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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, folklore, and people of the Lone Star state. Titles recorded
include biographies, histories, westerns, romances, mysteries, self-help,
travel, and children's books. Approximately 10 new books are completed
each month, including some in Spanish. 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.
Following the list of titles recently recorded by our volunteers,
we also feature in this issue a section on bonus titles recorded
in years past including books for children and young adults. We
are pleased to provide you this reminder that these bonus books
are available.
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
Affirmative Reaction: A Tory Travers/David Alvarez Murder
Mystery
CT 6548
by Aileen Schumacher, Narrated by Janice Langlinais, 2 cassettes
Tory Travers needs the help of police detective David Alvarez again
when she discovers a woman's body has been stuffed in a manhole
while she's inspecting a community development site-and she wants
to help in order to speed things up. The city officials who contracted
her company to inspect the storm sewers will undoubtedly hold up
her check until after the case has been solved. The body turns out
to belong to a contentious city employee who vehemently opposed
affirmative action programs. (#3 in the series.) This book contains:
Some sex, violence, and profanity
Bad Memory
CT 6525
by Duane Franklet, Narrated by Tom Fairbrother, 3 cassettes
He calls himself “Hektor,"” his operation “Trojan
Horse.” With his carefully assembled underground team, he
has breached the walls of the Houston-based Simtec Corporation,
the world’s largest manufacturer of personal computers. Bypassing
the best security money can buy-codes, gates, and guards-Hektor
has crippled Simtec through the back door, and is gearing up to
extort his fair share of their twenty-billion-a-year revenues. Vowing
to fight, Simtec’s newly named CEO Diane Hughes faces a forbidding
test of her leadership. With her company caught in an escalating
spiral of demands and destruction, she turns to her top troubleshooter,
Barry Shepard. But Barry could pay the highest price of all, for
Hektor has made the ultimate threat. This book contains: Some sex,
violence, and profanity
Black Gold
CT 6513
by Frederic Bean, Narrated by Jack Gazzale, 3 cassettes
In 1930's Texas, the oil industry is booming and small-time wildcatter
Bill Dodd has secretly acquired the oil lease to the property adjoining
H.L. Hunt's latest gusher. It promises to make Dodd a millionaire
but before he can register the leases with the county, he is gunned
down and Hunt's company takes over the land. Texas Ranger Lee Garrett
is sent to investigate. He uncovers the first organized crime racket
in Texas. The Mafia is running women and booze and their hired muscle
makes sure no one stops their operation. And the only person Garrett
can trust is Molly, a young prostitute from Brooklyn. This book
contains: Some sex, violence, and profanity
Casanova Crimes
CT 6484
by Nancy Herndon, Narrated by Jeanne Guichard, 2 cassettes
Elena Jarvis is an officer in the Crimes Against Persons department
of the Los Santos, Texas, police. She's got a sharp mind and a strong
sense of justice. Graham Fullerton was the campus Casanova of Herbert
Hobart University until a date with poison put an end to his extra-curricular
activities. When Elena Jarvis searches for suspects in the pages
of Graham's little black book, she finds them too numerous to count,
and all of them have payback on their minds. Elena discovers a dark
secret about Graham that puts her own life in danger. This book
contains: Profanity
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Cat on a Blue Monday
CT 6539
by Carole Nelson Douglas, Narrated by Dana Schuff, 3 cassettes
Midnight Louie, toughcat extraordinaire, and his human partner in
crime-solving, petite red-headed publicist Temple Barr, are once
again in the thick of things as they try to discover just who is
trying to wreck the annual Las Vegas Cat Show. When people start
dying and the cats are placed in mortal danger, it’s up to
Louie to set things right He’ll do his best to foil the fiendish
plot against the cats of Las Vegas . . . and save his best friend
Temple from a very human killer. This book contains: Violence
Comanche Woman: Sisters of the Lone Star
CT 6415
by Joan Johnston, Narrated by Stephanie Murphy, 3 cassettes
Bayleigh Stewart was as different from her older sister Sloan as
she was from her younger sister Cricket. Their father had always
dreamed of having three strong sons he could train to be everything
a Texas man should be. Her sisters favored their father’s
frontier spirit of tough independence while Bayleigh thought of
herself as Rip’s disappointing daughter. When she was captured
by the Comanches, she would learn that she, too, was a stalwart
survivor. This book contains: Heavy Sex, violence and profanity
Cure The Texas Fever
CT 6240
by J. T. Edson, Narrated by Ed Corrigan, 2 cassettes
A baffling disease called “Texas fever” is threatening
to ruin Texas cattle ranchers financially. The governor is willing
to do anything to find a cure, even pardon a man with a price on
his head. Waxahachie Smith is allowed to return to Texas under one
condition—that he serve as bodyguard to the young vet who
may be close to a cure. This book contains: Violence and profanity
Dangerous Dilemmas
CT 6521
by Evelyn Palfrey, Narrated by Janice Lathin, 2 cassettes
This is the story of a woman who is going through a divorce after
her husband of 25 years betrays her in the most cruel way imaginable.
If that's not enough, her son is in jail, accused of capital murder.
Leaving the jail she meets a man who rescues her from car trouble.
It's only after a relationship develops between them that she discovers
that he is the police detective testifying against her son. Must
she choose between the love of a man and a mother's love for her
child? This book contains: Some Sex and profanity
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Death at Whitechapel
CT 6515
by Robin Paige, Narrated by Linda Fox, 2 cassettes
Kathryn Ardleigh is becoming accustomed to the high-society circles
of her recently Lorded husband Charles Sheridan. And she has found
a kindred spirit in Jennie Jerome Churchill, whose carefree lifestyle
has made her a frequent topic in the tabloids. But there is a more
serious scandal threatening Jennie - and the political future of
her son Winston. She is being blackmailed by someone who has made
a heinous accusation. This book contains: Violence
Death of a Minister's Wife
CT 6538
by Allen Whitman, Narrated by Jack Huff, 1 cassette
The Reverend Jarvis Hedlam glances at the headline: "Prominent
Pastor Suspended." What grabs his attention is that the man
is his childhood friend, George Hawthorne. One phone call to a seminary
classmate uncovers the fact that his grade school buddy has been
suspended for alcoholism, is whispered to be a womanizer, and is
under suspicion in the unexplained death of Stacey, his attractive
wife. To add to the mystery, George Hawthorne has disappeared.
Eater of Souls
CT 6506
by Lynda S. Robinson, Narrated by Carol Esler, 2 cassettes
In a tale of ancient Egyptian political intrigue, someone, or something,
is slaying innocent persons on the night streets in the royal city
of Memphis. Frightened citizens believe it is the gruesome work
of the Devourer, the eater of souls, one of the most fearsome gods
in the Egyptian pantheon. Even Lord Meren, the eyes and ears of
the Pharaoh, is baffled by this series of horrific crimes whose
victims have only one thing in common: the grisly manner of their
deaths. This book contains: Violence
Eden
CT 6549
by Fredric Bean, Narrated by Jack Gazzale, 2 cassettes
The Kings aren't like other families. They are bound together by
a hatred as vast as their oil-rich Texas ranch – and the purse
strings of a fortune held by the cold matriarch of their wealthy
clan. Helen King's five children have as little love for her as
they do for each other. So when her eldest son, Howard is shot to
death in his Dallas home, there is no shortage of suspects. As administrator
of the King fortune, he was the focus for his siblings' deepest
resentment. Everyone has a motive, no one has an alibi - and Matthew,
who has always been the family peacemaker, admits he was at the
scene shortly before the murder and saw nothing. As the police close
in on the killer, Matthew faces an unwanted choice: loyalty to a
family that's never understood love or saving his own skin. This
book contains: Profanity
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El Camino Del Rio
CT 6544
by Jim Sanderson, Narrated by Paul Klemperer, 2 cassettes
Presidio, Texas is hard country and hardship duty for U.S. Border
Patrol officer Dolph Martinez. When circling buzzards lead him to
a corpse wearing red Wing boots with a .22 bullet hole in an expensive
haircut, Dolph realizes that this is no ordinary norteno trying
to cross the deserted border from Mexico. Is the dead man connected
to Sister Quinn's efforts to help Central American political refugees
find sanctuary? Is Sister Quinn, a nun who practices curanderismo,
mixed up in a smuggling operation? It is Dolph's job and his destiny
to unravel the mystery. This book contains: Some sex, violence,
and profanity
The Fourth Horseman
CT 6527
by Randy Lee Eickhoff, Narrated by Harold Steadman, 4 cassettes
Historical fiction about Doc Holliday. More than a simple gunfighter,
Doc Holliday is a sensitive yet sardonic gentleman through whose
eyes we experience the bitter harshness of the new frontier. Following
a shooting at the Withlacoochee River, Holliday's father sends him
to a Northern dental school in hopes of building a bright future
for his son. But tuberculosis cuts short a promising career, and
Holliday heads into the West and into history. He is destined to
become the lone outsider at the infamous OK Corral gunfight. This
book contains: Profanity
Framework for Death: A Tory Travers/David Alvarez Murder
Mystery
CT 6490
by Aileen Schumacher, Narrated by Janice Lathin, 2 cassettes
El Paso Detective David Alvarez is summoned to the scene of a crime
from a New Year's Sun Bowl game after a uniformed officer responded
to an anonymous phone call - he entered a residence in a prestigious
neighborhood with a unique history, and fell right into the middle
of a structural collapse. A concealed room is discovered in the
basement of the residence, complete with two bodies, and a live
infant upstairs. Alvarez turns to engineer Tory Travers to figure
out what caused the collapse, but doesn't want to stop there. (#2
in the series) This book contains: Profanity
Gone to Texas
CT 6535
by Donald K. Wright, Narrated by Dick Collins, 3 cassettes
This is the saga of two young men, sickened by the ravages of the
Civil War, who decide to take their cut and join the migration of
those who look to the wilderness of the Texas frontier to give them
a fresh start. Along the way they meet two exceptional women: the
tortured Molly Klinner, a woman whose own life has been shattered
by the war and Gabriel Johnson, an Eastern beauty who views her
journey to the Wild West as a lark. Together they will weather the
travails that the new frontier has in store for them and carve out
a new life. This book contains: Some sex and profanity
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Hardrock Stiff: A Kurt Muller Mystery
CT 6347
by Thomas Zigal, Narrated by Nancy VanHemert, 2 cassettes
Ned Carr is an old hardrock miner who has stubbornly held on to
his acres of what has become prime real estate in the heart of Aspen’s
popular ski slopes. He has made plenty of enemies over the years
from the militant environmental activists called the Green Briars
to the even more dangerous property-rights group known as the Free
West Rebellion. When a mine explosion blows old Ned to bits, Sheriff
Kurt Muller finds a long list of motives for murder, from eco-terrorism
to corporate greed. This book contains: Violence and profanity
House of Gentle Men
CT 6507
by Kathy Hepinstall, Narrated by Janice Lathin, 2 cassettes
In this story, the house of the title is a sort of anti-bordello
for women, where the male residents provide lovelorn ladies not
with sex but with solace, sweetness, and romance. Set in post-World
War II Louisiana, the novel traces the lives of two motherless misfits:
Charlotte, a voluntary mute who suffered first a rape, then the
loss of her baby; and Louise, a compulsive neatnik whose father
is the men's "madam." Both women fall for his newest working
boy, a troubled soldier attempting to atone for his past. As the
trio search for happiness, they encounter a succession of realizations
that teach them what love is. This book contains: Some sex
Hunter's Trap
CT 6518
by C. W. Smith, Narrated by Kenny Rahmeyer, 2 cassettes
On the night of the vernal equinox in 1930, the novel's protagonist
Wilbur Smythe, puts in motion his plan to avenge the deaths of his
wife and his employer, a wealthy Kiowa's oil money. Smythe intends
to kidnap the banker's seventeen-year-old daughter, Sissy, and hold
her hostage to torment her father before killing him. Set largely
in El Paso and its Mexican neighbor, Juarez, the story weaves together
the strong political and social undercurrents of the Depression.
Beneath its texture of place and time, however, the story reasserts
the age-old wisdom of how thin the margin is between good and evil
in members of the human "family." This book contains:
Some sex and profanity
A John Graves Reader
CT 6305
by John Graves, Narrated by Sergio Villarreal, 3 cassettes
All of the pieces in this anthology were selected, arranged, and
edited by the author himself. They reflect various stages of his
life and writing career - youth in Texas, World War II, travels
in Mexico, Europe, and New York, and his return to Texas as home
and as subject matter. They also present recurring themes in his
writing - from the land and people to fishing, traveling, and the
enduring friendships that have enriched his life. This book contains:
Profanity
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Lost
CT 6531
by Helen R. Myers, Narrated by Therese East, 2 cassettes
Six years ago, the small town of Split Creek, Texas, was rocked
to its core when a young woman was brutally murdered. Her killer
was never found. Now, when Faith Ramey's abandoned car is discovered,
the town can't help feeling an unwelcome sense of deja vu. Police
Chief Jared Morgan doesn't want to believe there's a connection,
but Faith's sister, Michaele, is beginning to suspect otherwise.
This book contains: Some sex and profanity
Pariah: A Kurt Muller Mystery
CT 6528
by Thomas Zigal, Narrated by Ruth Borinstein, 2 cassettes
On the eve of his recall vote, Aspen Sheriff Kurt Muller is summoned
to the home of an old acquaintance, the beautiful, reclusive heiress
Nicole Buer. Someone, she says, is sending her hate mail and threatening
to kill her. She's convinced it's her old lover, the 60s blues idol
Rocky Rhodes, but Kurt is wary, for good reason: Twenty years earlier
Rocky's body was found on the grounds of Nicole's mansion, and Nicole
herself was charged with his murder. But Kurt's doubts are shaken
when Nicole is found dead the next morning, only hours after he
left her. Kurt soon uncovers a host of high-placed suspects. This
book contains: Profanity
Season’s End: A Novel
CT 6523
by Tom Grimes, Narrated by Jack Gazzale, 3 cassettes
In this "ultimate baseball novel,” Mike Williams tempts
fate when he appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age
of twenty-one. He becomes a major-league batting champion and a
national icon as he travels from innocence to disillusionment. Through
the prism of baseball, Season's End examines the rich, dark themes
of young love, fathers and sons, rags-to-riches wealth, and the
cult of celebrity in the media age. This book contains: Profanity
Sugar Land
CT 6530
by Joni Rodgers, Narrated by Dianna Dorman, 3 cassettes
This is the story of the Smithers sisters - Kit and Kiki. As children,
they performed throughout Texas as the Sugar Babes, but those glory
days of county fair stages, adoring fans, and gold lame gowns are
long gone. Now Kit and Kiki are grown up. All that remains are the
blues these sisters sing as they learn to cope with the vicissitudes
of real life: withering marriages, cheating spouses, balloon mortgages,
lost opportunities, and the demands of motherhood. This is the story
of the healing power of forgiveness, the seemingly impossible task
of loving, the resilience of family ties, and what happens when
a tornado meets a double-wide trailer. This book contains: Some
sex and profanity
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Supporting The Sky
CT 6346
by Patricia Browning Griffith, Narrated by Lindsey King, 2 cassettes
A humorous novel set in Washington, D.C. When Rosemary Kenny, a
transplanted Texan, meets an intriguing foreign journalist while
patrolling with her Neighborhood Watch group, he seems romantically
interested in her—an unsettling prospect for Rosemary who
hasn’t dated in years. At the same time, as a single parent
she worries about her tempestuous sixteen-year-old daughter’s
hidden romantic life. This book contains: Profanity
Texas Destiny
CT 6532
by Lorraine Heath, Narrated by Janice Lathin, 2 cassettes
This historical romance, set in Fort Worth, opens with the arrival
of mail-order bride Amelia Carson. A broken leg prevents her future
husband, Dallas Leigh, from meeting her but he sends his brother
who was badly scarred during the Civil War. Soon the brother realizes
he can't watch Dallas marry the woman he has come to love. The author
deals movingly with the shattering effect the Civil War had on these
three survivors. This book contains: Heavy sex and profanity
Texas Wildcat
CT 6368
by Adrienne Dewolfe, Narrated by Theresa Hackley, 3 cassettes
The feud between the Bandera County, Texas cattlemen and sheepherders
is worsening, fueled by a severe drought in the summer of 1884.
When beautiful but hot-tempered sheepherder Bailey McShane charges
into the cattlemen’s saloon to accuse them of stealing precious
water from her land, Zach Rawlins, president of the local cattlemen’s
association, tries to find a solution to the conflict. Zach has
always been the man of Bailey’s dreams but her father raised
her to be as self-reliant as a man. Although drawn to Bailey, Zach
wants a woman who needs him, not one who cannot accept his help.
Will anything short of a disaster, natural or man-made, bring such
strong-willed people together in a loving partnership? This book
contains: Heavy sex and profanity
They Are Ruining Ibiza
CT 6545
by A. C. Greene, Narrated by Tom Fairbrother, 1 cassette
Charles Martyn, Ph.D., age 60, author of a classic work of literary
criticism, is on his second trip to Ibiza – this time with
his new wife Susan – searching for his artist son Led. Moving
through the search for Led, the novel takes readers through unpredictable
twists in plot that keep them guessing about Led's whereabouts until
the final scene of the story. The author spins out this account
of Martyns plight with sympathy for his melancholy but without excusing
his emotional withdrawal. This book contains: Profanity
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Three Perfect Men
CT 6524
by Evelyn Palfrey, Narrated by Janice Lathin, 2 cassettes
In this romantic adventure, the lives of three Houston women become
entangled with those of three rugged men they encounter while vacationing
on a remote lake in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas. A feminist
publisher, a computer whiz, and a judge. They are different ages,
different races, from different backgrounds. None of them could
explain why they became fast friends. Their vacation together veers
from quiet contentment to the horrifying, with the macabre discovery
of the mutilated body of a teenager. Ike, Donnell, and Jones are
not flawless, but they are the perfect men for Angela, Eleanor,
and Sondra. This book contains: Some sex
Treasure
CT 6526
by Suzanne Robinson, Narrated by Jeanne Guichard, 2 cassettes
Orphan Emily Fox may be London's most skilled lady pickpocket, but
she is certain her grandest scheme will also be her last. For when
she finds the treasure hidden on Valin North's spectacular estate,
she'll be rich enough to give her beloved siblings everything they
could ever want ... and she'll never have to scheme for her supper
again. Disguised as a flirtatious debutante entering the social
scene, Emmie slips into North's circle and is instantly captivated
by the powerfully sensual nobleman. Suddenly, stealing from North
seems like more than mere deception. It seems like a betrayal of
the heart.
Understanding Women
CT 6536
by C. W. Smith, Narrated by Sergio Villarreal, 3 cassettes
It's 1956 and James Robert (Jimbo) Proctor's just turned sixteen
when his Uncle Waylan and his new wife Vicky invite him to spend
a summer toiling in the oil patch in New Mexico. But Jimbo lands
smack dab in a domestic fracas that has his uncle living in his
machine shop and sneaking out with Sharon, his secretary. What's
inside Jimbo's head makes for compulsive and delicious reading.
He watches his uncle and his fellow workers for clues as to what
makes a man, and he obsesses, with extraordinary innocence, over
all the different women in this story and their relationship to
him and to his uncle. Some sex and profanity
Up in Flames: A John and Mary Bolt Mystery
CT 6517
by Linda S. Bingham, Narrated by Carol Esler, 2 cassettes
Houston arson expert John Bolt isn't looking for love. He is hot
on the trail of a serial firebug who has already blazed a name for
himself in a small New England college town. But a bumpy flight
bounces Mary Yates, attractive actress from San Francisco, into
Bolt's path. Together they search for motives in a case which turns
from matches into murder, and in the process, sets their hearts
aflame. When one major suspect turns out to be Mary's lifelong friend,
the odds for a lasting partnership are not good. (1st in series.)
This book contains: Profanity
Virgin Fire
CT 6208
by Elizabeth Chadwick, Narrated by Karen Phipps, 2 cassettes
As the proud owner of one of the few bathtubs in rough and tumble
Spindletop, Texas, Jessica Parnell is besieged by oil drillers,
speculators, and riffraff—every one longing to take advantage
of her precious facilities. But the most persistent and intriguing
is her own estranged husband, Travis. This book contains: Some sex,
violence, and profanity
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Nonfiction
The Gospel According to Bubba
CT 6537
by Chuck Meyer; Illustrations by Cindy Mayfield and Donna Utsler,
Narrated by Tom Fairbrother, 1 cassette
Theological conversations the author has with an imaginary angel
named "Bubba" about Christian doctrine and the bible.
The Last Buffalo: Walter Potts and the 92nd “Buffalo”
Division in World War I
CT 6520
by E.B. Hogan, Narrated by Atkins, J. Noble, 1 cassette
In World War I, soldiers of African descent made up the U.S. Army's
92nd Division, and fought in France as a unit. They became known
as the Buffalo Battalion, named after their predecessors who served
in the military in the American West. When he died at age 106, Walter
E. Potts, an East Texas veteran, became the "last Buffalo."
Author Eva Hogan has written this book to honor her grandfather
and to preserve the history of the 92nd Division.
Threadgill’s: The Cookbook
CT 6310
by Eddie Wilson, Narrated by Michael Neibergall, 2 cassettes
A born storyteller, restauranteur Eddie Wilson has produced more
than a cookbook. This is an outpouring of appreciation for food,
family, friends, and music. Threadgill’s Restaurant is not
only known for Southern cooking, it is also a museum of Austin music
history and a shrine to the grandfather of Austin country music,
Kenneth Threadgill.
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Spanish Fiction
Isla del Cundeamor (Island of Cundeamor)
CT 6372
by René Vázquez Díaz, Narrated by Dr.
Juan Lujan, 2 cassettes
Vázquez Díaz offers an eloquent portrait of an imaginary
island nation that bears a striking resemblance to his own native
Cuba. As the islanders tell their stories, their enduring hopes
transcend the stifling boundaries of daily life in Cundeamor. This
book contains: Some Sex, Profanity
Nen, La Inútil (Idle Dreamer)
CT 6376
by Ignacio Solares, Narrated by Daniela Sanchez, 1 cassette
Nen, the idle dreamer, is a woman whose misunderstood talent for
seeing into the future leads her to the palace of the emperor Montezuma
at the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. This book contains:
Some Sex, Profanity
Orilla Oscura (Dark Edge)
CT 6374
by José María Merino, Narrated by Marisol Brown, 2
cassettes
A Spanish professor who lives in the United States travels to Central
America on sabbatical. During a visit to a museum, he discovers
a portrait of a man who looks remarkably like his late father, a
discovery that causes the professor to re-examine his youth and
the events of his past. The “dark edge” of the novel’s
title refers to the fine line between past and present, fantasy
and reality, dreaming and waking.
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Spanish Nonfiction
Hasta No Verte Jesus Mio
CT 4920
by Elena Poniatowska, Narrated by Dr. Juan Lujan, 3 cassettes
Hasta No Verte Jesus Mio es la historia contada por una mujer comun
y corriente. Jesusa Palancares, la protagonista, es una mujer tipica
mexicana en un mundo donde el machismo sobresale y en otros aspectos
ella es feminista, con gracia y mucho humor.
Criando A Nuestros Ninos: Educando A Ninos Latinos En Un
Mundo Bicultural
CT 6529
by Gloria G. Rodriguez, Narrated by Marisol Brown, 4 cassettes
(Raising Our Children: Educating Latin children in a bicultural
world) Este libro, que incluye las investigaciones mas actuales,
ademas de anecdotas personales, canciones, recetas, dichos y juegos,
provee un rico marco cultural para ayudarle a criar y educar de
manera eficaz y responsable a sus ninos que se complementa con un
invalorable regalo: pasarles nuestra cultura.
To order any of these titles, call 1-800-252-9605 or, in Austin,
512-463-5458.
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Spotlight
on Bonus 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.
Among the titles available, you may want to consider ordering
these previously recorded bonus titles:
Bonus Fiction
Boomer's Gold
CT 3202
by Jack Warner, Narrated by Lloyd Davis, 3 cassettes
This is the story of an oil well called Dixon Creek No. 2, the town
of Borger which was formed around it on the high Texas plains in
1926, and the men and women who lived in this boom town. This book
contains: Profanity
China Syndrome
CT 3536
by Burton Wohl, Narrated by Sarah Light, 1 cassette
An accident at a nuclear power plant in California is covered up
by management and authorities. One man feels he must tell the world
of the hazards and seeks help from a beautiful reporter and a tough
young cameraman. This book contains: Profanity
Daze of Our Lives
CT 3766
by Jean Burchett, Narrated by Phyl Holbert, 1 cassette
Hailed by some as the "Bombeck of Texas," Burchett offers
the reader a sampling of her witty stories about family life. Her
column, also called Daze of our Lives, appears in several Texas
newspapers.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
CT 3292
by Nelson C. Nye, Narrated by Oliver Handley, 1 cassette
Wyatt Earp was a heroic lawman, Doc Holliday a gambling gunman—yet
they were brothers under the skin when it came to the gunfight at
the O.K. Corral.
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Halloween Party
CT 3291
by Agatha Christie, Narrated by Patricia Caporusso, 2 cassettes
After a child boasts that he saw someone murdered, he is found dead
a few hours later. Hercule Poirot is faced with one of his most
challenging cases of criminal pathology.
Hanging On
CT 2898
by Hila Colman, Narrated by Therese East, 2 cassettes
The intimate journal of a wife’s pain-filled year with a husband
who is slowly dying of a stroke. It is the story of a couple who
learned to face personal disaster without abandoning their hold
on life. This book contains: Profanity
Hold Autumn in Your Hand
CT 3697
by George Sessions Perry, Narrated by Ann Morrison, 1 cassette
This novel tells the story of Sam Tucker, a Texas tenant farmer
who, though very poor, fights nature, the seasons, and a good many
of his fellow men to bring something from the earth
Jury of One
CT 3192
by Mignon Good Eberhart, Narrated by Patricia Caporusso, 1 cassette
Murder invades the house where Maggy Warren is preparing for her
marriage to a man she has known all her life, and no one is the
same any more.
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Kingdom
CT 2855
by Ronald S. Joseph, Narrated by Therese East, 3 cassettes
Joel Trevor founded the great Lantana Ranch, but it was his daughter
Anne and her husband Alex Cameron who created the dynasty that made
the ranch what it was. This book contains: Heavy sex, profanity,
violence
Morning Song
CT 3747
by Linda Timian Herring, Narrated by Rheta Edwards, 1 cassette
Carol Morgan is secure and happy in the life and career she has
made for herself after overcoming the tragic death of her husband.
Then Reverend Daniel Thornton enters her life, shattering her illusions
and her defenses. His example of unconditional love alters the course
of her future.
Murder in a Small Town (Perhaps)
CT 3760
by H.B. Fox, Narrated by Tom Fitzpatrick, 1 cassette
In this humorous murder mystery, Editor Harold Smith of the celebrated
"Oak Hill Gazette" reports on crime, wit, and shenanigans
in a small American town, including, perhaps – it's hard to
tell – two murders.
Nightingale
CT 3620
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull, Narrated by Patricia Caporusso, 2 cassettes
The small mechanical nightingale, a rare heirloom in the Carpenter
family, is stolen and suspicion falls upon one villager after another.
Its recovery reveals the healing properties of village mutuality.
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No Holiday for Crime
CT 3655
by Dell Shannon, Narrated by Susan McKinnon, 2 cassettes
Lieutenant Luis Mendoza of the Los Angeles Police Department is
saddled with liquor store hijackings and various robberies at Christmas
time, but he is particularly baffled by the murder of a young, devout
Mormon girl.
Year of the Gun
CT 3921
by Michael Mewshaw, Narrated by Bob Schenkkan, 2 cassettes
In this suspense novel, an American working for a shabby English-language
newspaper in Rome unwittingly entangles himself in the plans of
ruthless terrorists. David Rayborne wangles an advance from an American
publisher for an inside account of the terrorist group, the Red
Brigades. Then he invents his own version of their clandestine cell
and secret plans to kidnap a prominent Italian politician. When
his manuscript becomes sought after by a photojournalist and the
terrorists, David faces the loss of all he loves – a woman,
a city, and his own life.
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Bonus Nonfiction
Accordian Man
CT 3570
by Myron Floren, Narrated by Norman Kieke, 1 cassette
The autobiography of a musician – an accordion player –
who was a friend and employee of Lawrence Welk for many years. He
played in and helped manage the orchestra in Welk's TV show and
in personal appearances.
Chronicles of the Big Bend
CT 3474
by W. D. Smithers, Narrated by Vic Rogers, 1 cassette
This is the story of the frontier era of the Big Bend area of Texas
before it became a national park in 1944. It tells of outlaws, smugglers,
prohibition and the many wonderful inhabitants of the area.
Cowboys and Cadillacs: How Hollywood Looks at Texas
CT 3755
by Don Graham, Narrated by Therese East, 2 cassettes
A lively exploration of the Texas myth in film. The author, a Texas
and lifelong movie fan, examines hundreds of movies made from 1912
to the present. He tells how Texas came to be perceived as a desert
inhabited by lusty citizens with Western manners, mores and dress.
Faith is the Answer
CT 3188
by Smiley Blanton, Narrated by Magdalen Moran, 2 cassettes
Norman Vincent Peale and Dr. Blanton combine the age-old truths
of the Bible and modern psychiatry and psychology to present a new
approach to personal happiness.
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Hugging the Jukebox
CT 3880
by Naomi Shihab Nye, Narrated by Linda Fox, 1 cassette
In these poems, the author evokes the people and places of the American
Southwest, Guatemala, Colombia and Peru, shrewdly and joyously.
The first section of the book draws on Texas life, the second offers
South-of-the-Border observations, and the third section is a group
of poems concerned with talking and silences and the ways in which
the world speaks to us.
LBJ Country
CT 3233
by Bill Porterfield, Narrated by Gretchen Estes, 1 cassette
The author, a reporter for a Houston paper, describes the harsh
Texas hill country that nurtured President Johnson and the men and
women who were his friends.
Letters from an Early Settler of Texas
CT 3010
by William B. Dewees, Narrated by Oliver Handley, 2 cassettes
These letters cover many events in Texas history during the years
from 1819 to 1852 and also include many important Texas documents.
Lots of Land
CT 3102
by Curtis Bishop, Narrated by Jack Gazzale, 3 cassettes
This is a story of the land of Texas, as well as a history of Texas,
as compiled from the record of the General Land Office of Texas.
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Mr. Claude
CT 3762
by Ada Morehead Holland, Narrated by Jerome Stone, 1 cassette
Claude Barr Kennedy worked in the big sawmills in the piney woods
of deep East Texas. His story is intertwined with the history of
logging, lumbering, and forest management in Texas. It is a story
of family joys and sorrows, personal strengths and quirks.
Napoleon and Josephine: The Biography of a Marriage
CT 2903
by Frances Mossiker, Narrated by Cynthia Kreisner, 3 cassettes
Napoleon and Josephine are depicted as real people – a man
and a woman in love – until the situation changes and his
love for her deteriorates as they share a turbulent life.
Roses in December
CT 3580
by Frances Parkinson Keyes, Narrated by Phyl Holbert 3 cassette
The author, a best-selling novelist, recalls her girlhood at the
turn of the century, her New England upbringing, her schooling in
Boston private schools and her education and travels abroad. Concludes
with her marriage to a man many years her senior.
Spindletop
CT 2843
by James A. Clark and Michel T. Halbouty, Narrated by Terry May,
2 cassettes
On January 10, 1901 the first great oil gusher roared in at Spindletop,
Texas, and the future of America and the world was forever changed.
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Wings of Silver
CT 4302
by Jo Petty, Narrated by Margaret Young, 1 cassette
A collection of hundreds of inspirational sayings on love, joy,
peace, suffering, goodness and faith.
Wonderful World of Country Music
CT 3260
by Jeannie Sakol, Narrated by Joyce Leidy, 3 cassettes
A dictionary of country music including biographies of stars, a
history of the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Association Awards
winners and notes on Bluegrass and Outlaw music.
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Fiction for Children and Young Adults
Hello, the Boat
CT 3543
by Phyllis Crawford, Narrated by Eunice Clingo, 1 cassette
When they decide to leave their home in Pittsburgh in 1817 and re-establish
themselves in the West, the Doak family manages a merchant's new
storeboat down the Ohio River to Cincinnati. For junior and senior
high readers.
Ice Castles
CT 3675
by Leonore Fleischer, Narrated by Sarah Light, 2 cassettes
Alexis Winston had a dream—to become a champion figure skater.
She was also in love with Nick, her childhood sweetheart, who had
dreams of his own.
Johnny Texas
CT 3734
by Carol Hoff, Narrated by Tom Fitzpatrick, 1 cassette
This is a story of adventure, excitement and pathos, woven together
with threads of early Texas history. When ten-year-old Johann comes
from Germany to make his home in Texas, he is awed at first by the
vastness of the country. But from the moment the friendly stagecoach
driver tousles his hair and calls him " Johnny Texas,"
the boy's love for this wonderful land of freedom begins to grow.
Legend of the Bluebonnet
CT 3673
by Tomie De Paola, Narrated by Ginger Edwards, 1 cassette
This story not only tells the origin of the state flower of Texas,
but also is a tale of the courage and sacrifice of a young person.
For grades 3-6.
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Leonard the Lizard
CT 2945
by Mary Frances Lamport, Narrated by Karen DeBusk, 1 cassette
Leonard is a chameleon—a lizard that changes the color of
his skin to match his background. This is the story of a day in
his life. This recording also contains: “Jerry Giraffe's Short
Journey.” Jerry Giraffe walks away from the zoo and makes
friends with a group of children. “The Glory of Easter”
tells the story of Easter in simple verse for very young children.
“A Package of Goodies” contains two brief rhyming stories
on being polite and having good manners and on being pretty, strong
and clean. “Spotty the Spider.” Spotty selects a place
for his new home and begins to build his web. For grades 2-5.
Miss Pickerell Goes to the Arctic
CT 3562
by Ellen MacGregor, Narrated by Mary Jane Prall, 1 cassette
Why would Miss Pickerell be deep in the Arctic on a cargo plane
that is running out of gas? What if they have to make a forced landing?
Never fear! Miss Pickerell and her umbrella will win the day. For
grades 3-6.
Mystery of the Green Cat
CT 3136
by Phyllis A. Whitney, Narrated by Leila Reynolds, 1 cassette
The mysterious old lady who lives at the top of the hill and a strange
green china cat help to bring two brothers and their new stepsisters
together as a family. For grades 5-8.
Orphans on the Guadalupe
CT 3790
by Frances Alexander, Narrated by Lisa Davis, 1 cassette
Among the colonists from Germany who settled along the Guadalupe
River were nineteen orphans and an Evangelical pastor and his wife
who became their "parents" after a tragic epidemic struck
these pioneer immigrants. This story is about their adventures in
the Texas wilderness. For readers in grades 6-9.
Sunrise Song
CT 3848
by Minnie Gilbert, Narrated by Linda Fox, 1 cassette
Set during the Mexican Revolution, this novel tells about Rosita's
adventures before her quininiera – a centuries old ritual
marking a girl’s fifteenth birthday. Along the Mexican border
country of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, descendants of the Spanish
colonists of long ago still observed the beautiful old custom of
coming out parties for their daughters' fifteenth birthdays. For
readers in grades 6-9 and high school.
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Nonfiction for Young Adults and
Adults
Italian Texans
CT 2889
by the Institute of Texan Cultures, Narrated by Hazel Kiley, 1 cassette
Italians have been in Texas almost from the very beginning. They
were with Coronado during his trip across the High Plains in 1541
and many were present during the Texas war for independence. This
is the story of these men and of the later men and women who contributed
much to Texas culture.
Jewish Texans
CT 2859
by the Institute of Texan Cultures, Narrated by Hazel Kiley, 1 cassette
Jews from all countries of the world found their way to Texas and
this is a brief narration of what they contributed to the state's
history and heritage. For high school and adult readers.
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Spanish Fiction
Dia en la Vida
CT 3868
by Manlio Argueta, Narrated by Marisol Brown, 2 cassettes
"Un dia en la vida" (One Day in the Life) expresses in
fictional form the collective voice of El Salvador and offers a
message of hope through its characters.
Lazarillo de Tormes
CT 3568
by Plaja de Guillermo Diaz, Narrated by Marisol Brown, 1 cassette
Lazarillo de Tormes is the main character in a series of sketches
detailing the struggles of the poor to survive and to stay alive.
Seven loosely related tales follow Lazarillo from the rags of a
poor childhood to the riches of a respectable government post and
honorable family life. Written in the 16th century.
Lo Que Tu Callaste
CT 3801
by Caridad Bravo Adams, Narrated by Thomas Fountain, 2 cassettes
"Lo que tu callaste" (What You Kept Quiet About) is a
dramatic novel of love, pride and revenge.
Mi Isla Sonada
CT 3244
by Abelardo Milton Diaz , Narrated by Ines Maldonado, 2 cassettes
A fictionalized account of life in a small Puerto Rican town in
a time of transition and change, and how these changes affect the
traditions and customs which were part of the Puerto Rican personality
and culture.
Os Ofrezco el Big Bang
CT 3630
by Ralph Barby, Narrated by Marisol Brown, 1 cassette
"Os ofrezco el big bang" (Presenting the Big Bang) is
a science fiction epic about the battle between good and evil, in
which the hero, Xaloc, triumphs over the forces of evil.
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Spanish Nonfiction
Cruz y el Punal
CT 3235
by David R. Wilkerson, Narrated by Carmen Kelly, 2 cassettes
An account of a minister's attempt to help seven boys indicted in
New York City for the murder of a crippled teenager. His work with
juvenile groups led to the Teen Challenge movement with centers
in Brooklyn, Chicago and Los Angeles. Translation of “The
Cross and the Switchblade.”
Hablando de Brujas y la Gente de Antes
CT 3663
by Jim Sagel, Narrated by Judy Gibson, 1 cassette
"Hablando de brujas y la gente de antes" (About Witches
and Their Ancestors) contains poems describing the land, people
and folk culture of Northern New Mexico. Spanish and English language.
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Spanish Fiction for Children
Han Raptado a "Ney"
CT 3273
by Maria Marcela Sanches Coquillat, Narrated by Marisol Brown, 1
cassette
The children from the author's first book return to encounter the
same characters but different adventures and countryside. For grades
6-9.
Palabra de Honor
CT 3323
by Babbis Friis Baastad, Narrated by Yolanda Cazares Munguia, 1
cassette
Tott had given his word of honor not to reveal a secret. Then he
found himself faced with solving a problem without going back on
his word. For grades 5-8.
Teresita y las Orugas
CT 2961
by Millicent Selsam, Narrated by Sara Escobedo, 1 cassette
A young girl finds some caterpillars, keeps them in jars, feeds
them, watches the caterpillars spin cocoons, and finally sees them
emerge as moths from the cocoons. For grades preschool-2. Translation
of Terry and the Caterpillars.
Tortillitas Para Mama and Other Nursery Rhymes
CT 3654
by Margot C. Griego, Narrated by Judy Gibson, 1 cassette
A collection of nursery rhymes, in both English and Spanish, collected
from the Hispanic communities in the Americas. Many of the rhymes
have instructions for finger plays and other activities.
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Spanish Nonfiction for
Children
Aqui y Alla en California
CT 2935
by Ernesto Galarza, Narrated by Hilda Cruz and Maurine McLean, 1
cassette
Aqui y Alla en California, a brief description of the things to
see and places to go in California. In container with Galarza's
Historia Verdadera de una Botella de Leche tells the story of milk
from the dairy to the store. Spanish language for children. Aqui
y Alla en California, una descripcion breve de las cosas para ver
y lugares para visitar en California. La caja tambien contiene Galarza's
Historia Verdadera de una Botella de Leche cuenta la historia del
leche de la lecheria a la tienda. Lengua Espanola para ninos.
Secretos de la Ciencia
CT 3201
by Bertha Morris Parker, Narrated by Frances Lopez Morillas, 1 cassette
Describes in simple terms the geologic history of earth and the
phenomena of nature. For grades 4-7.
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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, July 2002.
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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