One of Washington County Free Library's book vendors, Ingram Library Services, sends me a bi-monthly e-mail newsletter called InGram, which features a list of new books that possibly haven't received critical attention or will never wind up on The New York Times Bestseller's List.
If a "Hidden Gems" title listed below is not available to borrow from Washington County Free Library, please contact a staff member at the Adult Information Desk at (301) 739-3250, Ext. 123 for assistance. - Joseph Berger
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How to Tell a Secret: Tips, Tricks & Techniques for Breaking Codes & Conveying Covert Information By P.J. Huff and J.G. Lewin
Paperback, Collins/Smithsonian, April 2007, ISBN-13: 9780061137945, $14.95
The DaVinci Code has tickled the fancy of would-be spies and detectives. Imagine secrets kept for centuries and codes that give insight into conspiracies and intrigues in the ancient world. How were these secrets kept so carefully? Why? Who knew the keys, and how were those people determined? How do we in the modern world communicate our secrets? Obviously, secrets are meant for a select few to know. But there must be a means for communicating those secrets, whether they are important to individuals or governments or maybe kept just for fun. This book is a study of the history of covert information and how it was and is transmitted. Readers will find real examples of codes from simple replacement ciphers to codes only a computer could decipher. For everyone who has sent a message written in lemon juice, used a secret decoder ring, wondered how a batter knows what the coach wants him to do, or marveled at the windtalkers in World War II, this book is a fascinating look at secrets. It is fun to read and full of good information.--Norma Lilly, MLS
Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities By Richard Baer
Hardcover, Crown, October 2007, ISBN-13: 9780307382665, $24.95
I could not put this book down. Karen, a depressed and abused patient of Dr. Baer, was desperate for help when she first came to see him. She was suicidal. Dr. Baer worked with her for months to keep her alive and find out what was troubling her. The pain they uncovered was so beyond our imaginings that Karen had only survived with the help of her “alters” who came into being to help her through the various humiliations, abuses, and pain. Each of her alter-egos has a name and a distinct personality. Some exist to take away pain, others to maintain Karen's childhood innocence. They are all interesting. After years of work, Dr. Baer was able to talk with each of the alters and understand their point of view. As each of them began to trust him and believe that Karen's abuses were in the past, Dr. Baer was able to bring Karen back to being a whole person. Dr. Baer had never had a patient with multiple personalities before Karen, so the process was one of exploration and learning for him and trying to help without making Karen feel threatened. This is a fascinating study of one person's horror and her doctor's efforts to bring her back to reality. Multiple personality disorder is rare but very real. This is the story of Karen's survival.--Norma Lilly,MLS
Lottery By Patricia Wood
Hardcover, Putnam Adult, August 2007, ISBN-13: 9780399154492, $24.95
I would put Lottery in the same category as The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. It's a wonderful story.I love Perry L. Crandall. Perry, who is a bit slow, lives with his grandmother. Gram says the "L" in Perry's name stands for lucky. She has two rules about money: save half of what you earn and buy a lottery ticket every week.Gram and Perry have written down the names of Perry's acquaintances that he has to listen to and those that he can ignore. His friends are real characters. Gary is his employer. Keith is a co-worker. Cherry works in the convenience store, has a pierced tongue, and dyes her hair interesting colors--and Perry loves her. Perry ignores Elaine, his mother who abandoned him, and his siblings who overlook him, and worse. So when Gram dies and Perry wins the lottery, we see the true colors of his friends and family. Perry, although slow, has the perfect solution for everyone. I don't think anyone else could be as wise.--Norma Lilly, MLS
Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife
By Cathryn Jakobson Ramin
Hardcover, HarperCollins, April 2007, ISBN-13:9780060598693, $24.95
Have you ever found yourself in a room and wondered, “Why did I come in here?” Do you find yourself avoiding people you recognize because you can't remember their names? You may find comfort in knowing that these are common and normal events. Still, many memory issues should be noted and evaluated by professionals. The author of Carved in Sand wanted answers to her own memory problems, and in the book, she clearly relates her experiences with the various testing methods and explains which ones can help with a diagnosis and which ones are limited in their usefulness. While the feared diagnosis is Alzheimer's, many diagnoses have effective interventions. Ramin tells about the effects of sleeplessness, hormonal imbalance, smoking, alcohol, drugs, stress, and even childhood injuries.I expected this book to be very clinical but found it extremely personal and readable. As more Baby Boomers reach middle age, this is an increasingly important topic. The aging brain changes in many unexpected ways. Knowing that we are not doomed to forget everything is encouraging.--Norma Lilly, MLS
Source: Ingram Library Services
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