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What to read this Halloween, based on your ideal spooky activity

Whether you’re a homebody or a thrill-hunter, we’ve got a seasonal, spine-tingling read for you.
Whether you’re a homebody or a thrill-hunter, we’ve got a seasonal, spine-tingling read for you.
NonfictionLifestylesCookbooks

Bodega Bakes

In the personable Bodega Bakes, pastry chef Paola Velez presents just that: sweets that can be made solely from the ingredients found at a corner store.
In the personable Bodega Bakes, pastry chef Paola Velez presents just that: sweets that can be made solely from the ingredients found at a corner store.
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Sports

Review

Review by bookpagedev

Books of Olympic proportion Women were an afterthought to the modern Olympic Games that began in 1896. Almost one-third of the new century had elapsed before women were allowed to participate in track and field events.

In the years since, women have come into their own. Today Olympic hopefuls such as Marion Jones, the most recent of the athletic divas-in-waiting, achieve superstar status before they ever compete in the Games.

In a recent biography, See How She Runs (Algonquin, $21.95, ISBN 1565122674), author Ron Rapoport explains why the basketball star turned track star has received so much attention, both for her private life and her dazzling athletic skills. In another biography of the sprinting sensation, written for children, Marion Jones (Pocket, $4.99, ISBN 074341876X), experienced sports writer Bill Gutman offers a brief, but inspiring, profile of “The Fastest Woman in the World.” These books are just two of many published in time for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

In The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics: Sydney 2000 Edition (Overlook, $23.95, ISBN 1585670464) Olympics historian David Wallechinsky provides readers with every statistic they could ever possibly want. The narrative texts that accompany the stats offer examples of the social concerns that often plagued the games in years past, especially involving race and gender. Did you know that when the first woman’s track contestants ran out onto the field in 1928, many of them hugged and kissed each other, sending the predominantly male audience into near hysterics? Or did you know that the first female winner of the 100-meter event, 16-year-old Elizabeth Robinson of Riverdale, Illinois, was “discovered” while running for a train? Another comprehensive guide is The Olympic Games (DK, $29.95, ISBN 0789459752). It covers the games from their 1896 debut in Athens to the events scheduled this year. The color photographs are several notches above the newspaper quality images we are accustomed to seeing and they add an increased element of humanity to the events. Especially useful are the charts and statistics that take up the final one-third of the book.

Also noteworthy is The Olympic Marathon (Human Kinetics, $27.95, ISBN 0880119691) in which authors David Martin and Roger Gynn offer a definitive guide to this popular event.

Books of Olympic proportion Women were an afterthought to the modern Olympic Games that began in 1896. Almost one-third of the new century had elapsed before women were allowed to participate in track and field events. In the years since, women have come into their own. Today Olympic hopefuls such as Marion Jones, the most […]
Biography

Review

Review by bookpagedev

Catch a rising star For a warp-speed career leap, it’s hard to surpass what’s happened to Ewan McGregor. He was known for his performances in iconoclastic cult films. Then came the role of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the breathlessly awaited Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace. Suddenly, McGregor is being touted as the hottest Scottish import since Sean Connery. Certainly, he is an undeniably visible presence and not just on the screen. For McGregor is the subject of several recent and upcoming books. Aimed squarely at the actor’s fans, and those of the crowd-pleasing Star Wars franchise, the various books are odes to a performer distinguished by his determination to be an actor rather than a star. Of the tomes, Ewan McGregor: The Unauthorized Biography by Billy Adams takes honors for the most in-depth portrait. Based on interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as existing materials, it details his road to success. Shooting Star: The Ewan McGregor Story (Ballantine, $5.99, 0345427246), by Janine Pourroy, moves film-by-film to explore McGregor’s emergence as the ultimate GenX icon. His life (29 years, so far) and career (15 movies in just five years) are also chronicled in titles including: Ewan McGregor by Chris Nickson (St. Martin’s, $5.99, 0312969104), Ewan McGregor: Rising to the Stars by James Hatfield (Penguin, $5.99, 0425169006), Ewan McGregor: An Unofficial Biography by Martin Noble, (DK/Funfax, $5.95, 0789446677, ages 4 and up), and Ewan McGregor: From Junkie to Jedi by Brian J. Robb (Plexus Publishing, $16.95, 0859652769). The latter title refers to McGregor’s rise to fame as the heroin-addicted central character of the off-beat film Trainspotting. McGregor will also be among the cast members of the various Phantom Menace tie-in books from Ballantine, to include Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Illustrated Screenplay by George Lucas, The Making of the Phantom Menace, and a novelization by popular fantasy author Terry Brooks. Books were the impetus for many of McGregor’s earlier films, including Trainspotting, based on the controversial Irvine Welsh novel of the same name, and Jane Austen’s Emma, for which McGregor donned period costumes. He bared all for The Pillow Book, the story of a writer who uses her boyfriend’s body on which to write the chapters of her book. The screenplay is included in The Pillow Book (Distributed Art Publishers), in which Peter Greenaway discusses his adaptation and reinterpretation of the Oriental classic, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon (Columbia University Press), which examined life in 11th-century Japan. And next up for McGregor is an adaptation of the Marc Behm psycho-thriller, Eye of the Beholder, in which he’ll play a private eye stalking a serial killer. Let’s just hope The Force is with him.

Biographer Pat Broeske’s latest book is about Elvis Presley.

Catch a rising star For a warp-speed career leap, it’s hard to surpass what’s happened to Ewan McGregor. He was known for his performances in iconoclastic cult films. Then came the role of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the breathlessly awaited Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace. Suddenly, McGregor is being touted as the hottest […]
History

Review

Review by bookpagedev

NYPD: The Inside Story of New York’s Legendary Police Department Perhaps one of the greatest accomplishments of civilization is man’s delegation of authority to enforce laws, in effect to say, “We make the rules and you make sure we obey them.” As James Lardner and Thomas Reppetto make abundantly clear in NYPD: The Inside Story of New York’s Legendary Police Department, this bargain is a double-edged sword; not only are we expected to live by our rules, so are those who enforce them and that doesn’t always happen.

The world’s greatest city is a natural place to study the workings of a police department. All city police department’s have their share of both scandal and sainthood, but few have the ethnic mix, history, and sheer size of New York City. It seems the NYPD is always in the news, from a controversial death to a staggering bust, and as Lardner and Reppetto show us, it’s always been that way.

NYPD makes clear that the criminals of the 18th and 19th centuries were not like those of today, and neither was the city; living conditions in the poorer sections of New York make today’s ghettos seem like paradise. Back then, the force of moral suasion was a bigger factor than it is today. A confession for murder could be extracted by appealing to God and mother despite the near certitude of execution.

Lardner and Reppetto have written a history, of course, but it is a biography, too. The NYPD is a reflection of the people who run it, and the cast of characters is long and colorful, from the formidable high constable Jacob Hays, friend of Aaron Burr, who enforced the law in the early 1800s attired in a black suit and top hat, to the embittered Frank Serpico, an undercover cop in the 1970s who tried to blow the whistle on police graft, but instead ended up in self-imposed exile in Europe.

Corruption is a constant theme in NYPD, as the authors detail a seemingly endless cycle of graft, public awareness, investigations, public apathy, and graft again. Yet throughout, police work gets done.

Realize too, that the majority of this story is pre-Miranda, and if the methods used to bust the bad guys seem extreme, they were everyday practice, both in New York and elsewhere.

Well researched and full of detail, NYPD is a fascinating book, yet it leaves untold the thousands of stories about officers who just did their jobs and didn’t get their name in the paper or in this book.

Jim Webb writes from Nashville.

NYPD: The Inside Story of New York’s Legendary Police Department Perhaps one of the greatest accomplishments of civilization is man’s delegation of authority to enforce laws, in effect to say, “We make the rules and you make sure we obey them.” As James Lardner and Thomas Reppetto make abundantly clear in NYPD: The Inside Story […]
Nonfiction

Review

Review by bookpagedev

What would you do if the new people down the block were dramatically different from you? What if you thought the local schools were going downhill? Would you pack up and leave the old neighborhood? Ray Suarez, of NPR’s Talk of the Nation, says many people have done just that.

In his book, The Old Neighborhood, Suarez examines the social and economic factors that have turned our oldest and largest cities into urban orphans. He discusses how changes in race, religion, and economy have transformed our cities from clusters of close-knit communities to places where no one seems to want to live. The pedantic possibility of such a story is avoided through Suarez’s artful use of personal experience and vignettes by current and former city residents.

Suarez selects the cities of Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and the District of Columbia for more in-depth analysis. The common thread tying together the plight of all of these cities is the phenomenon of great white flight and the willingness of realtors to profit from this fear and fact by block busting neighborhoods whenever a minority family moved in. Together with the decreased importance of the church as a cohesive mechanism and the loss of industry and the jobs it provides, we are not surprised to learn that most of these cities have lost half their population in the last 50 years.

It’s not just the cities that have lost people, however. It is also people who have lost their cities and the feelings of identity and place they derived from them. The loss of closeness and coherence found in an urban environment has, according to Suarez, given way to a life which has . . . increasingly become a string of pearls, incidents and encounters staged in a wide range of almost random physical locations, strung together by the automobile. Fear not, however, because the book closes on an optimistic note by observing that the worst appears to be over for many a metropolis. Forward thinking mayors, the willingness to reinvent urban schools, and the pure stubbornness of many city residents who refuse to give up and walk away, cause Suarez to conclude that there is hope for the places that made America and Americans great.

What would you do if the new people down the block were dramatically different from you? What if you thought the local schools were going downhill? Would you pack up and leave the old neighborhood? Ray Suarez, of NPR’s Talk of the Nation, says many people have done just that. In his book, The Old […]
LifestylesHealth & Fitness

Review

Review by bookpagedev

I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started in January and make yourself a new body. Along the way, you’ll also get fit. Research now shows that you can change your body’s musculature and aerobic capacity at any age. When it comes to improving your body, it’s never too late.

To get you started, the following list of affordable books includes something for every age group, and some are even small enough to take on end-of-the-summer trips. Whether you’ve been working hard at your health and fitness routine since New Year’s or whether you’re a decades-old, seasoned fitness enthusiast, the information in these books will take you further along in your personal journey to fitness and better health. Power Up: 101 Ways to Boost Your Energy (Avon, $12, 0380797240). People at any level of fitness (and any age) will benefit by reading Daryn Eller’s book, because it’s about something we all want more of energy. Eller gives 101 tips on how to get it and how to keep it. How can you get the most out of your running or weight-lifting routine? What tips help you build cardio endurance during your jogging/running workouts or add muscle after your resistance training routine? If you’ve just started working out, which foods can help you fuel your body and maximize those workouts? If you’re a senior just beginning a fitness regimen, how can you keep your energy up? Eller talks high-octane nutrition, energizing workouts, and body-mind revitalizers for powering up the natural, safe way. This is good news for those who are presently on medication or under doctor’s observation. Each topic is relatively short, and the author gives a helpful resource section at the end, complete with e-mail addresses, online addresses, and phone numbers.

The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles (Rodale, $15.95, 1579540384) was written by a runner who knows what he’s talking about. I remember Amby Burfoot’s Boston Marathon win while in college in 1968 and was prompted to begin making my own tracks. In his new book, Burfoot offers clear, simple advice to runners who want to improve their marathon performance, reduce their injuries, and attain a better running body. This book is particularly useful for those who are just beginning this sport it’s chock-full of tips and tried-and-true advice acquired over 35 years. You’ll cut a lot of painful corners if you take your advice from someone who’s been there. If you only have time for a short read, you don’t need to follow the chapters in any particular order; the numerous Principles sections cut straight to the most important stuff. Burfoot begins by talking to the new runner. His advice on aches and pains and handling blisters is something you’re going to need. He moves on to women runners and pregnancy, equipment, nutrition, training, weight loss, the weather factor, injury prevention, marathoning, and much more. Give this one to a running friend, new or experienced.

The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies for Seniors (Rodale, $27.95, 1579540112), by Doug Dollemore, is an A-Z guide for seniors and is offered here for those who like to stay physically active, mentally sharp, and disease-free. Through the years, Rodale Press has earned its kudos by delivering first-rate, usable information to consumers who want safe yet effective solutions to their problems, whether personal or environmental. This book is no exception. It’s a large volume and meant to be used. More than 350 doctors and other health care practitioners who specialize in the treatment of seniors share numerous tips and techniques. You will find 1,500 doctor-recommended remedies that can help prevent, relieve, or cure 120 ailments commonly affecting older citizens. Each section of the book discusses the problem; tells you When to See a Doctor ; enables you to try simple, cost effective remedies under Try This First ; offers Other Wise Ways to attack the problem, and then advises you about Managing Your Meds. This large reference provides helpful answers to the questions seniors are likely to ask. Any senior, active or not, will value this book and consult it often.

Massage for Busy People, by Dawn Groves, is perfect for the sports-minded who are constantly on the go. This little book is small enough to slip into your suitcase next to your workout clothes. Whether using the hotel fitness center equipment or your handy fitness band, you may need something for on-the-road aches and pains that sometimes accompany a more intense workout. Groves demonstrates self-massage techniques that deliver relief in minutes and includes instructions for quick massage when sitting at a desk, in a vehicle, or an airplane. There’s something to ease the body during prolonged walking or standing and a sure-fire cure for lethargy and backache. She also throws in techniques for replenishing your energy as well as easing a stiff neck or a headache so common to travelers (this is great for long summer trips business or pleasure). Clear instructions, varied topics, and 30 photos make this little book the perfect post-workout cool-down and the perfect gift for any health-conscious traveler of any age.

Healing Mantras (Ballantine, $12.95, 345431707), by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, will prove to be a trip down memory lane for those of us who listened to Ravi Shankar in the ’60s. These . . . chanting of songs, verses, and mystic formulas existed long before the development of even the most primitive instruments. In modern times, the healing benefits of liturgical chanting have only recently been rediscovered . . . Ashley-Farrand’s book is the first practical how-to guide in which ancient Sanskrit mantras have been explained and adapted to Western needs.

However, the book is not only for beginners who wish to study the energy-based techniques of sound meditation. It’s for the practiced as well. The author explains how mantras work, how to use your own mantra, and how these rhythms of healing sounds can help solve health problems, allow you to find inner peace, gain mental clarity, and overcome fear. If you’ve always steeped yourself in the Western Tradition, after reading this book you may consider that there are other effective ways to reach a state of wellness and peace in body and mind.

Pat Regel gardens and pumps iron.

I sing the body athletic You’ve finished redecorating the house, repairing the car, and digging the new flowerbed. Everything looks great, so what’s next? Spend the rest of the summer working on yourself. In today’s fast-paced world, it seems that everything gets attention except your body. Remember your New Year’s resolution? Continue what you started […]
NonfictionTrue Crime

Review

Review by bookpagedev

The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime As a former literary editor for Outside magazine, author Miles Harvey knows a thing or two about the importance of maps when it comes to defining a subject. But in 1995 when he came across the true story in the Chicago Tribune of Gilbert Joseph Bland, Jr., a contemporary map thief whose cartographic crime spree made him the most famous such bandit in American history, Harvey was more than intrigued. So, as any adventurer is apt to do, he set off down the uncharted trail of this “Al Capone of cartography” to learn why a South Florida antiques dealer would become master map thief. What began as a lengthy feature article for Outside turned into four years of researching the methods and motives of his enigmatic subject, thus The Island Of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime became a readable chart of these unusual crimes and the man behind them.

Visualize if you will a contemporary map thief. Beyond generating an image of a tweedy, nondescript, and somewhat less gadgetry-enhanced version of James Bond, it’s more of a challenge to imagine why someone would habitually pilfer hundreds of old maps from prominent research libraries across Canada and the United States. In his investigations, Harvey descends into the intriguing subculture of map collectors and experts and the peripheral eccentrics who encountered Bland as he slipped undetected through the doors of various libraries with centuries-old maps of all kinds hidden on his person. Most interesting are the many obscure side trips Harvey makes during his trail of investigations which, written in highly descriptive and well-paced prose, create the mood of a dimly lit library during a thunderstorm. As we learn with each incident involving maps Harvey encounters, behind every map is a significant story. The story behind the greatest map thief in America is an entertaining adventure in history, humanity, and the fascinating role cartography plays in it all. Jamie McAlister writes from his home in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime As a former literary editor for Outside magazine, author Miles Harvey knows a thing or two about the importance of maps when it comes to defining a subject. But in 1995 when he came across the true story in the Chicago Tribune of Gilbert […]

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