The Nutmeg Princess

#329
Title: The Nutmeg Princess
Author: Richardo Keens-Douglas
Illustrator: Annouchka Galouchko
Year: 1992
Publisher: Annick Press
Country: Grenada
30 pages

With jewel-tone illustrations featuring alebrije-like animals and people, this is a very beautiful morality tale about generosity. While the pictures sometimes don't have anything to do with the action, they are still pleasing and contribute to a strong visual sense of the story.

The Magician

#328
Title: The Magician
Author: Michael Scott
Year: 2009
Publisher: Delacorte
464  pages

This second book continues the action with a little less reflection and a little more swords-and-sorcery. I would have liked more access to Josh's internal struggle, and more sense that his decision-making posed a dilemma for him in relation to his sister. Nice descriptions of the Paris catacombs.

Education Master Plan 2006-2016, Republic of Palau

#327
Title: Education Master Plan 2006-2016, Republic of Palau Author: Republic of Palau Ministry of Education
Year: 2006
Publisher: Republic of Palau Ministry of Education
Country: Palau
101 pages

Available: http://www.paddle.usp.ac.fj/cgi-bin/paddle?e=d-010off-paddle--00-1--0---0-10-TX--4-------0-11l--11-en-50---20-home---00-3-1-000--0-0-11-0utfZz-8-00&a=file&d=pal005

This brings me to 55% as measured by Travbuddy, though their country list has more on it than the official list I'm using.

If you're not interested in elementary education, you might think this wouldn't be interesting to read. However, in addition to the historical and cultural information presented, there is a fascinating subtext. The overt report describes the previous 10-year plan, the current functioning of the school system, the next 10-year plan, and the stakeholders' comments. Somewhat more covertly, the report describes the government's failure to build new roads, develop and staff called-for committees, or make good fiscally. The result is a rather arch indictment. Would that I could write such a polite and damning report.

Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home

#326
Title: Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home
Authors: David Shipley & Will Schwalbe
Year: 2007
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
247  pages

A primer on basic e-mail functions and etiquette. It would be useful for businesses and organizations wanting to improve their practices, particularly in relation to appropriate and collegial behavior as well as introductory security and privacy.

African Psycho

#325
Title: African Psycho
Author: Alain Mabanckou
Translator: Christine Schwartz Hartley
Year: 2003/2007
Publisher: Soft Skull Press
Country: Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
153  pages

A fun antithesis to Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho. The misogynistic protaqonists of both books strategize about how to harm a woman, but Mabanckou's narrator is not trendy, privileged, good looking, dispassionate, or competent. The story is vividly told, interior, and emotionally on-edge. He's no Meursault, and he's ultimately no match for his own self-loathing. Lots of word play and descriptions of poverty and disenfranchisement in the Republic of the Congo. It's perhaps a commentary on the difficulty of creating an authentic African self-construct in the context of colonial history.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

#324
Title: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Author: Michael Scott
Year: 2007
Publisher: Delacorte
375  pages

A pleasing beginning to a fantasy series for younger middle readers. The reading level is about right for children who encountered Flamel in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, This is not as dark as some recent children's fantasy and it is considerably leavened with humor. The set up is good and the tension sustained throughout. The young protagonists are smart and clever; their parents are archaeologists. There are strong female and male characters. The story presents a nice blend of fantasy, action-adventure, mythology, and history. Especially enjoyable for those who have always suspected that history shows the hand of supernatural influence.

The Art of Money: The History and Design of Paper Currency from around the World

#323
Title: The Art of Money: The History and Design of Paper Currency from around the World
Author: David Standish
Photographers: Tony Armour Photography, Joshua Dunn
Year: 2000
Publisher: Chronicle
144  pages

Despite some reviewers' impressions, there is plenty of text as well as beautiful color plates of world currency. The tone is a little flippant but the content is good. There are many interesting examples of how countries portray themselves through the images and symbols on their bills. Part II, which is an essay on U.S. currency, is interesting but does not seem to be of a piece with the rest of the book. It has the feel of a thesis-turned-chapter.

I found a couple of errors but they are not critical. For example, when describing the botanical imagery on colonial bills, the author comments that "henebit" is now such an "obscure" plant that he can't finds it in the OED or 6 botanical reference works. One wonders why he did not see the entries that I presume were there for "henbit," an extremely common weed and the spelling suggested by Google upon entering "henebit." It still returns over 200 results for "henebit." The OED online also refers "henebit" to "henbit," though to be scrupulously fair, I don't think the author could access this in or before 2000.