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Spotlight on Texas is a biannual cassette publication announcing
the latest audio books produced by volunteers at the Talking Book
Program Volunteer Recording Studio in Austin and at the Recording
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Midland. The
audio version of "Spotlight on Texas" is distributed on
request to Texans with disabilities who are registered to receive
the Talking Book Program's free library service.
Since 1978, Talking Book volunteers have recorded thousands of
fiction and nonfiction titles by Texas authors or about the history,
culture, and people of the Lone Star state. Titles recorded include
biographies, histories, westerns, romances, mysteries, self-help,
and travel. More than ten new books are completed each month, offering
an increasing variety of Texas topics from which to choose. In addition,
volunteers record three Texas magazines: Texas Monthly, Texas Parks
& Wildlife, and Texas Highways.
If you would like to receive an audio cassette copy of "Spotlight
on Texas," please contact the Talking Book Program through
the phone numbers, e-mail address, postal address, or fax number
listed at the bottom of this
page.
To order any of the books listed below, note the titles and CT
book numbers you would like to request. Then call a Reader Consultant
toll-free in Texas at 1-800-252-9605 or, in Austin, at 512-463-5458.
A voicemail message service is available after hours and on weekends
for you to leave book requests or other messages. Say your full
name and patron number (if known) clearly when leaving messages
and give the CT book number and title for each request. Book orders
may also be sent in an e-mail message to: tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us.
Note the titles and book numbers you would like to request, then
call us at any time with your order.
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Fiction
AT POINT BLANK: A SUSPENSE NOVEL
CT 5601
By VIRGINIA STEM OWENS, Narrated by PATTI BISHOP, 2 cassettes
A kinder and gentler mystery, this is the first in a series of "cozy"
whodunits by Christian authors. The setting is a town a lot like
Huntsville, and all the small town Texas eccentrics are here, most
in some way interested in the estate of Mineola Magillberry, who
has just died.
BLACK GOLD
CT 5630
By ANITA RICHMOND BUNKLEY, Narrated by ALLYSON DAVIDSON, 3
cassettes.
Houston author Bunkley recreates 1920s Texas in this novel of love
and loss, greed, obsession, and revenge between two African American
families. In the middle of the intrigue and struggle for oil and
power is Leela Wilder, a proud and beautiful orphan who has only
her inner strength to make her way in a world where the odds are
stacked against her. This book contains some sex.
BLOODROOT: A CHINA BAYLES MYSTERY #10
CT 6746
By SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT, Narrated by LINDA FOX, 2 cassettes.
A frantic phone call from her mother brings China back to her family's
Mississippi plantation - a place she'd forsaken long ago. But something
has gone desperately wrong at Jordan's Crossing. An ancient property
deed has surfaced and the man who uncovered it has mysteriously
vanished. And as the fates and fortunes of two very different families
collide in frightening, unpredictable ways, China must face disturbing
new questions about her family's past and her own future.
BUMBLEBROTH
CT 6764
By PATRICIA WYNN, Narrated by PAUL KLEMPERER, 2 cassettes.
Mathilda, Duchess of Upavon, had reason to be alarmed. Her fifteen-year-old
daughter was the object of attention from the notoriously handsome
embodiment of every female's fantasy: Lord Westbury. Since scandal
had shadowed Mattie's own life after she wed at sixteen, she vowed
her daughter would not make the same mistake. In truth, Lord Westbury's
cursory call upon the schoolroom girl was all part of a lavish,
underhanded plot to reclaim some land. But after one look at her
lovely mother, his lordship began some scheming of his own.
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CAT IN A CRIMSON HAZE
CT 6763
By CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS, Narrated by MARILYN SWINTON, 3 cassettes.
Midnight Louie, the best tomcat in the crime-solving business, and
his human partner, petite redheaded publicist Temple Barr, are once
again in the thick of things in the city of sin. The manager of
the Crystal Phoenix, one of Las Vegas's premier vacation spots,
has hired Temple Barr to help clean up the hotel's image, but soon
the Phoenix becomes prey to mysterious saboteurs whose little pranks
just happen to keep endangering Temple's life. When Temple tangles
with ex-priests, local police, FBI agents, obnoxious reporters,
and a passel of semi-reformed mafiosi, it's up to Midnight Louis
to get her out of a knot. This book contains some sex, profanity
and violence.
CONGREGATION: A SUSPENSE NOVEL
CT 5632
By VIRGINIA STEM OWENS, Narrated by JANICE LATHIN, 2 cassettes.
A suspense novel about the final day in the life of St. Barnabas
Episcopal Church in the university town of Somerville, Texas. The
story opens at the last funeral, with the introduction of nine key
members of the congregation. Everyone in this small group has troubles
of some sort, including the gradual conviction that their rector
is more a demon than a man of God.
DRINK TO YESTERDAY: A TOMMY HAMBLEDON MYSTERY
CT 6765
By MANNING COLES, Narrated by CAROL ESLER, 2 cassettes.
What, or who, could possibly be the missing link between a well-liked
but suddenly dead garage proprietor in a Hampshire village, and
a smoothly operating team of British Intelligence agents in Cologne,
Germany? Unknown, even to himself, it's that polished secret operative,
Tommy Hambledon - the same Hambledon who, years before, had initiated
a very young Englishman in the agonizing intricacies of international
intrigue.
GONE TO TEXAS
CT 5655
By DON WORCESTER, Narrated by GREG FULLER, 2 cassettes.
Based on a true account, this is the story of Ellis Bean. Seventeen
years old in 1800, Ellis leaves Tennessee with a group headed for
Texas, on an expedition to hunt wild mustangs. From the time of
his capture by Spanish soldiers, Ellis becomes part of the tumultuous,
yet exceedingly rich, history of Texas and Mexico.
HAMMON AND THE BEANS AND OTHER STORIES
CT 5627
By AMERICO PAREDES, Narrated by EV LUNNING, 2 cassettes.
The culture conflict that dominated the border region during the
time of Texas' transition from Mexican political status and culture
to American is the inspiration for these stories. In these pages
there is an ongoing battle between the Mexican past and the American
future, as everyday folk struggle to survive in the face of rapid
change. The author is Professor Emeritus of English and Anthropology
at the University of Texas at Austin. Contains some strong language.
This book contains some profanity.
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HANK THE COWDOG: THE PHANTOM IN THE MIRROR #20
CT 5606
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, Narrated by SUSAN BRITT, 1 cassette.
Pete the Barncat has seen a Phantom Dog in the old mirror in the
machine shed, and Hank has to clear the mutt, whoever he is, off
the ranch before Sally May's annual church choir Christmas party.
The twentieth adventure in the Hank the Cowdog series.
HANK THE COWDOG: THE CASE OF THE VAMPIRE CAT #21
CT 5608
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, Narrated by JACK HUFF, 1 cassette.
Hank the Cowdog, with his characteristic humor, tells a "double-scary
story" of being lost and abandoned in Picket Canyon in his search
to solve the mystery of the vampire cat, Mary D. The twenty-first
adventure in the Hank the Cowdog series.
HANK THE COWDOG: THE CASE OF THE TWISTED KITTY #43
CT 6757
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, Narrated by JOE WILLIS, 1 cassette.
It's winter in the Texas Panhandle, and the ranch is covered in
snow and ice. So when Sally May sets off for town, Hank decides
to follow Pete the Barncat's advice and bravely escorts her car
down the slick road. Before Hank realizes what's happening, Sally
May's car skids into a snowdrift - and she is angrier than ever.
And who does she blame but Hank. Is this just another stroke of
bad luck for Hank or is it a malicious plot laid by his arch nemesis,
Pete?
HANK THE COWDOG: THE CASE OF THE BURROWING ROBOT #42
CT 6756
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, Narrated by JOE WILLIS, 1 cassette.
No sooner has Sally May finished planting her vegetable garden when
some kind of unearthly being decides to burrow in the neatly planted
rows of tomatoes and peppers. It looks like a job for the Head of
Ranch Security, so Hank sets straight to work trying to dig the
space monster robot out of its hole. But when Slim, Loper, and Sally
May catch Hank in the ruined garden they place all the blame on
him. Will Hank be able to clear his good name?
HANK THE COWDOG: THE CASE OF THE SHIPWRECKED TREE #41
CT 6768
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, 1 cassette.
Hank the Cowdog and his trusty partner, Drover, are just beginning
their lastest investigation when a pirate suddenly appears on the
front porch! Has the ranch really been set upon by one-legged men
of the sea? Hank and Drover soon realize that the pirate is just
Little Alfred in disguise. And who else would Little Alfred choose
as his first mate but Hank? After he enthusiastically agrees to
be hoisted up into the tree-house pirate ship, Hank suddenly remembers
- dogs don't belong in trees! Can the Head of Ranch Security come
up with a way to survive his adventure of the high seas and return
to shore in one piece?
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JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
CT 5610
By ED MCBAIN, Narrated by THERESE EAST, 2 cassettes.
Jack McKinney was dead from multiple stab wounds and with Matthew
Hope's business card in his wallet. Who would want to kill him,
and why? This book contains some sex and profanity.
LAVENDER LIES: A CHINA BAYLES MYSTERY #8
CT 6751
By SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT, Narrated by PAT COLEMAN, 2 cassettes.
Ex-lawyer and herbalist China Bayles must put her upcoming nuptials
on the back burner when a murder investigation entangles her friends
and neighbors. It doesn't take long for China to learn that the
murder victim, Edgar Coleman, was having numerous affairs and blackmailing
City Council members for their votes on a bad land development deal.
With her fiance immersed in the murder investigation, China can
forget about a honeymoon, unless she can find the killer. This book
contains some profanity.
LOVE'S JOURNEY HOME
CT 6750
By JACKIE STEPHENS, Narrated by VALERIE PRUCKA, 2 cassettes.
Kane Fairchild finally nabbed the woman who ran with the outlaws
he captured, stole the gold, and shot his father. Now, the tough
Texas Ranger plans on bringing her to justice. What he can't understand
is why this woman acts so differently from the woman who also attempted
to seduce and deceive him. Bianca Rossetti could tell him why, but
won't: the woman Kane truly seeks is her identical twin, Francesca.
Biance has agreed to switch places to allow her sister time to exonerate
herself. This book contains some sex and profanity.
NIGHT OF THE DANCE
CT 6747
By JAMES HIME, Narrated by DICK COLLINS, 3 cassettes.
Sisy Fletcher, the preacher's daughter, disappeared on the night
of the rodeo dance ten years ago and has been missing ever since.
Until now, that is - a team drilling an oil well has made a grisly
discovery in an isolated pasture. And seeing as how it's an election
year, finding her killer is a bigger priority than it might usually
be in sleepy Washington County, Texas. Three men put their heads
together to work the case: ex-Texas Ranger Jeremiah Spur, who is
retired but can't get the thrill of the chase out of his blood;
the current sheriff, who may not be as dumb as he looks; and Deputy
Clyde Thomas, an African-American ex-Dallas cop. This book contains
some profanity and violence.
NO MURDER BEFORE ITS TIME
CT 6753
By RUSS HALL, Narrated by SALLY MADDOX, 2 cassettes.
Eight generations of Castles build to this moment of conflict. Win
Castle doesn't think either of his sons is ruthless enough to be
the next owner of their 21,000 acre Texas Hill Country cattle ranch
with its 100 acre vineyard like a jewel in its center. After having
a heart attack he has kept secret from his children, Win is now
obsessed enough to pit his two sons against each other in contests
of hunting and fishing. When one of his sons and then his wife are
murdered, Esbeth Walters, a 72 year old retired math teacher, is
involved in the chaos. Walters has been reluctantly saddled with
a reputation as an amateur sleuth and the local sheriff and a Texas
Ranger find themselves turning to her for help in solving the murders.
This book contains some sex; some profanity; some violence.
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OLD LIBERTY
CT 5648
By MARSHALL TERRY, Narrated by GREG FULLER, 1 cassette.
This is the story of Redwine Walker from South Texas, who goes away
in the 1950s to a small Eastern college and learns about his capacity
for liquor and women, true brotherhood and the quest for knowledge
and permanence in life. Dedicated to "the freshmen" everywhere,
the novel invites comparisons to Catcher In the Rye.
ONE VACANT CHAIR
CT 6748
By JOE COOMER, Narrated by DIANNA DORMAN, 3 cassettes.
Shortly after Sarah finds out that her husband, Sam, has been cheating
on her, her grandmother dies. At the funeral, she is surprised to
discover that Grandma Hutton's ashes are to be scattered in Scotland
by Aunt Edna, who needs a traveling companion. Sarah decides that
it is a good time to reorganize her life, so she offers to go. Sarah
knows only that her Aunt Edna paints portraits of chairs and has
been the "lunch lady" at the local grade school for 30 years. During
their time together, however, she finds out much more, including
some things she would rather not know. This book contains some sex.
ORANGE CANDY SLICES: AND OTHER SECRET TALES
CT 6749
By VIOLA CANALES, Narrated by MARY BARR, 1 cassette.
Interconnected coming-of-age short stories that inhabit the mysterious
and secret land that lies between the United States and Mexico,
between childhood and adulthood, reality and imagination, life and
death. These haunting stories reveal the fantastic in the ordinary
and the powerful and healing magic inside all of us.
PRIMROSE PAST: THE 1848 JOURNAL OF YOUNG LADY PRIMROSE
CT 6758
By CAROLINE ROSE HUNT, Narrated by JANICE LANGLINAIS, 2 cassettes.
The narrator of this story finds a young girl's diary dated 1848
in an antique desk drawer. Through her journal entries, the girl
reports on the day-to-day events occurring in the life of her Victorian
family. The tale gets off to a slow start, but the action picks
up when her parents take a trip, during which the girl stumbles
upon a letter that causes her to question her familial origin. The
narrative concludes with a present day explanation of the narrator's
attempts to find out more information about the girl's family.
PROMISED LANDS: A NOVEL OF THE TEXAS REBELLION
CT 5643
By ELIZABETH CROOK, Narrated by ELIZABETH CROOK, 4 cassettes.
This is the story of the Texas Revolution as experienced by two
families, one Anglo and one Tejano, as they attempt to straddle
the deep chasm that eventually rends their country. This book contains
some sex, profanity and violence.
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PROMISES TOWN
CT 6766
By L.B.COBB, Narrated by JEANNE GUICHARD, 2 cassettes.
This mystery features Assistant District Attorney Virginia Rodriguez
and defense attorney Leo Zachmann in the two-sided search for justice
in the case of a murdered federal prosecutor. Evidence points to
the wife as the killer, but Virginia and Leo doubt she's guilty.
Virginia battles renegade FBI agents and the Texas establishment
while searching for the truth. This book contains violence.
PUBLIC TRUST
CT 6752
By SARAH GREGORY, Narrated by STACI THOMPSON, 3 cassettes.
Beautiful, brainy Texas attorney Sharon Hays thought she knew her
way around the labryinth of the law and the crooked corridors of
power. But she had to take the word of a savage rapist-killer that
the D.A. had put the wrong man on death row. She had to take on
the top candidate for governor of the Lone Star state in a cutthroat
courtroom contest and a campaign of primal terror. And she had to
fight losing her head in the arms of a lawyer lover who might be
too good to be true. This book contains some sex, profanity and
violence.
QUINCIE BOLLIVER
CT 6754
By MARY KING O'DONNELL, Narrated by RUTH BORINSTEIN, 3 cassettes.
Quincie, the motherless thirteen-year-old daughter of an itinerant
muleskinner, is the captivating protagonist of this depression-era
novel set in the Texas oil patch. Her story's value resides not
only in the viewpoint of a young girl who comes of age in the shadow
of the derricks but also in the currency of her sensitivity to the
natural world and environmental issues.
SHADOW GATE
CT 5657
By MARGARET BALL, Narrated by THERESE EAST, 3 cassettes.
The militant order of Durandine monks thought that the only good
elf is a dead elf, and they planned on making sure that all the
elves in their world were very good. The elves of Three Realms sent
out one last spell to bring help--and received it from the staff
of the New Age Psychic Research Center of Austin, Texas.
SLEEP TOWARD HEAVEN
CT 6759
By AMANDA EYRE WARD, Narrated by DIANNA DORMAN, 2 cassettes.
A luminous story of murder and desire, solitude and grace, set in
Manhattan and small-town Texas. In Gatestown, twenty-nine-year-old
Karen awaits her execution on Death Row. In New York, Franny, a
doctor the same age, plans her wedding and tries to resist her urge
to run. In Austin, Celia, a brassy young librarian, mourns her lost
husband. Over the course of one summer, the three women's disparate
lives intertwine. Karen, Franny, and Celia all struggle to find
their place in a world where nothing is sure, as they move toward
one night that will change them all forever. This book contains
some sex, profanity and violence.
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST: TWENTY-FOUR STORIES FROM MODERN TEXAS
CT 5628
By DON GRAHAM, Narrated by KATHRIN GANN, 2 cassettes.
Editor Don Graham, a professor of English at the University of Texas
at Austin, has collected 24 Texas short stories written in the 20th
century. These stories are a venture from stereotypical Texan tales,
but are in their own right thoroughly "Texan stories." Each story
takes place in modern (since 1940) Texas or in some way draws its
essential spirit from a Texas background. This book contains some
profanity.
TO A WIDOW WITH CHILDREN
CT 5611
By LIONEL G.GARCIA, Narrated by ALLYSON DAVIDSON, 2 cassettes.
With warmth and humor the author creates a portrait of a small South
Texas town. One day a burnt-out hero of the Mexican Revolution shows
up in sleepy San Diego, Texas, where the daily routine is disturbed
only by the ingenious mischief of the widow's four children. Before
long, the widow, the hero, the children, and the whole town are
entangled in a comedy of injured pride, unrequited love, misplaced
revenge, and overblown gossip.
UNDERTOW
CT 5656
By SALLY HELEN REID, Narrated by STACI FINCH, 2 cassettes.
Dana Morgan left her unfaithful husband and hit the road with her
13-year-old son. They ended up in Port Alicia, Texas, a ramshackle
fishing village on the windswept tip of the Gulf Coast. It seemed
peaceful, but not for long. Soon, Dana was caught in a dangerous
affair with a seductive drifter, an unwilling pawn in a deadly game
of sabotage. This book contains some sex and profanity.
WHEN THE SKY RAINED DUST
CT 6745
By PATRICK DEAREN, Narrated by JACK HUFF, 1 cassette.
Fourteen-year-old Josh faces love, a dust storm, and the threat
of losing his family's farm in Texas during the days of the Dust
Bowl and the Great Depression in 1934.
WILL'S WAR: A NOVEL
CT 6744
By JANICE WOODS WINDLE, Narrated by JEANNE GUICHARD, 3 cassettes.
Based on events in the author's family history, this ably written
historical novel follows a century-old court case. The author's
German heritage caused her ancestors grief at the time of WWI in
the Texas town of Seguin, where America's rabid anti-German hysteria
revealed itself in deep suspicion and persecution of German Americans
like Will Bergfeld. Will is tried for treason, though he, in fact,
is guilty of nothing but union sympathies. The trial is an uphill
battle against the press and public sentiment, and the case is stacked
against him, but Will has right on his side. If you would like to
order WILL'S WAR, ask for CT 6744.
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Nonfiction
BLACK DIXIE: AFRO-TEXAN HISTORY AND CULTURE IN HOUSTON
CT 5668
By HOWARD BEETH, Narrated by RICH DINDA, 2 cassettes.
An innovative contribution to the growing body of research about
urban African-American culture in the South, this anthology is the
first to track the black experience in a southern city across the
entire slavery/post-slavery continuum. The editors combined the
best scholarship about Black Houston with little-known contemporary
eyewitness accounts and unpublished essays by historians and social
scientists.
BLACK GOLD AND RED LIGHTS
CT 5617
By JERRY SINISE, Narrated by DENISE BOEHM-WALTERS, 1 cassette.
This is the story of Borger, Texas, a Panhandle boom town in the
1920's. A big operator named Ace Borger founded the town and moved
criminals into the power structure until the Texas Rangers, the
Governor, and the National Guard took over and cleaned it up. Violence.
This book contains some violence.
BROWNSVILLE RAID
CT 5670
By JOHN D. WEAVER, Narrated by BOB SCHENKKAN, 2 cassettes.
This is a searching study of a shocking act of racism by a U.S.
president. In 1906, a white civilian was killed, and angry townspeople
charged the black soldiers of Fort Brown with his death. Though
they proclaimed their innocence, 167 black infantrymen were dismissed
by President Roosevelt with neither honor nor a trial. In 1971,
Congressman Augustus F. Hawkins introduced a bill to have the Defense
Department rectify the injustice. Only one of the soldiers was still
alive; Private Dorsie Willis received his honorable discharge on
his 87th birthday. This book contains some profanity.
CAPTIVE WARRIORS: A VIETNAM POW'S STORY
CT 5662
By SAM JOHNSON, Narrated by TERRY MAY, 3 cassettes.
Colonel Samuel R. Johnson was shot down in April, 1966, while flying
his 25th mission over North Vietnam. Soon after his capture, Colonel
Johnson was banished to a high-security prison unit for Americans
believed to threaten Ho Chi Minh's war efforts. Colonel Johnson's
innovate resistance to prison authority is the main story here,
but the author also chronicles America's journey into political
confusion over the war, and pays tribute to all the American POWs
who fought for their lives and sanity in the longest war in American
history.
CIVILIZERS: THE DUVALS OF TEXAS FROM VIRGINIA THROUGH KENTUCKY
CT 5621
By ROY L.SWIFT, Narrated by JANICE LATHIN, 4 cassettes.
Through five generations, the Duvals have made a solid contribution
rarely matched by any other single family in the Southwest. The
author describes them as civilizers because they were the high judges,
lawyers, writers, and explorers whose characters were influential
in shaping the frontier.
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COWBOY COUNTRY
CT 5615
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, Narrated by TIM SIMEK, 1 cassette.
Dedicated to what the author fears may be an extinct way of life,
this is an account of working cowboys in the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles in 1978 and 1979. Full of humor, Erickson wrote it to
entertain as well as inform.
COWBOYS ARE PARTLY HUMAN
CT 5607
By JOHN R.ERICKSON, Narrated by ED CORRIGAN, 1 cassette.
A collection of anecdotes abut cowboys by an author who was one.
Erickson has a pervasive sense of humor, and his use of colloquial
language puts the reader right in the corral and out on the range.
CUTTING FOR SIGN
CT 5609
By WILLIAM LANGEWIESCHE, Narrated by SERGIO VILLARREAL, 2 cassettes.
A thorough exploration of the border between Mexico and the U.S.--
the only place where the third world meets the first face-to-face.
The author discusses whether or not, with the fall of the Berlin
Wall, it has become the most potent demarcation of our time.
EARLY DAY ADVENTURES OF A TEXAS BOY SCOUT TROUP: DALLAS TROOP
ONE
CT 6755
By JOHN ALAN HORD, Narrated by JACK HUFF, 1 cassette.
In 1913, twenty-four year old Thomas Alan Hord, a career electrical
engineer, became scoutmater of a new boy scout troop, thought to
be the first in Dallas County. He was its leader for over 50 years
and this is the story of some of the early adventures of the unusual
troop that he led, Troop One of Dallas, Texas. The stories related
here tell of a scout troop filled with boys who got to do interesting
and exciting things because they had a scoutmaster who enjoyed adventure
as much as they did.
HISTORIC CHURCHES OF TEXAS: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
CT 5654
By FRANK A.DRISKILL, Narrated by RICH DINDA, 2 cassettes.
Rather than a discussion of theology, this book is focused on historical
movements of the various religions in Texas, and the part that priests
and preachers, parishes and congregations played in the development
of the state.
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INTERLUDE IN UMBARGER: ITALIAN POWS AND A TEXAS CHURCH
CT 5646
By DONALD MACE WILLIAMS, Narrated by FLOYD TRAVIS, 1 cassette.
During World War II, in the Texas Panhandle, 3,000 Italian prisoners
of war were interned in a camp. In the last year of the war, the
prisoners' food rations were cut back, and only a handful of prisoners
found a way to supplement their meager meals. Franco Di Bello, an
Italian officer who spoke English, and a small band of fellow artists
agreed to decorate St. Mary's Church in Umbarger. This is their
story.
JAMES BOWIE: TEXAS FIGHTING MAN
CT 5620
By CLIFFORD HOPEWELL, Narrated by JACK HUFF, 2 cassettes.
The first new biography of Texas' most famous fighting man in 50
years, this account is based on original documents, including newspaper
accounts from as far back as 1828, court records, and army orders.
The author examines Bowie's relations with the pirate Jean Lafitte,
the facts and myths of the famous Bowie knife, his love affairs
and marriage, and the restless and sometimes violent nature of the
man himself.
JOURNAL OF AN INDIAN TRADER: ANTHONY GLASS AND THE TEXAS TRADING
FRONTIER, 1790-1810
CT 5651
By DAN L. FLORES, Narrated by JACK GAZZALE, 2 cassettes.
This journal details the route and experiences of Anthony Glass,
one of the earliest Indian traders in the Southwest. In 1808-1809,
with a party of twelve hunter-traders, Glass acted as semi-official
emissary of the U.S. government in the practically uncharted lands
of the Taovaya-Witchita and Comanche Indians. In this book, editor
Flores introduces Glass' diary with fresh data on the land and its
inhabitants.
LIFE ON THE KING RANCH
CT 5653
By FRANK GOODWYN, Narrated by TOM NAUGHTON, 2 cassettes.
In the author's words, "This is the story of me and my ranch friends,
of the heritage that was ours, the way we worked, the tales we told,
and the fun we had on America's largest, most progressive cattle
ranch."
LIVING ON THE EDGE OF AMERICA: AT HOME ON THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER
CT 5666
By ROBERT LEE MARIL, Narrated by JIM CRONENBERG, 2 cassettes.
In the subtropical Rio Grande Valley a diverse group of people have
created a blend of cultures and attitudes toward life. The author,
a writer and sociologist, tells some of their stories, observed
when he taught in the Valley for 13 years. This book contains some
profanity.
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MAGNIFICENT BARBARIANS: LITTLE TOLD TALES OF THE TEXAS REVOLUTION
CT 5624
By BILL WALRAVEN, Narrated by STEPHEN HARRIGAN, 2 cassettes.
Early Texans, who came from Europe, Mexico, and the United States,
were a rough and often crude breed. Once in Texas, it was considered
impolite for anyone to inquire into another's past, since so many
of the settlers had run away from scandal of some sort. The authors
feature all of these barbarians who took part in the Texas Revolution,
offering personal backgrounds along with motivations. Also written
by Marjorie K. Walraven.
MEMORIAS: A WEST TEXAS LIFE
CT 5647
By SALVADOR GUERRERO, Narrated by RICH DINDA, 1 cassette.
The author's family came from Coahuila to West Texas, driven by
the Mexican revolution and the economic opportunity of the cotton
fields. This memoir recounts his experiences in the San Angelo barrio,
as a soldier in WWII, and as a post-War activist for Mexican American
rights. His account brings to life the world views, familial relations
and struggles of the Mexican American community.
MIRACLE MAN: NOLAN RYAN, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
CT 5658
By NOLAN RYAN, Narrated by JACK HUFF, 1 cassette.
Texan Nolan Ryan is one of the all-time baseball greats whose career
records may not even be matched in his lifetime. Here, Ryan speaks
out on controversial issues for the first time, revealing his views
on marriage and family, moral values, today's work ethic, politics,
opponents, and teammates.
MUSTANG PROFESSOR: THE STORY OF J. FRANK DOBIE
CT 5618
By MARK MITCHELL, Narrated by CAROL ESLER, 1 cassette.
Any youngster interested in writing will enjoy this biography. It
covers Dobie's life from his boyhood on a South Texas ranch to his
rise in prominence as a writer and folklorist to his dismissal from
the faculty of the University of Texas for liberalism.
NO APOLOGIES: TEXAS RADICALS CELEBRATE THE '60S
CT 5623
By DARYL JANES, Narrated by PATTY LOFTIS, 2 cassettes.
A fiery, unapologetic chronicle of the sixties and early seventies
written by some seventeen Texas activists of that period. Includes
a foreword by Rev. Jesse Jackson. This book contains some profanity
and violence.
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ONLY TEXAS COOKBOOK
CT 5625
By LINDA WEST ECKHARDT, Narrated by LORI BRIX, 2 cassettes.
A collection of authentic recipes as varied as the ethnic composition
of Texas. The author is considered an expert on fresh, original,
and cost-conscious Texas cooking, and here she adds down-home Texas
wisdom and humor.
PEA RIDGE: CIVIL WAR CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST
CT 5639
By WILLIAM L.SHEA, Narrated by TOM FAIRBROTHER, 3 cassettes.
The definitive study of a strange, complex battle which saw Southern
troops attack from the north against English and German-speaking
soldiers. As a result of this battle, often called the "Gettysburg
of the West", Missouri remained securely in Union hands, and most
of the Union and Confederate troops moved east of the Mississippi
to fight in other campaigns.
POISON FOR PROFIT
CT 5616
By MAC B.MCKINNON, Narrated by DENISE BOEHM-WALTERS, 1 cassette.
The author's dream as a journalist was to follow a noted criminal
case from beginning to end, and by a stroke of fate, such a case
emerged near his home town in central Texas. This is a complicated
story of greed and the relentless pursuit of success, and in the
end, three people were dead and one was sent to prison for life.
This book contains some profanity and violence.
PORTRAITS OF THE PECOS FRONTIER
CT 5645
By PATRICK DEAREN, Narrated by BILL MCLEAN, 2 cassettes.
The author spent years tracking down regional folklore and history
of the Pecos frontier, a vast land of contrasts between San Angelo
and El Paso. This resulting book is full of intriguing individuals,
sites, and legends.
RANALD S. MACKENZIE ON THE TEXAS FRONTIER
CT 5665
By ERNEST WALLACE, Narrated by JACK GAZZALE, 2 cassettes.
Once called the "Fighting Colonel" of the Texas frontier, Ranald
S. Mackenzie in the brief years of his career through the 1870s
and early 1880s secured that land for the surging waves of settlers.
In this classic account of the dashing cavalryman's campaigns, first
published in 1965, eminent historian Ernest Wallace brings to life
the frontier era.
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RUFFLES AND FLOURISHES
CT 5663
By LIZ CARPENTER, Narrated by SUSAN BRITT, 2 cassettes.
A valuable source for understanding how the institution of the first
lady has become an important aspect of White House operations. Liz
Carpenter, the first press secretary for a president's wife, describes
the hectic and often hilarious behind-the-scenes activity required
to undertake any presidential publicity. Carpenter also describes
White House and LBJ family social events. This book contains some
profanity.
SHARPS RIFLES AND SPANISH MULES: THE SAN ANTONIO-EL PASO MAIL,
1851-1881
CT 5669
By WAYNE R.AUSTERMAN, Narrated by SERGIO VILLARREAL, 3 cassettes.
Subtitle: The San Antonio-El Paso Mail, 1851-1881. Reading almost
like a western novel, this well-documented history of a frontier
business enterprise is related in scholarly detail laced with high
adventure. Armed with their trusty Sharps rifles, the expressmen
struggled across the forbidding desert and mountain country to fulfill
their business contracts.
SHARPSTOWN REVISITED: GEORGE SHARP AND DIRTY POLITICS IN TEXAS
CT 5626
By MICKEY HERSKOWITZ, Narrated by JACK GAZZALE, 2 cassettes.
Biography of Houston banker and real estate developer Frank Sharp.
A product of the Depression years, Sharp grew up in Crockett, and
with only a high school education, had a skyrocketing career as
a Houston and national power broker. Then in 1971, the Sharpstown
Scandal exploded, making or destroying political careers, and involving
such diverse characters as the Pope and President Nixon.
STONY GROUND: ONE TEACHER'S FIGHT AGAINST JUVENILE CRIME
CT 5622
By LINDA WILLIAMS POST, Narrated by JEANNE GUICHARD, 2 cassettes.
The author examines the case of a middle class boy in Temple, Texas
who drops out of school and turns from football hero to drug dealer
to murderer. His parents cling to their traditional moral values
and leave him to the criminal justice system, which turns out to
be the wise choice. Author Post, a Temple high school teacher, offers
her suggestions for what public schools can do to stem escalating
student crime.
STRAY TALES OF THE BIG BEND
CT 5650
By ELTON MILES, Narrated by KELLY TAYLOR, 1 cassette.
Folklorist Elton Miles offers new tales of the Big Bend region,
from mysteries in the desert to cowboy revivals. Included is a story
about the controversial Big Bend tablet discovered at Hot Springs,
said to prove that Europeans were there about 300 A.D.
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TEXAS RANGER: JACK HAYS IN THE FRONTIER SOUTHWEST
CT 5649
By JAMES KIMMINS GREER, Narrated by EV LUNNING, 2 cassettes.
John Coffee Hays helped to forge the legend of what a Texas Ranger
was. For almost a century, every Ranger wanted to be "like Jack
Hays." Hays arrived in Texas in 1836, at 19, and his bold forays
against the Comanches soon earned him a colorful reputation. He
was pivotal in the ultimate defeat of the Comanches, and he led
the Rangers during the Mexican War. He was also San Francisco's
first sheriff and the founder of Oakland, California. This book
contains some violence.
TEXAS RANGERS: MEN OF VALOR AND ACTION
CT 5619
By MIKE COX, Narrated by JACK HUFF, 1 cassette.
Ten action-packed stories from the history of the legendary Texas
Rangers. The author spotlights Captain Jack Hays, Rip Ford and other
19th century Rangers, as well as more recent Rangers such as Frank
Hamer, who tracked down Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.
THIRD TEXAS CAVALRY IN THE CIVIL WAR
CT 5641
By DOUGLAS HALE, Narrated by CHRIS HUNNELL, 2 cassettes.
The author has written a superior regimental history of the Third
Texas in which his great-grandfather served. He goes beyond describing
marches and battles to explore the civilian background of the common
soldiers and provide a socio-economic profile. Many of the veterans
later played prominent roles in the restoration of social attitudes
and norms of behavior that had prevailed before the war; they found
that the abolition of slavery had not permanently altered their
social order. This book contains some violence.
TRAGIC CAVALIER: GOVERNOR MANUEL SALCEDO OF TEXAS, 1808-1813
CT 5671
By FELIX D.ALMARAZ, Narrated by RICH DINDA, 1 cassette.
A historical account of the Mexican independence movement in Texas
from a Spanish perspective. Defense of the Spanish borderlands in
the early 19th century was a lost cause. Official neglect, expansionist
pressures from the Mississippi Valley, and insurgents south of the
Rio Grande all but guaranteed the end of Spanish rule in the region.
In this setting, Governor Salcedo fought valiantly to defend the
tottering colonial structure.
WOMEN OF THE RANGE: WOMEN'S ROLES IN THE TEXAS BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY
CT 5664
By ELIZABETH MARET, Narrated by STACI FINCH, 1 cassette.
Based on a decade of interviews and observation, the author tells
the story of women who serve as an often unpaid labor source in
this classic American enterprise. With their parents, children,
or spouses--or alone--women own, manage and do the daily work of
ranching, as they have since pioneer days. Increasingly, they are
also a force for modernization in the industry, writing software
for planning crossbreeding operations, encouraging emphasis on nutrition
and consumer interests, and as technicians in artificial insemination
companies.
YONDER: LIFE ON THE FAR SIDE OF CHANGE
CT 5644
By JIM W.CORDER, Narrated by RICH DINDA, 2 cassettes.
The elusive concept of change is diligently pondered in this thought-provoking
book. The details of Corder's own life mirror the world we all live
in--a world shaped by unavoidable change. In the midst of this world,
Corder, with the rest of us, searches for the meaning of existence.
This book contains some profanity.
Ordering
More Texas Titles Thousands of additional titles recorded
in Texas are available from the Talking Book Program. Ask a Reader
Consultant to recommend other Texas titles and authors or have Texas
titles added to your reading list through our automatic selection
program. A world of Texas books is just a phone call or e-mail message
away.
As with all of the books in our collection, there is no time limit
for ordering any of these books. Feel free to ask for these titles
at any time – now or in the future.
The Texas volunteers welcome your comments and suggestions. Send
an e-mail message to the Volunteer Recording Studio at tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us
or write to us at Volunteer Recording Studio, Talking Book Program,
PO Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711-2927. If you live in the Austin area
and are interested in volunteering to record books, please call
463-5546 for more information. Information about volunteering is
available on this website: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/tbp/vrs.html
Talking Book Program, Austin, TX, January 2006.
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Énfasis en Texas - Enero del 2006
Énfasis en Texas es un boletín semestral donde se anuncia los libros
más recientes grabados por los voluntarios del estudio de Programa
de Libros que Hablan en Austin y en la Biblioteca de Grabar para
Ciegos y Discapacitados en Midland. Personas discapacitadas pueden
recibir este casete gratis si están inscritos en el Programa de
Libros que Hablan.
Desde 1978, voluntarios del Programa de Libros que Hablan, han
grabado miles de libros de ficción y no ficción por autores texanos,
o que tratan de la historia, cultura y gente del estado de la estrella
solitaria. De los libros grabados en sus títulos se incluyen biografías,
historias, libros del oeste, romances, de misterio, autoayuda y
de viajes. Cada mes se graban diez libros nuevos ofreciéndole una
incrementada variedad de temas texanos para escoger.
Para pedir los libros indicados, llame a un consultante de lectura
al 1-800-252-9605, o en Austin al 463-5458. Un contestador automático
esta disponible fuera de horario y los fines de semana, para solicitar
libros o dejar mensajes. Cuando deje mensajes diga su nombre completo
y su numero de cliente (si lo conoce) con claridad. Incluya también
el numero CT y el título del libro de cada pedido. También se pueden
solicitar libros por correo electrónico en: tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us.
Los libros especificados en este boletín pueden ser solicitados
cuando gusten.
Anote los títulos y números de los libros que desea pedir y llámenos
a cualquier hora con su pedido.
Español Ficción
LEJOS DEL MATRIMONIO
CT 6767
Por DIANA PALMER, Narrado por ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, 1 casete.
(English title: "A Man of Means") El poderoso y seductor Rey Hart
se quedo hipnotizado con solo ver a Meredith Johns. Aquella encantadora
joven habia conseguido conmoverle el alma con su inocencia, y ademas
habia descubierto que era una magnifica cocinera. Asi que Rey no
dudo en llevarla al rancho como su nueva cocinera y asi ademas la
labraba de una dura situacion familiar. Lo que no habia previsto
era que la presencia de Meredith iba a poner en peligro sus planes
de permanecer soltero. ... Rey Hart was hypnotized with just one
look at Meredith Johns. After discovering that she's a magnificent
cook, he moves her out to his ranch to serve as the cook. What he
failed to realize was that Meredith's presence would jeopardize
his plans to remain single.
Español No Ficción
PENSAMIENTOS PARA SER FELIZ: UNA AYUDA EN LOS MOMENTOS DIFICILES
CT 6760
Por LILIA REYES SPINDOLA, Narrado por SANDY LITSCHI, 1 cassette.
Hay momentos en la vida en que todo parece salirnos mal y nos cuesta
encontrar la luz del dia. Pero no te aflijas, este libro te ayudara
a llenarte de luz, salud, amor y felicidad. Los pensamientos que
encontraras aqui fueron escritos para que los leas diariamente,
en voz alta y con toda la conviccion possible. Asi se logra que
poco a poco lleguen a ser parte de tu forma de pensar y actuar,
haciendote una persona mas valiente, emprendedora, y que disfruta
cada momento de su vida.
NIÑO SIN NOMBRE: LA LUCHA DE UN NIÑO POR SOBREVIVIR
CT 6761
Por DAVE PELZER, Narrado por SANDY LITSCHI, 1 cassette.
(English title: "A Child Called 'It': One Child's Courage to Survive")
A man recounts the years of torture and starvation that he experienced
as a child at the hands of his alcoholic mother. Chronicles the
incidents of maltreatment, his ultimate rescue from the abusive
home, and his recovery. Violence. Bestseller. ["El nino sin nombre"
es el relato de uno de los casos de abuso infantil mas extremos
en la historia de California. Es la historia Dave Pelzer, quien
era golpeado y hambreado salvajemente por su madre emocionalmente
desequilibrada y alcoholica.] This book contains some profanity
and violence. If you would like to order NINO SIN NOMBRE, ask for
CT 6761.
Se concluye la lista de esta edición de Énfasis en Texas.
Para pedir estos libros, llame al l-800-252-9605, o en Austin al
463-5458.
Ordenar
Miles de libros adicionales grabados en Texas están disponibles
en el Programa de Libros que Hablan. Un consultante de lectura puede
recomendarle otros títulos o autores texanos. Puede añadir mas libros
a su lista de lectura a través de nuestro programa de selección
automático. El mundo de libros texanos le espera con solo una llamada.
Así como todos los libros de nuestra colección, no hay limite
de tiempo para estos libros. Cualquier título se puede pedir cuando
guste, ahora o en el futuro.
Sin embargo, Énfasis en Texas es un boletín compartido y se presta
solamente una semana. Este casete debe ser devuelto a los siete
días de haberlo recibido al Programa de Libros que Hablan. Favor
de devolverlo lo mas pronto posible para poder compartirlo con otros
clientes.
Los voluntarios texanos desean recibir sus comentarios e ideas.
Mándenos un mensaje electrónico a tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us
o escríbanos a Volunteer Recording Studio, Talking Book Program,
P.O. Box 23927, Austin, TX. 78711-2927.
Programa de Libros que Hablan, Austin, TX. Enero del 2006
Talking Book Program
Texas State Library & Archives Commission
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
1-800-252-9605 (in Texas)
512-463-5458 (in Austin)
512-936-0685 (fax)
tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us
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