New Braille Books (BR)
Nonfiction | Fiction
Instructions for Ordering Books Online
| Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton. BR 17352 (3 v.) Autobiography of rock musician Eric Clapton (b. 1945), who performed with the Yardbirds, Cream, and Blind Faith before going solo in 1974. Describes his childhood in rural England, rise to stardom, alcohol and drug addictions, affairs and marriages, and personal road to recovery. 2007 (5/08) |
| Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson. BR 17156 (3 v.) Award-winning author profiles Michael May (born 1953), who was blinded at age three and later became a champion skier, CIA analyst, and entrepreneur. Relates May's internal conflict over whether to undergo a revolutionary stem-cell procedure and a cornea transplant to restore his sight. (4/08) |
| The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown. BR 17228 (6 v.) British writer and former editor of the New Yorker interviews colleagues and friends of the late Princess Diana (1961-1997) to provide a personal profile of Her Royal Highness. Discusses Diana's marriage to Prince Charles, their divorce, and assertions of her manipulation of the press. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2007 (6/08) |
| The First Scientific American: Benjamin Franklin and the Pursuit of Genius by Joyce E. Chaplin. BR 16941 (5 v.) Harvard professor highlights the scientific discoveries of American founding father Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) that enabled his involvement in political affairs. Describes the transatlantic community of Enlightenment scientists and Franklin's international renown due to his pathbreaking research on electricity, asbestos, the Gulf Stream, and other topics. 2006 (6/08) |
| Her Way: the Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Jeff Gerth. BR 17267 (6 v.) Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters analyze Hillary Clinton's personal and public life, including her years in Arkansas, the White House, and the U.S. Senate and as a 2008 presidential candidate. Authors conducted interviews and researched documents to portray Clinton's legislative career, faith-based social activism, and marriage. 2007 (5/08) |
| Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Pope Benedict XVI. BR 17214 (3 v.) Pope Benedict pens a biography of the flesh-and-blood Jesus as revealed in the Gospels. The pope shares his understanding of Jesus of Nazareth as the central figure of Christianity, who brought God to Earth along with faith, hope, and love. 2007 (7/08) |
| The Living White House by Betty C. Monkman. BR 17250 (2 v.) Former White House curator pens an updated edition of this celebration of the executive mansion in its various roles since 1800: office of the commander-in-chief, home to the first family, and historic residence. Describes two hundred years of daily routines, state occasions, weddings, funerals, and renovations. 2007 (5/08) |
| Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King by Antonia Fraser. BR 17291 (5 v.) Royal biographer, author of The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England (BR 15910), researches the life of French king Louis XIV (1638-1715). Highlights the influence of his pious mother; his wife, first cousin Maria Teresa of Spain; and his mistresses, including the governess of his illegitimate children. 2006 (5/08) |
| The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonagressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior by Tamar Geller. BR 17359 (2 v.) Humane Society advisor and owner of a cage-free boarding facility offers a training manual based on positive reinforcement, not punishment. Discusses effective communication techniques and nonviolent ways to attain good behavior, such as sitting and walking on a leash, and to correct bad behavior, such as jumping and begging. 2007 (6/08) |
| Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. BR 16928 (4 v.) National Book Award-winner studies two generations of Pilgrims, from the original 102 passengers who arrived in 1620 to the handful of survivors of the 1675 King Philip's War. Describes the initial storm-tossed voyage, starvation and disease in the wilderness, and the help--and duplicity--of the natives. Some violence. Bestseller. 2006 (2/08) |
| Plato and the Platypus Walk Into a Bar...: Understanding Philosophy through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart and Kaniel Klein. BR 17268 (1 v.) Authors present dialogs, one-liners, and limericks to illuminate key concepts of Western philosophy. Cathcart and Klien show how humor often contains philosophy and exposes hidden truths about life. Topics include ethics, epistemology, existentialism, logic, metaphilosophy, metaphysics, and relativity, as well as theories of language, politics, society, and religion. Bestseller. 2007 (6/08) |
| Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--and Doesn't by Stephen Prothero. BR 17162 (4 v.) Professor traces the rise and fall of religious knowledge in America and recommends that the study of the historical and cultural role of religion return to school curricula. Covers the core tenets of the world's major religions and the differences among them. 2007 (5/08) |
| The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future by Vali Nasr. BR 17234 (3 v.) Middle East scholar discusses the schism between Shias and Sunnis in the Muslim world. Provides cultural and historical context for their traditional hostility in order to explain the animosity between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the reasons each branch of Islam seeks dominance in the Middle East. 2006 (5/08) |
Fiction
Updated 8/28/08
| Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel. BR 17347 (3 v.) An earthquake in California changes the lives of three women. Socialite Sarah Sloane's husband's illegal hedge-fund scheme is exposed during a power outage. Singer Melanie Free volunteers at a quake-refugee camp despite the wishes of her mother and boyfriend. Sister Maggie, a nun, falls in love. Some strong language. 2007 (5/08) |
| Bungalow Two by Danielle Steel. BR 17349 (3 v.) California housewife and freelance writer Tanya Harris receives her big break--the chance to write a major Hollywood screenplay. Leaving her family, Tanya heads to the Beverly Hills Hotel and mingles with stars until another surprise opportunity comes along. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2007 (5/08) |
| The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. BR 17348 (2 v.) North Carolina. After just one whirlwind weekend, Gabby Holland falls hard for her new neighbor Travis Parker and must choose between him and her longtime boyfriend. Years later, a tougher choice could end the relationship between Gabby and Travis forever. 2007 (5/08) |
| Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz. BR 17392 (3 v.) Southern California. Amy Redwing's personal mission is to rescue abused and abandoned golden retrievers, including the rambunctious Nickie. Widower Brian McCarthy suspects that Amy is hiding something. Things turn uncanny when someone begins stalking Amy and her charges. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2007 (8/08) |
| Duma Key by Stephen King. BR 17475 (5 v.) An accident left self-made construction millionaire Edgar Freemantle brain damaged and without an arm. When Edgar's rage results in divorce, his therapist suggests he spend a year painting in Florida. With his phantom arm's help, Edgar soon produces incredible, but dangerous, artwork. Violence and strong language. 2008 (8/08) |
| The Good Guy by Dean Koontz. BR 17338 (3 v.) Timothy Carrier is having a beer at a local bar when a stranger hands him an envelope full of cash to kill a woman in a photograph. Minutes later the actual hit man approaches Tim, placing him in a moral dilemma. Some violence and some strong language. (4/08) |
| Falling Man by Don DeLillo. BR 17211 (2 v.) On September 11, 2001, businessman Keith emerges from the World Trade Center rubble and makes his way to the apartment of his estranged wife, Lianne. She tries to understand their apparent reconciliation, while Keith reaches out to fellow survivor Florence. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2007 (6/08) |
Kingdom Come: The Final Victory by Tim LaHaye. BR 17251 (3 v.) |
| Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. BR 17339 (2 v.) Third-string quarterback Rick Dockery of the Cleveland Browns disgraces himself in a championship game and is fired. Dockery insists that his agent, Arnie, find him another job. When Arnie comes through, Dockery heads to Parma, Italy, where he faces culture shock. 2007 (5/08) |