Category Archives: Books

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

Wellness and Writing Connections  edited by John Frank Evans, EdD (broadcast 3-19-2012)  An informative and intriguing collection of essays, this book offers an engaging introduction to a field of study that includes the disciplines of writing, psychology, medicine, counseling and education.  Beginning with two essays that review some of the research underpinnings for writing to heal, the collection goes on to include discussions of how writing poetry can aid in resolving painful issues, the values to be found in distance writing or in writing  memoirs and more.  Included also is an essay that offers tools and exercises for keeping a personal Healing Notebook.  This is a book with something to offer for most everyone even if they have never written anything more than a grocery list.  Find out more at Wellness and Writing.

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

The Mary-El Tarot  Landscapes of the Abyss by Marie White (broadcast 3-12-2012)  In this special almost two hour broadcast we take pleasure in talking with Marie White about the beginnings of this exquisitely rendered set of Tarot cards, the text that accompanies them, the symbols illustrated, meanings suggested and the process of the artist in bringing this to life.  See the publisher’s description below and find out more at Marie White

Book Description from Publisher Schiffer Books:  Exquisite and powerful, if there is a theme in The Mary-el Tarot, it is one of the alchemy of the soul; of finding balance, symmetry, mastery of the self, and becoming your own genius. This long-awaited 78-card deck is stunningly illustrated with traditional oil paints and a depth of symbolism found in the old classics. The accompanying guide, Landscapes of the Abyss, takes the reader through the meanings of each card via the landscape of the Moon and the High Priestess, through the geometry of the temple and the Tree of Life, the Merkabah, and the caduceus! Enter a doorway between heaven and earth, between microcosm and macrocosm, between the world of eternity and infinity. A rare gem suitable for all levels of tarot experience.

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

When A Scot Loves A Lady  by Katharine Ashe (broadcast 2-13-2012) A perfect Valentine filled with romance, passion and intrigue is ours with Ashe’s new novel, book one of the of new Falcon Club Series.  The author asks  “What would you dare for the perfect love?” and then tells us tales of those who would dare a lot.  But beyond the page turning storytelling this university history professor also talks with us about the “romance novel”, when it began and what it might tell us about the roles women have been given, or taken, in society both past and present.   Find out more at Katharine Ashe.

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

The Postmortal  by Drew Magary (broadcast 2-6-2012) Imagine a situation where a simple medical procedure would halt the process of natural aging.  A person receiving a particular injection would remain at the physical age they had attained when when it was performed.  It wouldn’t prevent other causes of death,  from disease or accident for example, but under favorable circumstance someone could live for hundreds of years.  This is the scenario into which Magary puts his characters thus taking the reader into an intriguing tale of the future where relationships and ethics, politics, society and everything else is turned upside down, leaving us to wonder…would we do it?  Listen in to hear what the author would choose.  Find out more at Drew Magary.

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

Rethinking Aging Growing Old and Living Well in an Overtreated Society by Nortin M. Hadler, M.D. (broadcast 1-16-2012)  Dr. Hadler uses his more than 35 years in the medical profession as an honored physician, investigator and educator to bring us an alternative view of aging in our society in the 21st century.  Swimming against the current of medicalizing every step of the aging process, he works to make his readers able to make informed medical decisions “unfettered by worrisome notions of health promotion and unnecessary or harmful forms of disease management.”  He does this with style, documentation and finally…poetry.  For anyone planning on living to a ripe old age this book may steer you clear of a lot of the whirlpools along the way.  For more information go to Dr. Nortin Hadler. 

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

Harry Loves Carrots by Laura Baldwin, illustrated by Andy Marlette (broadcast 12-19-2011)  Based in a reclaimed, two hundred foot chicken house on a historic farm Garden in the Koop not only produces organic seeds, many that are heirloom, but also charming, colorful children’s books like Harry Loves Carrots, Harry Loves Turnips (Not) and others.  Laura succeeds wonderfully in her aim of providing a tool for teaching children about healthy eating while having fun in The Giggling Garden.  Check out Garden in the Koop for more information. 

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

Weary Blues by Maureen A. Sherbondy (broadcast 12-12-2011) Maureen again shares with the reader her gift of insight into the bone and muscle of emotional life.  This collection of poems offers dark realities faced and survived with a poet’s grace.  Find out more at
http://www.maureensherbondy.com/writing#blues

Long live the book – in every form it takes.

This is amazing.

www.youtube.com

Check out this demonstration of the features of the enhanced ebook for Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues, by William Ferris. The enhan…

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

if words could save us by Anthony S. Abbott (broadcast 10-24-2011) Both personal and universal Abbott’s stunning use of language and poetic form reaches deep into the reader’s psyche and heart.  He shares with us the rich, moving thrust of life, filled with a consideration of pleasure, puzzlement and pain that captures the emotions.  The effect is that of sitting with a thoughtful friend who quietly, and with grace, opens a world of experience to you.  A generous addition to the collection is a CD with the poet’s own rendition of his words.

This conversation also introduces a very freshly printed volume, What Writer’s Do, volume editor Anthony Abbott and Series Editor Rand Brandes.  “Anyone who loves to read will want to own this collection documenting Lenoir-Rhyne University’s remarkable Visiting Writers Series.  From Julia Alvarez’s explanation about why her haiku-a-month project failed to Abigail DeWitt’s confession that all her characters are versions of herself, this book is a treasure trove.”  Shannon Ravenal   Find out more about both of these works at
http://www.thegirlintheyellowraincoat.com/

The Latest from Carolina Book Beat

My Business Is To Create (Blake’s Infinite Writing) by Eric G. Wilson (broadcast 10-17-2011)  Based on and celebrating William Blake’s personification of creativity in action, Wilson provides an indispensable writer’s handbook that is a call to consider life itself as a creative act.  A small book of just some 85 pages, not including notes, it manages to offer an exquisitely written distillation of Blake’s approach to imagining the world and the effect it has had on so many of those who followed him, from Yeats to Ginsberg, from Emily Dickinson to Phillip K. Dick.   Included along the way are wise words for all who write or want to write.  A book to excite the way the reader, and the writer,  looks at life.  Find out more at
http://www.wfu.edu/~wilsoneg/