There is something about the aesthetically pleasing construction of stringed instruments that gives them such a powerful presence. Beyond the practicality of design - which is the extent of a wind instrument's appearance - a guitar, mandolin, or cello's shape has a rhythm pleasing to the eye as well. When Ace Frehley plays his Gibson or Joni Mitchell plays her acoustic, the guitar's design is so distinct that you can hear the instrument by just looking at it. This book is a dedication to capturing the sound of an instrument by giving it an appropriate shape, much the same way an impressionist painter will give you the warmth of the sun by using colors and brushstrokes that conjure up what it actually feels like on a hot day. The vintage guitars photographed in this book range from ancient to modern, elegant to tacky, and classic to just plain odd. With Strings Attached is the perfect gift for the guitarist in your family! -- Jon

"Long ago and far away..." immediately transports many of us to
landscapes populated with massive and labyrinthine forests, dire
wolves, magical devices, and love-torn heroes and heroines. Yet fairy
and folk tales, at least in their original form, were dangerous,
political, and multi-valent. Russian Legends collects over 90 gorgeous
(and often full-color) illustrations ranging from the 1890s through the
1940s as well as several essays that explore these illustrations'
political, religious, and cultural significance, though even if you
never read a word in this book, the images tell their own stories.
Russian Legends is a perfect gift for those intrigued by the rich loam
of Russian mythology and anyone fascinated with the vast wonders of the
intellect and imagination. -- Trevor

The Joker has been released from Arkham Asylum and Gotham is just not
prepared. Brian Azzarello, writer of 100 Bullets and Loveless, gives us
this dark and gritty bad-guy story with everyone's favorite psychopath.
Artist Lee Bermejo's The Dark Knight-inspired Joker, Two Face, and
Harley Quinn are truly wicked visions! Any fan of Batman's rogues'
gallery cannot afford to miss this one. - Joey Puente

I've never met a forest I didn't like and the happy thought of tramping through the woods sometime in the near future keeps me sane. Author and nature photographer Tim Palmer, long a leader in river conservation, turns his lens and concern toward America's forests both thriving and threatened. These stunning photographs remind us that this is a country like no other, whose wildernesses are in urgent need of protection. Palmer's well-written text will satisfy both the botanist and the lobbyist in you. -- Margaret Simpson