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A Horse by a Different Author

by Debbie G.

Dick Francis has probably written his last mystery, a loss for all of us who loved his books set in the world of horse racing. Fear not! Top-notch mystery writer John Dunning has taken up the race track theme and combined it with another great mystery subject, bibliomania, to create The Bookwoman’s Last Fling, starring rare-book dealer and former cop Cliff Janeway. Cliff is brought in to appraise a horse training family's book collection but bodies keep getting in the way of his research. So it’s off to the races for Cliff as he follows the missing volumes and multiple murders.

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Bad Dog Club

by Debbie G.

Does this sound familiar? Your dog is kicked out of obedience school for terrorizing the instructor. He chews on walls for entertainment. She thinks light bulbs are a great appetizer. Then Marley and Me is the book on cd for you. John Grogan’s loving tribute to the Labrador from Hell (or Heaven depending on the day) will make you appreciate your dog – or at least find comfort in knowing he’s not the only one who stayed a puppy his whole life.

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The Play Ground

by Albert

Ok, if you don't already know about the tragic Mimi how can I summarize La Boheme in a few sentences? I can't. But, describing Act I gives a good entre into this classic opera.
Paris, Christmas Eve, c. 1830. In their Latin Quarter garret, two starving artists try to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. They are joined by their comrades bring food, fuel and funds. Meanwhile, the landlord arrives to collect the rent. There is another knock: a neighbor, Mimì, says her candle has gone out on the drafty stairs. Offering her wine when she feels faint, Rodolfo relights her candle and helps her to the door. Mimì realizes she has dropped her key, and as the two search for it, both candles are blown out. In the moonlight the poet takes the girl's shivering hand, telling her his dreams. She then recounts her solitary life, embroidering flowers and waiting for spring. Drawn to each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave for the café. Sigh.
La Boheme by Guiacomo Puccini, Arbor Opera Theater, June 15-18, Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre

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Oasis Definitely, Maybe Beats the Beatles

by amy

In a recent poll, 40,000 music fans voted the debut album by British rock band Oasis, "Definitely, Maybe," as the best album of all time. It topped the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band and Revolver and several others in the top 10, including Nevermind by Nirvana and OK Computer, by Radiohead. Naturally, there's plenty of controversy over the rankings. So, what do you think?

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History Repeats Itself

by Debbie G.

Starred reviews all around for Saving the World, Julia Alvarez’s fifth novel that tells the story of a present-day Latina writer retelling the story of a real-life woman of uncommon courage, Dona Isabel Sendales y Gomez. Dona Isabel served as guardian to nineteen orphan boys with smallpox who were used by Dr. Francisco Balmis to inoculate the citizens of New Spain against the dreaded disease. When the writer’s husband, a humanitarian activist, is taken hostage in the Dominican Republic, the story of Dona Isabel provides the strength and guidance needed to survive the tragedy unfolding in her own life.

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No dancing

by sstonez

Elvis Costello is returning to Ann Arbor! The Summer Festival, which technically starts on June 16th, is bringing him to Hill Auditorium on June 13th. Costello will be accompanied by his band The Imposters and the New Orleans stylings of Allen Toussaint. "No dancing," by the way, is a track from his first album, My Aim is True.

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Mission Impossible, By Order of the Queen

by muffy

Some books are just better with Robert Ian Mackenzie turning pages for you. This marvelous narrator coaxes, spellbinds, and occasionally sings his way through this unbelievably merry, wildly imaginative and totally entertaining 22-discs Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin.

A series of screwball adventures followed a conspiratorial media debacle aimed at Freddy, the bookish, stiff-upper-lip Prince of Wales and his glamorous and ditsy wife. In order to safeguard the British monarchy, they were sent on a quest to re-conquer a barbarous land – The United States.

Clueless and dressed only in furry bikinis, they hopped freight trains, cleaned toilets, and became enmeshed in the madness of a presidential campaign, all the while gained the dignity and humility required for the future heads of state.

Perfect for long car trips. Do remember to pull over while laughing. We want you safe.

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AgathaFest

by Debbie G.

She’s the first name in mystery; the last word in cozies and some of Agatha Christie’s best have been reissued in book on cd. Five titles recently added to our audio collection are Murder in Mesopotamia, The Man in the Brown Suit, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Cards on the Table and Death on the Nile.

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New Courses from the Teaching Company

by Debbie G.

Fans of the Teaching Company’s books on cd lecture courses will be happy to note the arrival of some timely and topical titles. Biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill delivers our latest group: The Historical Jesus, From Jesus to Constantine, The New Testament, After the New Testament and The History of the Bible.

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New CDs to move to!

by EllenS

Looking for some new music to get you ready for the summer? Check out these artists’ albums that have recently been added to the AADL’s collection.

Rihanna’s album A Girl Like Me has been topping the charts for weeks. Her music is upbeat and easy to dance to, which will definitely get you in the summer mood. Her single ‘SOS’ is currently #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Gnarls Barkley, a recently formed collaboration between Danger Mouse (a very prominent artist/producer in music these days) and rapper Cee-Lo, has just released their highly anticipated album St. Elsewhere. Their first single ‘Crazy’ has gotten rave reviews.

L. L. Cool J has just released a new album entitled Todd Smith. You may have heard his recent release ‘Control Myself’ featuring Jennifer Lopez.