One of the hottest growing segments of the romance genre is male-on-male (M/M) romance--gay romantic fiction mostly written and read by straight women. Featuring traditional romance conventions, including mistaken identities, star-crossed lovers, and happy endings, these stories show both physical and emotional intimacy between men. M/M builds on…

The past year's best audiobooks, all recipients of starred "LJ" reviews, are more varied than ever--they include a posthumously published novel ("The Girl Who Played with Fire"), two debut works of hard-boiled fiction ("The Manual of Detection" and "Bad Things Happen"), a meditation on the wonders of nature ("Summer World"), and a joint…

This article presents an annotated bibliography of 19 titles that focus on cancer and health-care reform. These include: (1) Anderson, John W. "Stand by Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men." AMACOM: American Management Assn.; (2) Carstensen, Laura L. "A Long Bright Future: An Action Plan for a Lifetime of Happiness, Health, and Financial Security."…

Summer is fast approaching, and it will soon be time to climb the mountains to get their good tidings, as naturalist John Muir put it. In other words, librarians must now prepare for the influx of patrons making weekend recreational and summer vacation plans by stocking up on books and other resources on the great outdoors. Outdoor recreational…

Americans still marry in great numbers, with over two million nuptials occurring every year. With the average U.S. wedding costing between $20,000 and $30,000, these celebrations represent a great financial and emotional investment not only for the engaged couple but for their loved ones as well. Besides the financial obstacles, weddings present…

Celebrating original voices, highlighting what might otherwise be lost--the "Library Journal" book editors try for a list of best books that they think will make a difference in everyone's reading lives. In other words, they had rather offer readers a sharp, interesting list that challenges than a list no one could complain about--or discuss. A…

In 1790, Congress passed the first act governing naturalization, which provided that any free, white, male or female adult alien who had resided within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States for a period of two years was eligible for citizenship. From this humble beginning the current system of granting naturalized citizenship developed,…

Home decorating is a popular idea these days as seen in the rise of cable television channels like TLC and HGTV (Home & Garden Television) and TV shows like "Trading Spaces, Take This House and Sell It, Design on a Dime, Decorating Cents," and many others. Throughout history, humans have always expressed the desire to personalize and beautify…

Nearly 25 percent of the U.S. population--those with higher incomes and more education and those living in slightly larger households, with children--are listening to audiobooks according to Audio Publishers Association (APA) statistics. No wonder there is continued growth in the industry. This article presents the 2006 "best" list which includes…

The world of government information mirrors the headlines. The resources in this list of Notable Government Documents from the American Library Association's Government Documents Round Table reflect the diversity of the profession, with topics ranging from "underappreciated fish" in Alaska to the Colonial papers of Sir William Johnson;…

Reading reference sources, whether on paper or on the screen, often leads to enlightened thinking, especially for library patrons. In an earlier age, enlightened monarchs surrounded themselves with leading intellectuals and patronized the arts. Today, people have the advantage of the world's collected wisdom at their fingertips in the form of…

While gay parenthood has existed from time immemorial, it has only emerged as a viable means of family building within the past 20 years. Celebrities like Melissa Etheridge, who had children with ex-partner Julie Cypher and sperm donor David Crosby, and Rosie O'Donnell, who adopted, have ushered gay parenting into the popular consciousness and…

Following a brief discussion of venereal disease in America comes an annotated list of VD-related materials arranged alphabitically by publisher. Included are pamphlets, reports, fact sheets, reprints, manuals, and curriculum and teaching guides. (LS)

Presents an annotated list of 61 books, fiction and nonfiction, judged to be the best in 2001. Also lists 15 best genre titles for mystery, science fiction and fantasy, and romance. (LRW)