Nicole

Nicole's Recommendations

Cinema Muto (Paperback)

By Jesse Lee Kercheval
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9780809328956
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Southern Illinois University Press, 3/2009
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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Paperback)

By Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith
$12.95
ISBN-13: 9781594743344
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Quirk Books, 4/2009
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These days the public may be wondering just how many more zombie or Jane Austen-themed items the world can take. With the release of his monstrosity, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies , Seth Graham-Smith is hoping for an answer of, “at least one more.” The vast majority of Austen’s classic has been cleverly preserved, albeit with a slightly loosened upper lip as the Bennet girls now seek love and happiness in an England besieged by an unmentionable menace for almost a generation. Fans of horror, romance, and Regency novels should like this as long as they are prepared to laugh. The book is not serious on either side of the genre divide (as fans of Max Brooks can attest), and it would not be a wise substitute for last minute studying. However, it is perfectly delightful for a spring romp through the countryside. Just don’t forget your katana—yes, there are ninjas too.

One Square Inch of Silence: One Man's Search for Natural Silence in a Noisy World (Hardcover)

By Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann
$26.00
ISBN-13: 9781416559085
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Free Press, 3/2009
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“Oh, little leaves that are so dumb
Against the shrieking city air,
I watch you when the wind has come,—
I know what sound is there.” ~ from "City Trees" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

How loud is a heartbeat? How quiet is a thought? Can the volume of one body compete with the kaleidoscope of trains, sirens and iPods that fill our ears everyday? If a human cannot be heard above our self-created din what about the rest of the species that inhabit our planet? Might they be able to tell us something about ourselves if we provide a space for nature to converse with us? In One Square Inch of Silence, Hempton explores the uncomfortable truth that natural quiet is increasingly hard to come by in the US, even in our national parks. In speaking with a variety of observers and experts in the field, he and co-author John Grossman discover how one of America’s fastest disappearing natural resources is tied into the very air we breathe and how we historically conceive of America’s vast physical and cultural landscapes.

An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action for the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

By James Orbinski
$18.00
ISBN-13: 9780802717627
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Walker & Company, 9/2009
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An Imperfect Offering by Dr. James Orbinski might be called a “testament” bearing witness to the best and worst of humanity. If the topics it treats were that simple, it could be broken down into digestible bits for learned discussion and forgotten before you finish sipping your latté. I should warn you—there is nothing digestible about this book, and you won’t be able to finish that latte. I was exceedingly disconcerted by little I had been taught about the buried headlines of my youth: Suddenly places like Somalia, Rwanda, Kosovo, and Afghanistan have immediate generalization-defying human implications that should not be overlooked in a world with shrinking resources and increasing polemics. In a word, An Imperfect Offering is humbling. It proves that people can accomplish incredible things despite our species’ collective and individual capacity for evil. There is a lot of work left for us to do.

Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion and Beauty (Paperback)

By Summer Rayne Oakes
$24.95
ISBN-13: 9780811865241
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Chronicle Books, 2/2009
Style, Naturally is perfect for those who wonder how they can help solve the world’s problems on a daily basis (and look good doing it). Who would’ve thought that buying a vintage ring could prevent the creation of twenty tons of mining waste? Or that a shoe purchase could fund AIDS research? Pick a cause and it will likely be represented in this book. Summer Rayne Oakes—an environmental scientist who moonlights as a model and green business consultant—packed this guide with reference sections, web addresses, phone numbers and company profiles that will keep fashionistas connected in as the industry seeks greener pastures. So three cheers for a fun and funky road map that shows us we can stimulate global and local economies responsibly and knowledgably—without sacrificing our inner divas or budgets. Buying a book never felt so good.