A season of darkness and horror

Vampires, sorcerers and a shy psychic bookworm feature in our new SF and fantasy books for September. An elf has a reputation of cruelty, the savage Horsekin tribes raid villages, strategic marriages are planned and someone has cravings for hallucinogenic dragon venom. And we think we have problems.

The next victim

We have new Mysteries from Jeffrey Deaver, Karin Slaughter, J.D. Robb and more. There are sordid personal histories, vicious skinheads, hordes of gamblers and a hard-to-read veteran who resents a newcomer. Tough guys posture and bodies wash up on the shore. There are also birthing classes and baby showers, so life goes on.

His domestic apocalypse

Fragile creatures, family funeral homes, seven-foot granite bodies, quests for the Holy Grail (hasn't this been overdone recently?) and dungeons feature in our new graphic novels for September.

Banish bad habits

Women who worry too much, invisible acts of kindness, meditation and redesigning life are among the topics covered in our new personal development books. John F. Schumaker traces the history of happiness "from its prehistoric origins to its current super-commercialised form in an age of mass consumerism and epidemic depression" (Amazon). Controversial radio personality Laura Schlessinger offers advice in 'Bad childhood, good life : how to blossom and thrive in spite of an unhappy childhood'.

Yin-Yang principles

Chinese medicine, physiology, anatomy and going organic are some of the topics covered in our new health books for September. Carina Norris helps us turn back our body clocks, and Carole Hungerford offers 'a family doctor's unconventional guide' to 21st century health.

Six impossible things before breakfast

The coming Saudi oil shock, why 70% of Americans believe in angels, why our food choices matter, the evolution of myths and Victorian engravings of railroads of among the topics covered in our new popular non-fiction books. Geoffrey Ashe explores the strange rituals of Enlightenment Hell-fire clubs. James S. Griffith looks at folk saints along the Mexico-US border.

Computing

Our new computer books for September will help you with Firefox and Thunderbird, wireless home networking, PHP, Photoshop CS2, iWork 05, C# 2005 and more. We link to an online copy of the latest PC mag cover story, 'The mighty mini.' More CSS books are being published too, to our relief.

What's popular this month?

What's popular this month at WCL? All this and more. (Wellingtonians seem to be concerned with food at the moment).

Godzone books

New New Zealand items this month include a reprint of 1965 title 'Maori life in old Taranaki' by John Houston, 2 CDs of classic NZ poetry performances, 'Tamaki-makaurau : myths and legends of Auckland landmarks', and the fascinating stories of 'Escape! : Kiwi POWs on the run in World War II'.

Our buyers recommend

Our Buyers recommend 'Vintage fashion' about Coco Chanel, Christian Lacroix and other classic designers. 'The lost life of Eva Braun' asks "How did a 19 year-old, middle-class, Catholic girl from Munich become Hitler's mistress and what kept him faithful until the end of their lives?" (Amazon) They also recommend brand new books on surfing, dieting, cooking, decor and more.

Humble masterpieces

New Design books for September discuss comic book inking, drawing crime noir, advertising's best interactive media, signs and logos. 'Humble masterpieces' looks at everyday objects like tea-bags and 'Roberto Capucci : timeless creativity' explores the work of the famous Italian fashion designer known best for his use of folds.

Magazines for the well-rounded man (and others)

New Magazines galore. For men's fashion and lifestyle, try 'Details' and 'Men's vogue'. The best of Harvard Business Review is featured in OnPoint (remember, HBR is available online in EBSCO). 'Fair lady' approaches the woman's mag format from a South African perspective. The academic Catholic theology journal 'Communio' was founded by Joseph Ratzinger among others.

Epilepsy Awareness Week

Our Health page is featuring books, websites and journal articles on epilepsy for Epilepsy Awareness Week 5th -12th September.

WCL members can use the Gale Health & Wellness database and EBSCO article database for health information anytime, anywhere with an internet connection.

Wondrous message of love

Our new religion books discuss Krishnamurti, Satanism, Gabriel, female shamanism, meditation, the philosophy of religion, and more. If you prefer tasty tidbits, 'The best American spiritual writing 2005' has essays from many perspectives.

Wearing propaganda

Our new craft books look at silk 'paper', gift wrapping, origami, hand-made journals, Victorian textiles, Mexican crafts and more. 'Wearing propaganda: textiles on the home front in Japan, Britain, and the United States, 1931-1945' features a kimono lined with images of U.S. planes blowing and a British scarf emblazoned with hopeful anti-rationing slogans.

A billion blistering bromeliads

New DIY and gardening books this month feature organic gardening, transforming T-shirts, home storage and pruning. Te Papa Press have published the sumptuous 'An illustrated guide to New Zealand hebes' by M. J. Bayly and A. V. Kellow. Hebes are NZ's largest plant genus.

In vegetable heaven

We have two new foodie books from Ramsey (is he stretching himself thin?) and essays from Bourdain. There's a fascinating biography of the non-existent Betty Crocker, Korean recipes, Italian family dinners, and help for the gluten free, diabetic and more.

New NZ music

There my dear by Dimmer, Into the dojo by locals The Black Seeds, Real life by talented youngsters Evermore, the charming Deja Voodoo's Back in brown and actress Lisa Chappell's When then is now.

Jazz, blues and soul

New Jazz CDs - jazz artists cover songs by alternative band Pavement on Gold sounds; 2006 sees the long-coming release of Diana Ross's Blue , originally recorded in 1972; The complete Pacific jazz sessions from Gil Evans. In the Blues section we've got the 4 disc Million years blues by Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson. Compilation cds Super breaks 2 and 3 offer "essential funk, soul and jazz samples & break beats" from 1967-1978.

Death and pizza

This month in history - Freud and Princess Diana died, the first Pizza Hut opened in NZ and the Dominion newspaper was first published. Also check out our new history page feature for this month - the Black Death.