Nourish Mind and Body with Four Unique Books
1. Adventure on the High Seas
If you enjoy a good suspense tale, "The Devil to Pay" by Gene J. Parola fills the bill, exploring themes currently in the news, including the shortcomings of America's security agencies. The Midwest Book Review calls this novel "an absorbing tale of hidden motivations that keeps the reader guessing until the end."
A yacht delivery crew on a routine job to return a boat from the Bahamas to Miami is set upon by shadowy agents in search of a mysterious canister they believe to be aboard the boat. Outsmarting the aggressors, they engage in a running sea battle and finally get the crippled boat home safely. But the danger doesn't end there; certain rogue agents have old horrors to hide and fear the crew has discovered their secrets.
"The Devil to Pay" is available online at Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com) and Amazon (www.amazon.com).
2. Revisit the Classics
"Gilgamesh" is an epic poem named for its hero, a tyrannical Babylonian king. Written more than 4,000 years ago, the story is rich in universal themes, including many parallels to Biblical stories. It tells of the adventures of the imperious Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu. When Enkidu suddenly sickens and dies, Gilgamesh becomes obsessed by a fear of death. He travels in search of a plant said to give eternal life and finds it, only to have it stolen by a serpent. The hero then decides he will heed the advice from Siduri, a wise barmaid, to abandon his quest for immortality and enjoy the temporal pleasures allotted to mortals while he may: "... sing and dance. Relish warm food and cool drinks. Cherish children to whom your love gives life ... Play joyfully with your chosen wife."
Now this timeless story is available in a deluxe, case-bound, limited edition. "The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Myth Revisited," released by Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc., is a definitive version of one of civilization's oldest and greatest epics. The book features two translations, one in contemporary, English poetry as well as a Hebrew translation. It also highlights brilliant, full-color illustrations by Zeev Raban, published for the first time in the United States.
This edition includes a psychological analysis of the story and a guide to the epic's themes and narrative forms and types. There is also a commentary of the Raban paintings, which play such an important role in the book. In a forthcoming review in the "Journal of Near Eastern Studies", Dr. John Hayes, professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of California at Berkley, wrote, "This a handsome, even sumptuous volume, one which it is a pleasure to touch and to read ... The true test of a classic is that each time one reads it, one finds something new, and that is true of these translations." Visit www.bolchazy.com for more information on "Gilgamesh."
3. Hawaiian Comfort Food and "Talk-Story"
If you love to eat but are a lazy cook, read "Remembering Diamond Head, Remembering Hawai'i, a Cookbook Memoir of Hawai'i and Its Food." Shirley Tong Parola and Lisa Parola Gaynier share 250 recipes, cooking tips and island lore.
A wonderfully written narrative, some of the best found in a cookbook, Hawaiian "talk-story" and cooking tips are interspersed with 250 recipes ranging from breakfast to desserts, and of course, a complete luau menu. Instructions are simple and easy-to-follow, and illustrations throughout the book help readers to identify unusual ingredients.
The cookbook is available from any major bookseller, or you can order an autographed copy directly from the publisher ($19.95 plus $3 shipping and handling). Write to Diamond Hawai'i Press, 14518 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH 44120. For more information, visit the publisher's Web site, www.diamondhawaiipress.com, or call (216) 921-1708.
4. Something for the Kids
Why not give your kids something to read that is educational as well as fun. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has just released the first two books in its "I Am Reading Latin" series.
Created for children age 4 to 8 years old, these books are a delight for any reader. They feature charming illustrations that enhance the simple text and help readers figure out the vocabulary represented on the page. Translations for each page are at the back of the book, as are a pronunciation guide and basic grammar information. Further help with pronunciation is available on the publisher's Web site, where readers can hear the book being read in classical Latin.
In "Quot Animalia?" ("How Many Animals?"), kids learn to count while also learning the names of various animals, from lions to mice. "Quid Edam?" ("What Will I Eat?") covers breakfast, lunch and dinner from a child's perspective, with foods like fish sticks and pancakes. "These books are educational, but they are also just plain fun," says author Marie Bolchazy.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Authors are available for interviews.
Contact Gene J. Parola regarding "The Devil to Pay" at GParola@aol.com.
Contact Dr. Lou Bolchazy, classicist and specialist in Gilgamesh regarding "The Epic of Gilgamesh, A Myth Revisited" at lou@bolchazy.com or (847) 526-4344, Ext. 17.
Contact Marie Bolchazy regarding the "I Am Reading Latin" series at latin@bolchazy.com or (847) 526-4344, Ext. 22.
Contact Shirley Tong Parola and Lisa Parola Gaynier regarding "Remembering Diamond Head" at (216) 921-1708 or lgaynier@adelphia.net.
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