book discussion and mystery activities. For ages 7-12.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH Teen Advisory Board: OTP Edition Thursday, Feb. 12 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Which book characters do you ship? Who's your OTP? Join our Teen Advisory Board as we decorate sugar cookies and discuss our fave pairings in YA books. We'll also brainstorm and plan programs and services for teens. For ages 12-18. In the Middle Book Group Monday, Feb. 23 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Get ready for Neil Gaiman's visit to Tulsa by reading one or all of his most popular books for "in the middle" readers: "Coraline," "The Graveyard Book" or "Odd and the Frost Giants." Enjoy games, refreshments and door prizes! For ages 9-12.

BROOKSIDE LIBRARY Make Valentine Treats! Friday, Feb. 6 • 1:30-3 p.m. Come by on Early Release Friday and dip wafer cookies into melted chocolate, and then sprinkle to decorate. Give as gifts or treat yourself to an indulgent snack. For ages 10-18. Hearts and Roses Photo Shoot Friday, Feb. 13 • 3:30-5 p.m. Have fun posing with props in front of a festive backdrop. We'll take your picture (pose with a friend, if you like) and you'll receive a free printout! For ages 5-12.

All Things Valentine Monday, Feb. 23 • 2:30-4:30 p.m. Join us for Valentine's Day crafts, gaming and snacks. For ages 10-18.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Minecraft Gaming Thursday, Feb. 5 • 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 Manga/Anime Club Saturday, Feb. 14 • 1-2:30 p.m. Location: Digital Lounge Discuss your favorite manga characters and books, plus make a valentine craft while enjoying snacks. For ages 12-18. Good Enough to Eat: Kids and Chefs Cook for Success Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join us for fun information and activities on making healthy food choices. Chef Michelle Donaldson from Tulsa's Tall Grass Prairie Table and Remmi, a teen chef and mentor from the cooking show "Cook Time With Remmi," will talk about the benefits of eating healthy and share tips for making healthy snacks. Ranger, 2014 Oklahoma winner of Michelle Obama’s “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge,” will share his winning recipe for Smoky Southwestern Vegetable Dip and his experience at the White House with the first lady. For ages 8-12.

HELMERICH LIBRARY Reading Resolution Winter Book Club Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 4:30-5:45 p.m. Bring a family member to our winter book club as we will discuss books that you love in honor of Valentine's Day. This is an intergenerational event,

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t w e e n s so please bring your mom or dad, grandfather or brother, or someone else from you family to share in the fun. We also will make a valentine craft. For ages 10-12. Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library.

Minecraft Night Thursday, Feb. 12 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab Put your imagination to the test building your own world in the popular game of Minecraft. For ages 10-18.

H-tag# After Valentine's Day Event Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 4-6 p.m. Get your game on with DDR, board games, anti-valentine card making and more. Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library. For teens.

JENKS LIBRARY J-TAG Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3 • 4-5 p.m. Come and discuss, snack and create awesome Valentine's Day crafts. We also will discuss books we LOVE! For ages 13-18. Kid's Valentine's Party Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 4-5 p.m. Join us for valentine crafts, games and snacks. For ages 5-12.

KENDALL-WHITTIER LIBRARY Watch the Book Thursday, Feb. 5 • 3:45-5:30 p.m. Let's get together and watch the film version of a popular book or graphic novel. For teens. Sponsored by Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. Teen Game Night Wednesday, Feb. 11 • 3:45-5:15 p.m. Join us for some friendly gaming on Xbox and Wii. For ages 11-17.

LIBRARIUM DIY Touchscreen Gloves Tuesday, Feb. 3 • 4-5 p.m. It's chilly outside! Keep your gloves on while you use your smartphone or tablet with touchscreen gloves. Bring your favorite gloves or pick a pair of ours, and we'll make them usable on any touchscreen while you learn the simple science behind it. For ages 13-18.

MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Teen Time Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 18 • 4-5 p.m. Location: Auditorium Join us for fun Wii and board gaming activities. For ages 10-18.

Saturday Lego Club Saturday, Feb. 21 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Storytime Castle Join us for monthly Lego Club. 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. Registration is required. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7590 to register. For ages 6-12. Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library. Manga-Ai! Anime Club Saturday, Feb. 28 • 2-3:30 p.m. Location: Conference Room Join other manga/anime fans to discuss your favorite books, films and characters from the popular Japanese publishing trend. For ages 12-18.

NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Get Your Game On Thursday, Feb. 26 • 3:30-4:45 p.m. Join us for Xbox and Wii gaming. We have Mario and Dance Party for Wii, plus instruments for Xbox. For ages 9-18.

RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY Craft Your Own Valentine's Day Cards Thursday, Feb. 12 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Surprise your family and friends by creating your own Valentine's Day cards out of recycled materials. For ages 5-12.

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2015 African-American Heritage History Bowl Monday, Feb. 23 • 6 p.m. Designed around the national African-American History Month theme “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture, the trivia bowl is open to all high schools in Tulsa County. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place. All ages are welcome to attend. To participate or for more information, contact Lee Platt at 918-549-7646. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust, AfricanAmerican Resource Center and Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library.

SCHUSTERMAN-BENSON LIBRARY The Craft Connection Monday, Feb. 2 • 6-7 p.m. This is your chance to show off your latest masterpiece! Bring a work in progress or a finished handmade item to show. We’ll work together, talk about techniques, browse craft books and inspire each other to try new crafts while we listen to music and sip tea. For ages 10 and older. Mad Science Monday Monday, Feb. 23 • 4-4:30 p.m. Learn new science experiments. Will they work or explode? Or were they supposed to explode in the first place? Join us for the messy excitement! For ages 5-12.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Homestuck Club for Teens Thursday, Feb. 12 • 6-8 p.m. Location: South Room If you're a reader of "Homestuck" or interested in learning more about this Web comic/flash animation/ video game hybrid, join us for a fun evening with fellow fans. Throwback Thursday Thursday, Feb. 19 • 6-8 p.m. Feeling nostalgic? Enjoy oldschool board games, snacks and other activities sure to take you back in time. For ages 10-18. Minecraft Night Thursday, Feb. 26 • 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.

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digital services HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY MS Excel 1 Tuesday, Feb. 3 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create formulas, use automatic fill and change basic formatting. You should take MS Word 2 and have some experience using a mouse prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Excel 2 Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create and edit formulas, and apply functions and advanced formatting to your spreadsheets and workbooks. You should take MS Excel 1 prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 1 Saturday, Feb. 14 • 9:30-11:30 a.m. 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 Excel 3 Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create charts, apply conditional formatting and control the appearance of printed spreadsheets. You should take MS Excel 2 prior to taking this class. For adults. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS PowerPoint 101 Tuesday, Feb. 24 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create group presentations and slide shows. 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.

MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY La computadora/Basic Computer Class Thursdays, Feb. 5, 19 • 6-7 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class is conducted in Spanish and

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English. For adults. Class is limited to 12 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 1 Saturday, Feb. 7 • 10 a.m.-noon 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 12 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 2 Saturday, Feb. 14 • 10 a.m.-noon 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 12 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 3 Saturday, Feb. 21 • 10 a.m.-noon 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 12 on a first-come, first-served basis. MS Word 4 Saturday, Feb. 28 • 10 a.m.-noon 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 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY eBook Office Hours Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 18 1:30-3:30 p.m. • Get one-to-one assistance from trained library staff on accessing eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, music downloads, streaming movies and more. Bring your device, and we will walk you through setup and answer all your burning questions about library eContent. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7683 to register.

children BIXBY LIBRARY My First Storytime Mondays, Feb. 2, 9, 23 10:30-10:45 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Mondays, Feb. 2, 9, 23 • 11-11:30 a.m. The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 2-5. PAWS for Reading Saturday, Feb. 7 • 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.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY My First Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-10:50 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Explore and Play Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 10:30-11 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! Join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger. Elementary, My Dear Book Club: Mystery Book Discussion Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 4-4:45 p.m. Read David Adler's "Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones," and then participate in a book discussion and mystery activities. For ages 7-12.

BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH Growing Readers Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11 a.m. • Growing readers is easy at the library! Join us for songs, stories, puppets and fun, plus a gentle focus on early reading skills. Stay for early literacy stations from 11 to 11:30 a.m. For ages 2-5.

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Stay and Play Tuesday, Feb. 3 • 11-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 • 11-11:30 a.m. For preschoolers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 2-5. My First Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:30 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers.

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Toddler Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-11 a.m. • Enjoy stories, action rhymes, music, bubbles and meeting other toddlers in the neighborhood. For ages 2-3 and their caregivers. Music and Movement Storytime Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 10:30-11 a.m. • Stretch! Jump! Sing! Read! Join us for a storytime that is all about movement and motion. We will enjoy great books while we get out all our wiggles with fun group activities. For ages 2-5. Stay and Play Wednesday, Feb. 18 • 11-11:30 a.m. For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled

storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For newborns to 3-year-olds and their caregivers.

children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 2-5.

PAWS for Reading Thursday, Feb. 26 • 6:30-7:30 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. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7662 to register.

My First Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 11-11:20 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 24-montholds and their caregivers.

BROOKSIDE LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:15-10:45 a.m. • The best in

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

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Hearts and Roses Photo Shoot Friday, Feb. 13 • 3:30-5 p.m. Have fun posing with props in front of a festive backdrop. We'll take your picture (pose with a friend, if you like) and you'll receive a free printout! For ages 5-12.

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CHARLES PAGE LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 5 and younger. Themes are: Feb. 3, “A Visit to the Library”’; Feb. 10, “Be Mine, Valentine”; Feb. 17, “It’s a Party”; and Feb. 24, “Colors.” PAWS for Reading Tuesday, Feb. 3 • 6-7 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 7-12 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.

COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY Stories From the Rocking Chair Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11 a.m. • Enjoy stories, songs, crafts and more. For ages 1-4 and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Wednesday, Feb. 18 • 3-4 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 4-12 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.

GLENPOOL LIBRARY Ms. Tatiana's Family Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-11 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For newborns to 4-year-olds and their caregivers.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Toddler Time Mondays, Feb. 2, 9, 23 • 10-10:20 a.m. Enjoy stories, action rhymes, fun flannels, music, bubbles and meeting other toddlers in the neighborhood. For ages 2-3 and their caregivers. Mr. Paul's Preschool Storytime Mondays, Feb. 2, 9, 23 • 11-11:30 a.m. Enjoy Mr. Paul's performances of his many favorite picture books! He loves to ask and answer questions about the books he reads, and

get kids engaged with listening and reading. For ages 3-5. Marvelous Monday Stories Mondays, Feb. 2, 9, 23 • 6:30-7 p.m. Join Ms. Karen for stories and other fun activities. For all ages. My First Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:20 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Toddler Time Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 11-11:20 a.m. • Enjoy stories, action rhymes, fun flannels, music, bubbles and meeting other toddlers in the neighborhood. For ages 2-3 and their parents/caregivers. Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 11-11:20 a.m. • Join us for books, songs, games, finger plays and fun for your little one. For ages 3-5. Good Enough to Eat: Kids and Chefs Cook for Success Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join us for fun information and activities on making healthy food choices. Chef Michelle Donaldson from Tulsa's Tall Grass Prairie Table and Remmi, a teen chef and mentor from the cooking show "Cook Time With Remmi," will talk about the benefits of eating healthy and share tips for making healthy snacks. Ranger, 2014 Oklahoma winner of Michelle Obama’s “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge,” will share his winning recipe for Smoky Southwestern Vegetable Dip and his experience at the White House with the first lady. For ages 8-12.

HELMERICH LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-10:55 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 5 and younger. Family Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-10:50 a.m. • Join us for winter stories and more. For all ages.

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HERMAN AND KATE KAISER LIBRARY My First Storytime Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 10-10:30 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Stay and Play Storytime Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 10:30-11:30 a.m. • For preschoolers, playing is learning! Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 2-5. PAWS for Reading Wednesdays, Feb. 11, 25 • 3:30-5 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. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7542 to register. Family Fun Friday Friday, Feb. 13 • 2-3:30 p.m. Enjoy stories, crafts, games, a science activity and fun for all ages. Sensory Storytime Saturday, Feb. 28 • 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.

JENKS LIBRARY My First Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:15 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. Themes are: Feb. 4, "Our

Teeth"; Feb. 11, "Little Sweethearts"; Feb. 18, "Mardi Gras"; and Feb. 25, "Teddy Bears." For ages 3-5. Kid's Valentine's Party Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 4-5 p.m. Join us for valentine crafts, games and snacks. For ages 5-12. PAWS for Reading Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 4-5 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. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7570 to register.

JUDY Z. KISHNER LIBRARY Snowy Weather Brings Friends Together Tuesday, Feb. 17 • 3-4 p.m. Come in from the cold for a toasty time with friends as we make wintertime crafts. For ages 5-10.

KENDALL-WHITTIER LIBRARY Bilingual Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:45 a.m. • Enjoy favorite stories in English and Spanish. For ages 5 and younger.

LIBRARIUM Family Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 11-11:30 a.m. • Enjoy stories, finger plays and songs. For ages 5 and younger and their families. PAWS for Reading Saturday, Feb. 14 • 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.

MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Toddler Time Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:45 a.m. Location: Storytime Castle Toddlers love to explore and learn! Join us for imaginative play and discovery with toys and activities designed to foster young ones' early literacy skills. For ages 1-3 and their caregivers. Siblings up to age 5 also may attend.

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YogaKids With Miss Sarah Saturday, Feb. 14 • 2-2:45 p.m. Location: Auditorium Bring your friends and siblings to our special Valentine's Day-themed YogaKids. Remember to wear comfortable clothes and join Miss Sarah as she teaches fun yoga poses set to music and stories. For ages 5-12. Sponsored by Tulsa Library Trust. Saturday Lego Club Saturday, Feb. 21 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Storytime Castle Join us for monthly Lego Club. 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. Registration is required. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7590 to register. For ages 6-12. Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library.

NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Storytime With Mrs. Cindy Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 3-5. PAWS for Reading Saturday, Feb. 21 • 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, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 9:30-9:50 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 3-5. Stay and Play Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-11 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our

regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For newborns to 5-year-olds and their caregivers. Homeschool Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 • 2-3 p.m. Join us as we read stories and make a craft. For ages 6-12. Sensory Storytime Friday, Feb. 6 • 4-5 p.m. 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 918-549-7624. For ages 1-7 and their caregivers. Family Block Party Tuesday, Feb. 10 • 6-7 p.m. Play, build and learn together! Playing with blocks helps develop your child's hand-eye coordination as well as math and science skills. There will be a variety of blocks available that are appropriate for toddlers to elementary-aged children, including Legos, Mega Blocks and wooden blocks. Bring the whole family to the library and see what you can build! For ages 10 and younger and their parents and siblings. PAWS for Reading Thursday, Feb. 12 • 3:30-4:30 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.

PRATT LIBRARY Miss Connie's Storytime Thursdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 10:30-11:15 a.m. • Join Miss Connie for beautiful books, crazy crafts, silly songs and other frolicking fun! For ages 5 and younger with an adult.

RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger

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c o n t i n u e d plays, rhymes and other readingrelated activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 2-5 accompanied by an adult. Craft Your Own Valentine's Day Cards Thursday, Feb. 12 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Surprise your family and friends by creating your own Valentine's Day cards out of recycled materials. For ages 5-12.

SCHUSTERMANBENSON LIBRARY Preschool Stay and Play Storytime Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30-11:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. After storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 6 and younger. My First Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-10:20 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Stay and Play Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-10:50 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Monday, Feb. 9 • 3:30-4:30 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.

to Miss Marley, our furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Children will get to read to Miss Marley on a first-come, first-served basis. Storytime @ the Skiatook Library Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 11 a.m.-noon • Come and share in our storytime fun as we sing songs and go on reading adventures. For ages 6 and younger. PAWS for Reading With Miss Fred Saturdays, Feb. 7, 21, 28 noon-1 p.m. • Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 2-10 are invited to read their favorite books to Miss Fred, our furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Children will read to Miss Fred on a first-come, first-served basis.

ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Stay and Play Storytime Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes, and then stay after for games and activities that foster early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger. PAWS for Reading Saturday, Feb. 14 • 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. Family Game Night Tuesday, Feb. 24 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Bring your favorite board game or choose from one of ours. For ages 12 and younger and their families.

Mad Science Monday Monday, Feb. 23 • 4-4:30 p.m. Learn new science experiments. Will they work or explode? Or were they supposed to explode in the first place? Join us for the messy excitement! For ages 5-12.

SKIATOOK LIBRARY PAWS for Reading With Miss Marley Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 10-11 a.m. • Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 2-10 are invited to read their favorite books

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.

Book Reviews Category

Picture Books SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance By Birgitta Sif Candlewick, $15.99, 32 pages Check this out! Frances Dean is a little girl with a big love: dancing. Every chance she gets, she dances, teaching her routines to the animals fascinated by her twirling. Everyone loves to watch Frances Dean dance. There’s only one problem: as soon as she realizes that all eyes are on her, Frances Dean stops dancing. She can’t bear to be watched, to have her dancing noticed and remarked on. Her dancing is hers and hers alone. One day, however, she hears another little girl singing—beautifully and unselfconsciously—and Frances Dean finally finds the courage to share her dancing with others. With sweet illustrations that give twittering life to the animals among whom Frances Dean is most comfortable, Frances Dean is both a unique story of a shy, but talented, child and a gentle reminder that not all children enjoy the too-frequent performon-demand requirements of being a child. Children will do what they love most when they feel comfortable doing it—and, like the birds who are witness to Frances Dean’s dancing from the start, their audience will be privileged indeed. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell Hug Machine By Scott Campbell Atheneum BFYR $16.99, 40 pages Check this out! Hugs are the best. There are few greater things in this world than a hug offered with sincerity and enthusiasm. As a world-class hugger myself, I have a greater-than-normal appreciation for a properly delivered hug. So, as you

can imagine, my interest was piqued when I stumbled across Hug Machine, a children’s book featuring a protagonist who loves giving hugs so much, he has dubbed himself a Hug Machine and dedicated his days to hugging anything and everything. He is a tireless hugging engine, hugging all and sundry, bringing a little bit of joy, warmth and simple human contact to everyone and everything crossing his path. Hug Machine is a simple story with a wonderful message, and the artwork only adds to a joyful reading experience. The vivid shades and use of watercolor amplify Hug Machine’s world and mission, as if his very presence has brightened not only the days of those around him, but the book itself. (Hug Machine’s long arms are similarly charming, showing that he is optimally designed for delivering hugs.) Whether the kids in your life are shy about hugging or absolute cuddlebugs, read them Hug Machine. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas I Feel Five! By Bethanie Deeney Murguia Candlewick, $14.99, 32 pages Check this out! Fritz has big expectations for his fifth birthday. Five is big; he expects to feel things happen to him on this birthday. Loose teeth. The ability to tie his shoelaces. Turning five is about more than cool gifts— he wants to transform. So he is disappointed when he wakes on his fifth birthday and doesn’t immediately feel different. There are no loose teeth, and he can’t snap his fingers. How does he know he’s five when everything feels just as it did when he was four? He gets what he’s searching for when he meets a little girl unable to reach an apple on a high tree branch. When she asks him for help, he agrees, and in this gesture of generosity— even bravado—he finds the signal he’s been waiting for. He’s five: he’s capable. He may even feel a tiny wiggle in his tooth. Like all Murguia’s books, I Feel Five! is a winning, spot-on slice of a child’s life. Turning five is a big deal when you’re five, and the urgent desire to grow up—to feel different, See Five, cont’d on page 15

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 9

, CHILDREN S FICTION COMING SOON

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

Three Little Words

By Clemency Pearce • Perfect for Valentine’s Day or anytime a hug is required! What are the three little words that make everything better? I Love You! Preschoolers will love snuggling with their families and counting all the ways that the three little words “I love you” can solve most every childhood concern. With warm, cuddly, reassuring illustrations of adorable animal families, this book lets children know that their parents will always be there with lots of hugs and kisses.

Henry Holton Takes the Ice

By Sandra Bradley • Henry Holton’s whole family is hockey mad. Everyone, that is, except Henry. When he holds a hockey stick, Henry becomes a menace to the game—and an embarrassment to his sports-minded family. It’s not until he sees his first ice-dancing performance that Henry realizes there’s something he can do on the ice that doesn’t involve boarding and body checking. Henry is ready to hang up his gear and try on some figure skates, but first he has to convince his hockey-obsessed family to let him follow his own path.

Lovey Bunny

By Kristine Lombardi • Lovey Bunny is the happiest little girl around. She loves just about everything—her family, art, watching her mama make things and, especially, playing dress-up. But when she borrows Mama Rabbit’s new dress without asking and ruins it, Lovey Bunny learns that not everything always goes as planned. Will Lovey Bunny find a creative way to show Mama that she’s sorry?

Sally in the Snow

By Stephen Huneck • Sally visits a dogfriendly ski lodge, complete with dog skiing, dog snowboarding, dog sledding and, of course, dog dinner! Adapted from the classic picture book Sally’s Snow Adventure and illustrated in Huneck’s pitch-perfect woodcut prints, this simplified text is perfect for snowloving toddlers and wintertime positioning.

Red: A Crayon’s Story

By Michael Hall • A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as “red” suffers an identity crisis in the new picture book by the New York Times bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and It’s an Orange Aardvark! Funny, insightful and colorful, Red: A Crayon’s Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age!

Book Reviews Category

Nonfiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Ansel Adams: A Biography By Mary Street Alinder Bloomsbury USA, $22.00, 415pages Check this out! The next best thing to being in nature is an Ansel Adam’s photog raph. Next to the art of photography, which he revolutionized, Adams was also a friend to the earth, a founder of the Sierra Club and defender of the National Park System. Ansel was born in San Francisco to liberal parents who nurtured his artistry in both music and photography. Adams was a gifted pianist, which may have influenced the lyricism one experiences in his photographs. His parents did not insist on a formal education, but, rather, used direct exposure to art, nature and literature to mold Adam’s passionate character. Mary Street Alinder was Adam’s assistant and caretaker for five years at the end of his life. She was co-author with Adams of a previous biography and had access to his inner circle, family and friends. She does not whitewash Adams, but also presents his failings, which seem to stem from his excitable enthusiastic nature. He married young and had two children, but never became a family man. Adams wandered the country for great pictures perhaps to the detriment of his personal life. This book is essential for photographers and interesting for any reader. Reviewed by Julia McMichael Elsa Schiaparelli: A Biography By Meryle Secrest Knopf, $35.00, 400 pages Check this out! Secrest portrays the life of Elsa Schiaparelli, an influential fashion designer of the 20th century, whose designs have become norms within the modern clothing industry, but who has been forgotten by the masses in the way that her contemporaneous designer and competitor Coco Chanel was not. It is high time that a biography of this excep-

tional woman—one who was strong and unique both in spirit and in her creations—is remembered. Secrest is unintimidated by Schiaparelli’s successes and for midable exterior as a designer of note and does not hesitate to delve into the personal life of this remarkable woman. She captures Schiaparelli in her many forms from a lonely, Italian school girl to a suspected anarchist residing in New York City with her spiritualist, conman husband, to her later, and final reincarnation as an astounding leader of haute couture whose business model and creations were so uniquely attuned to the times that it became more successful in the midst of the great depression. Not to be missed, this smashing sensation of a biography will alter the way readers perceive and wear clothing. Reviewed by Kasey Beduhn Group f.64: Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham and the Community of Artists Who Revolutionized American Photography By Mary Street Alinder Bloomsbury USA, $35.00, 416 pages Check this out! Even casual fans of photography will find much to admire in Alinder’s personal, thorough examination of the photographers who made up Group f.64. This San Francisco-based group, whose members included Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange and other familiar names, forged a new path in photography in the 1930s. Their passion, as well as their excep-

tional work, positioned photography for the first time as a fine art form, with its own unique approach to meaning, technique and function. Alinder was an assistant to Ansel Adams, with in-depth, firsthand knowledge of those in his circle, and she makes for a nimble guide. She clearly defines what made Group f.64’s work so different from the prevailing style of the East Coast at the time, laying out in the Prologue exactly how the landscape of the West Coast was at the heart of the new movement’s philosophy and vision— not melodramatic or sentimental but vital, crucial, illuminating. Full of images of the photographers themselves, Group f.64 is a thoughtful, reverent recounting of a group of artists who forever changed their world. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell Dr. Mütter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine By Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz Gotham, $27.50, 384 pages Check this out! Dr. Mütter pioneered plastic surgery in Philadelphia in the 1830s; some of his techniques were highly successful t hroughout the next century. When anesthesia was finally discovered, he championed its use, overcoming the skeptics of the established medical community. He insisted on strict cleanliness and an aseptic operating room, in an era when the germ theory of disease and even the very existence of microbes were in question. Perhaps most importantly, he saw his patients as real humans, real people, and saw his role as a physician, surgeon and instructor as a sacred calling to alleviate suffering, while his peers regarded their patients merely as “cases” or even “monsters.” This incredible book tells his amazing story in a gripping narrative that keeps you fascinated. It is not for the weak-stomached: though surgeries are described with remarkable restraint, sensitive readers will recoil at the description of horrific conditions and operations conducted without anesthesia. Nonetheless, the amazing transformations Dr. Mütter effected may leave you, as they left me, with the unusual sensation of feeling revulsion immediately overpowered by wonder and joy. He was an amazing man, and here his story is beautifully and lovingly retold, a fitting tribute to a long-forgotten hero of his time. Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 10

The World of Raymond Chandler: In His Own Words By Raymond Chandler Knopf, $27.95, 250 pages Check this out! This is a wonderful book for Chandler fans and a nice introduction to C h a n d l e r ’s writing style and wit for others. Raymond Chandler is in the pantheon of detective fiction writers. He wrote eight novels in which he featured famous detective Philip Marlowe, nine short story collections and six screenplays, most famously: Double Indemnity and Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. Chandler was known to be difficult, and both Hitchcock and Billy Wilder elected not to work with him again. This book is not a biography, but a collection of Chandler’s writing in letters, stories and interviews. That being said, it reads very well, even when the editor links Chandler’s characters with his private life. It also includes atmospheric pictures of Los Angeles and Santa Monica in Chandler’s time. One of the most humorous inclusions is Chandler’s collection of slang vernacular, such as “Chicago lightning” (gunfire), and over-the-top metaphors, such as “a soft voice, soft and dry, like the rustle of wellworn leather.” One of my favorite Chandler quotes is “If my books had been any worse, I should not have been invited to Hollywood, and if they had been any better, I should not have come.” Totally enjoyable. Reviewed by Julia McMichael Someday You Will Understand: My Father’s Private World War II By Nina Wolff Feld Arcade Publishing, $24.95, 320 pages Check this out! Nina Wolff Feld explores the contents of a green box her father, Walter Wolff, left behind and discovers the chronicle of her father’s involvement in World War ll. The contents touch far more than merely her family; punctuated with photographs and supporting documentation, Feld strings together the events that shaped history with a personal touch.

Book Reviews

Nonfiction

The narrative starts with the affluent Wolff family narrowly escaping from the Nazis in a harrowing 16-month odyssey that carries them to America aboard the ill-fated Navemar. A few years later, Walter returns to Europe in uniform, trained by the U.S. Army to capitalize on his unique Jewish heritage and language skills. In the aftermath of an Allied victory, Walters’ assignment divides his time between two primary objectives: to secure help for the Displaced Persons, the Jewish Refugees; and to hunt down Nazi war criminals. Armed with sketchy information and a list compiled by Simon Wiesenthal, Walter sifts through POW camps and interrogates those responsible for sending millions to their deaths. His extraordinary journey grants us new insight into how a government run amok disenfranchised an entire generation. Reviewed by C.D. Quyn Perfectly Miserable: Guilt, God and Real Estate in a Small Town By Sarah Payne Stuart Riverhead, $27.95, 320 pages Check this out! Sarah Payne Stuart never thought she’d return to the old-money, WASP-y world she spent her young adulthood yearning to

escape. Her flight from her childhood home in Concord, Massac huset ts, was swift and sure, and she spent many happy years adventur ing elsewhere. When she becomes pregnant with her third child, however, she decides that the right place–the only place–for her family is back in Concord, which, in hindsight, has taken on a rosy glow. And so, with her husband and children and an overwhelming love of moving houses, she returns to the land of Louisa May Alcott, Emerson and Thoreau. Nothing is as perfect as she’d expected it to be, however, and her clear-eyed criticisms and analysis are what give Perfectly Miserable its edges. Stuart doesn’t spare herself one bit, and she writes honestly about her unfailing inability to find happiness and her against-the-odds convictions that the next house, and the next one, is where she’s

meant to be. As she burns through real estate and rankles her parents and their friends, readers will feel Stuart’s painful surprise that nothing, really, can ever be as good in reality as it is in memory. Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell Vaccine Nation: America’s Changing Relationship With Immunization By Elena Conis University Of Chicago Press, $27.50, 344 pages Check this out! For a long time after the first vaccine was discovered, for smallpox in 1798, vaccination was largely a personal decision. But, after a vaccine was created for polio in 1955, things started to change. From drives to eliminate polio in the United States through widespread vaccination, to ambi-

tious plans to eliminate lesser childhood diseases like measles and whooping cough, to the push to reduce cases of hepatitis B through vaccination at birth, vaccines have steadily become a prevalent part of the early medical care of many children in our country. But it has been far from smooth sailing, and, today, the topic of childhood vaccinations tends to be a deeply contentious one. With Vaccine Nation, Elena Conis explores the history of vaccines in our country, exploring the many reasons (medical, societal, political, financial) why their use has become so widespread. Conis also spends a fair amount of time discussing the many legitimate reasons why people from all walks of life are sometimes skeptical of vaccines, covering heavy metals in the ingredient lists, safety concerns over testing and vaccine injuries. With its extensive list of sources, Vaccine Nation is a surprisingly balanced history of this controversial topic. Reviewed by Holly Scudero

RaceEthnicityReligionCulture: February 1

A Changing City

February 8

A Divided Tulsa

February 15

Moving Forward with Compassion

Register online or to info@occjok.org info@occjok.org. All Sessions are free and run 2pm-4pm. visit occjok.org for more details.

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 11

Book Reviews Herbs for Natural Beauty: Create Your Own Herbal Shampoos, Cleansers, Creams, Bath Blends and More By Rosemary Gladstar Storey Publishing, LLC, $8.95, 128 pages Check this out! If it seems like making your own concoctions for health and beauty products is “in” right now, you’re probably right. Bloggers everywhere have jumped aboard; there are recipes everywhere for body scrubs and face washes, and Internet sources abound for essential oils and herbs. But what if you’re new to this, and you’re not sure where to start? What if you just want a simple guide for beginners? Rosemary Gladstar, lifelong herbalist, is here to help. Herbs for Natural Beauty is one in Storey’s new series of books about using herbs for everyday things. In this book, Gladstar presents the basics of how to make your own herbal beauty products, from skin care products (including facial scrubs, moisturizers and even aftershave) to bath products (bath salts, body scrubs and tooth powder) to hair care products (herbal shampoos and ideas for using henna to color your hair). This is by no means an exhaustive guide to making your own anything, but it does cover the basics quite adequately, using supplies that are readily available at your local health food store or online. Her instructions are straightforward, and she provides a detailed explanation of the different kinds of ingredients she uses, as well as what purpose each one serves. This is a great starter guide. Reviewed by Holly Scudero In This Moment: Five Steps to Transcending Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroscience By Kirk D. Strosahl, Patricia J. Robinson New Harbinger Publications, $16.95, 224 pages Check this out! In This Moment: Five Steps to Transcending Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroscience looks at the science behind our mind’s behavior. Although the science is a focus, I found that explanations were helpful and not too difficult to understand. In This Moment includes tests to take

Nonfiction and contains anecdotes to compare a person who holds strong and limited skills in these areas, which can help determine your own place in the spectrum. Two of the goals of the book are to keep the process simple and doable. The authors have succeeded, repeating concepts and carefully leading you through a welcoming and open process to work with the five areas of mindfulness: observe, describe, detach, love yourself and act mindfully. Exercises—Brain Training— tied to each of the areas are introduced in each chapter and vary from controlled breathing to writing life goals. This book has low-pressure, no-stress tips I found helpful for improving my daily routines and my relationships. If you are looking to shift your mindset and become more mindful while decreasing stresses, In This Moment is a fabulous resource for 2015. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey Overworked and Overwhelmed: The Mindfulness Alternative By Scott Eblin Wiley, $28.00, 288 pages Check this out! To the a mu sement of some, I was writing my review for Overworked and Overwhelmed: The Mindfulness Alternative by Scott Eblin during a particularly stressful week. I’d like to credit Eblin’s book for helping me make it through. At the very least, Overworked and Overwhelmed has given me a greater focus on how to manage overwhelm. Eblin, who also is a yoga teacher, has a system he’s developed and used to coach many corporate clients. This Life GPS system revolves around three questions that can change your life, when mindfully considered and acted upon. Eblin’s book structure pivots around those three questions, one of which is: How are you when you’re at your best? Chapters provide examples, stories of originally skeptical clients, clear guidance and encouragement to respond to each of the questions. Each chapter finishes with a series of questions—Coach’s Corner—to reflect upon. I discovered that reviewing the appendix of those helpful questions could help bring more calm. Just taking the time to look at your life and be aware of a different approach to mindfulness can help bring the awareness you’ve been seeking. For our overextended lives, Eblin’s book is a welcome addition. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey

The 3 Promises: Find Joy Every Day, Do What You Love, Make a Difference By David J. Pollay Sterling, $19.95, 208 pages Check this out! The three promises David Pollay espouses – find joy every day, do what you love and make a difference – are fairly simple, requiring very little skill and minimal time. As with most plans for personal growth, this still doesn’t make the promises any easier to fulfill. Luckily, Pollay has organized this book in three parts, helping readers to focus on the many ways one promise may be achieved before moving on to the next. In a warm, conversational tone, the ways in which readers may fulfill each promise are presented as separate chapters with its own personal reflection and action step, and most with references for further study from the field of positive psychology. Some activities, such as being a “day-starter” or telling people your dreams may resonate; others may not. There is enough variety that readers will find several feasible activities to undertake. In fact, it may be useful to read this book in one sitting, taking note of the practicable activities and giving yourself permission to leave the rest. Go a step further and read this book with a journal close by to jot down your own reflections, and then take the 3-day challenge to slowly build up your change muscle. Reviewed by Africa Hands Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2015: The Best Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Year Ahead By James Bainbridge Lonely Planet, $14.99, 208 pages Check this out! Pl a n n i n g a vacation for sometime this year? Pick up this handy little book with the best ideas for places to see all over the world. Lonely Planet is rapidly becoming the go-to publisher for contemporary travel books for the modern traveler. For broad strokes, they begin with the 10 best countries to visit, including some real surprises, such as Namibia and Lithuania. Maybe looking at countries is a bit more than one wants to check out. The second section is the top 10 regions with

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 12

such exotic places as the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey and the Atacama Desert of Chile, but also places more common to American travelers, such as the Rocky Mountain National Park. Cities come next, with the top 10, including the No. 1 pick of Washington, D.C., and such unfamiliar places as Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and Valletta, Malta. Each place lists reasons to go in 2015, as well as lots of facts about the place, life-changing experiences and other useful information. Last is top travel lists with things such as the best bathrooms in the world, best free things to do and best literary walking tours. This terrific little book easily fits into purse or pocket. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life By Brian Wansink William Morrow, $26.99, 320 pages Check this out! Dieting is hard. There are so many little things to remember and so many bad habits to break. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would come up with ideas to simplify losing weight and make it easier? Well, someone has. Brian Wansink, a behavioral psychologist, suggests people can design their way out of bad eating habits and lose weight without really thinking about it. This is the man who came up with the idea of 100-calorie snack packs that are being widely sold. He convinced food executives they could make more by selling less and along the way make it easier for folks to lose weight. Now he has a blueprint for success through redesigning home kitchens, restaurants, grocery stores, workplaces and even school lunchrooms. He explains what kind of refrigerator is best, what color the kitchen should be to shorten your stay, what size and color your dishes should be, where to serve food and more. Everything is backed up with solid research. The best part is this book is written so well it is fun and interesting to read, all the while teaching important, life-changing lessons most people would love to learn. Don’t miss this one. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck The Spice & Herb Bible By Ian Hemphill, Kate Hemphill Robert Rose, $34.95, 800 pages Check this out! To call The Spice & Herb Bible by Ian Hemphill and Kate Hemphill comprehensive seems to be a bit of an understatement. It’s more like a coffee-table book for spices and herbs—use it for reference and display. The Hemphills have generations of knowl-

Book Reviews edge to rely on and it is obviously poured out upon on each page. The introductory history and basic information is a great place to start. I found myself hopping from entry to entry, exploring as I might do in the Hemphills’ spice shop. You can learn about fascinating spices and herbs—olida, mahlab or makrut. The name of the item in different languages accompanies each entry. After pages of the plant’s background, processing and uses, the Hemphills provide recipes to complement—Thai fish cakes or banana crepes, for example. The entry for paprika is 12 pages long! The oversized pages often have a sidebar of information, which gives little tips or facts about the spice/herb. Once past the alphabetized spice/herb part of the book, you’ll find yourself in the spice blending section, which offers mountains of different directions and tastes to discover. This is an amazing, colorful addition for any cook’s shelves. Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey Draw, cont’d from page 2 did not want to be a field worker. He wanted to be an artist. Benny worked hard, served in the military and went to college to study art. He became an artist and gave back by working hard for civil rights. This inspiring story of the life of Benny Andrews is engagingly written by Kathleen Benson. It is clear she has done a lot of research. All the illustrations in the book are oil paintings by Benny Andrews. This completes the story in a fantastic way. Children will be able to see how Benny’s hard work paid off. The back matter includes a timeline of Benny’s life, more information about him, a photo of him and resources. This is a charming, educational and inspirational portrait of the artist. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Whiskey, cont’d from page 8 are used, then goes on to tell all about the aging process. Even the placement of the barrels during the aging process affects the flavor. This is all surprisingly fascinating. Tasting whiskey is a complex process that really requires training. The discussion of “The Wall” is intriguing. All this leads up to an encyclopedic coverage of Scotch, Irish, Bourbon, Rye, Canadian, Japanese and craft whiskeys. Cocktails, what goes well with which whiskeys and a good glossary polish things off. This book is a must-have for whiskey connoisseurs. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck

Nonfiction Thirty Girls, cont’d from cover and emotionally abusive to the most degrading levels of perversity. Jane Wood is a 40-year-old American almost journalist who has traveled to Africa to cover the story of the abducted school girls for a magazine. Jane’s husband died of an overdose. She’s fallen in love with a man 17 years younger than she. She is low-key and insecure. Her biological clock is ticking. She is not really connected to the other expats who join her on the journey. Some who read her story may find it dry and understated. But, perhaps the subtlety with which Minot renders the details of Jane’s life is an ingenious lure for those who can appreciate the bohemian lifestyle of the privileged few. Esther Akello’s story is much more engrossing, for all its gruesome details. Esther describes the way she emotionally detached herself while being viciously raped; what she did to participate in the beating death of another captive girl; and how she could never go back to being the same carefree girl she had been before each atrocity was visited upon her by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Some will care more about Esther’s story than about Jane’s. Those of us who listened in horror to the international news reports in April 2014 and learned of the plight of 276 girls from Chibok in Borneo State, Nigeria will care. Those who recall the name of the militant group called Boko Haram that kidnapped the African school girls will care, as well as those who know something of the military and other terrorist groups who kidnapped boys, raping, beating and forcing them to commit heinous and murderous acts. Some of us will gain a better understanding, through Esther’s and the other captives’ eyes, of the psychological impact these horrors leave festering in the hearts and souls of the victims. Near the end of the novel, Jane and Esther meet and connect in such a way that Esther is emotionally released on a deeper level. We envision Jane as the fairy earth/god mother whose wonderful and miraculous arrival sets a captive free. We sigh. We groan and roll our eyes. Ultimately, those of us who have not had the money, or opportunity or insight, or guts to go out to the areas of the world where the atrocities described in Thirty Girls are common place, may appreciate this: Jane at least did something to help. With all of her inadequacies, female angst and understated sheroism, Jane tells a story which may keep the eyes of the privileged engaged in learning. Perhaps some of us will do more to help those of us who seem so foreign and far away. On a scale of 1 to 5, Thirty Girls receives a 4 – because Esther deserves much better than what she got! Reviewed by Alicia Latimer, coordinator, Tulsa City-County Library’s African-American Resource Center

Tulsa Book Review • February 2015 • 13

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Book Reviews Category

History SNAP IT for additional book summaries.

Founders as Fathers: The Private Lives and Politics of the American Revolutionaries By Lorri Glover Yale University Press, $30.00, 344 pages Check this out! From the onset, author Lorri Glover acknowledges that more than enough books already exist on the subject of the American Revolution and the nation’s Founding Fathers. What does this professor of history hope to teach us that has not already been taught? “The role of these Founders as fathers.” With remarkable eloquence, Glover transports us back to the colonial era when loyal British gentry thought only about the economics of improving their estate, educating heirs and marrying off their daughters to worthy men. This chronicle follows the last generation of colonists by featuring five of the most famous Virginians, the women they married and the families they raised into the most radical political upheaval ever to face their ancestry. Rather than isolate them in typical biographical fashion, Glover collectively selects facets from the lives of George Mason, Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. We are drawn into their world, their plans and ambitions, and then sucked into a political vortex that throws them from their original course and into the annals of history. Reviewed by C.D. Quyn Founders’ Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln By Richard Brookhiser Basic Books, $27.99, 376 pages Check this out! Founders’ Son correlates Lincoln’s life with his relationship to the Founding Fathers, as seen through the evolution of Lincoln’s writings. It is a fascinating study. The book is relatively short, merely touching upon key events in Lincoln’s life; it looks primarily at the arc of Lincoln’s speeches and writings. As Lincoln grows in political influence, the Founders’ ideas crystallize his

own, from editorial letters in smalltown Illinois through the LincolnDouglas debates, the Gett ysburg Address and his Second Inaug ura l. Brook h i ser analyzes Lincoln’s actions and texts with precision, while explaining the surrounding issues and political quagmires with clarity, from the various compromises about slavery to the eventual crucible of the Civil War. In his most trying moments, Lincoln turned to the Founders for wisdom and counsel, in the foundational documents of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Sparkling personal stories from Lincoln’s life accent the narrative, keeping it accessible, and Lincoln, human; the deft historical explanation, in its breadth, gives a cohesive narrative of the lead-up to the Civil War that elucidates the various factions and competing platforms Lincoln had to bring together. The narrative sweeps forward with irresistible pacing, exciting and accessible; it is a unique and essential insight into this pivotal figure from American history. Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession By Dana Goldstein Doubleday, $26.95, 368 pages Check this out! To put it plainly, public school teachers still have a rough deal, and it’s been that way since the mid-19th century. Chronologically, the fundamental issues have been threefold. Starting during the suffrage movement when two of the mainstays, Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, held emphatically different views of how teachers should be

schooled. Before their voices were stilled, the second argument took root: should teachers be men or women? Could women teach intellectual subjects or just subjects akin to home economics? Pockets of indecision persist, but are overshadowed by the distressing situation where in some parts of the country the ability of African-American teachers is challenged and integration not fully up and running. Goldstein writes compellingly, presenting a series of meticulously researched chapters demonstrating the political and legal wrangling confronting teachers as they pursue their chosen career. No one chapter can be deemed more important than another, but the early revolutionary idea of a teacher and a labor union going hand in hand, the period when ‘several waves of patriotic moral panic convulsed the nation’s public schools,’ are outstanding. The book is pragmatic rather than sentimental, but full of caring and appreciation. Readers will likely agree with a newly spotted bumper sticker: I Believe in Teachers. Reviewed by Jane Manaster Earth’s Deep History By Martin J.S. Rudwick University Of Chicago Press, $30.00, 392 pages Check this out! By now, scientific consensus is that the earth is billions of years old, but scholars haven’t always been so sure. Earth’s Deep History tells the story, not of the earth it-

self that can be found in modern textbooks, but, rather, the story of how ‘natural philosophers’ developed the ideas of geology accepted today. Early theologians of the 17th century, using the Bible as the most accurate text, tried to assign a timeline to creation; others compared fossil stones with their living equivalents. Gradually, there was a realization that the earth developed and changed according to a grand timescale of its own. The development of geology, far from being antagonistic to theology, instead, was seen as a support for religious belief in an omnipotent God; the author points out, however, that the modern-day “Young Earth” belief is a relatively new phenomenon unknown to early religious scholars. This book is exhaustive in its survey of past geological and paleontological scholarship, and very detailed, but eminently readable and engaging. It is filled with graphs and figures from early scientists, and written to be easily accessible to a nonspecialist. This is a fascinating story of the development of this exciting branch of science. Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner