Talking Books Talk

Check out what the Kansas Talking Books staff and a guest from the Topeka office have been reading recently!

Valarie Lamoreaux, Deputy State Librarian

DB 118891 The bullet swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

"In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men. He's good with his gun and is drawn to trouble but he's also out of money and out of options. A drought has ravaged the town of Dorado, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and children, and so when he hears about a train laden with gold and other treasures, he sets off for Houston to rob it-with his younger brother Hugo in tow. But when the heist goes awry and Hugo is killed by the Texas Rangers, Antonio finds himself launched into a quest for revenge that endangers not only his life and his family, but his eternal soul. In 1964, Jaime Sonoro is Mexico's most renowned actor and singer. But his comfortable life is disrupted when he discovers a book that purports to tell the entire history of his family beginning with Cain and Abel. In its ancient pages, Jaime learns about the multitude of horrific crimes committed by his ancestors. And when the same mysterious figure from Antonio's timeline shows up in Mexico City, Jaime realizes that he may be the one who has to pay for his ancestors' crimes, unless he can discover the true story of his grandfather Antonio, the legendary bandido El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Amanda Diggs, Production Manager

DB 109286 The Secret, Book, & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

"Miracle Springs is a place of healing. Strangers flock there hoping that the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. And, if none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That's Nora's special talent: prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person's deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden. But when a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, he's found dead on the train tracks before he can keep their appointment. Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman's demise, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, and, as the society works to untangle the web of corruption surrounding the murder, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 112637 Don’t fear the reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

"Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho. Dark Mill South's Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Michael Lang, Director Kansas Talking Books

DB 109291 Aurora by David Koepp

"In Aurora, Illinois, Aubrey Wheeler is just trying to get by after her semi-criminal ex-husband split, leaving behind his unruly teenage son. Then the lights go out, not just in Aurora but across the globe. A solar storm has knocked out power almost everywhere. Suddenly, all problems are local, very local, and Aubrey must assume the mantle of fierce protector of her suburban neighborhood. Across the country lives Aubrey's estranged brother, Thom. A fantastically wealthy, neurotically over-prepared Silicon Valley CEO, he plans to ride out the crisis in a gilded desert bunker he built for maximum comfort and security. But the complicated history between the siblings is far from over, and what feels like the end of the world is just the beginning of several long-overdue reckonings, which not everyone will survive." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 122458 Incidents around the house by Josh Mallerman

"A horror novel about a haunting, told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls "Other Mommy." To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There's Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: "Can I go inside your heart?" When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel. But Other Mommy needs an answer. Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home."-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 116859 Drowning: the rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman

"Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors-but it's too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside. More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives. Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent-Shannon's mother and Will's soon-to-be ex-wife-who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff. There's not much time. There's even less air. With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family's desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them-against impossible odds." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Dylan Calhoon, Patron Services Manager

DB 104847 My heart is a chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

In a quickly gentrifying rural town, tourists begin to die, and the tension between the community and the celebrity newcomers heads to a tipping point. Protected by her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films, Jade, of Blackfoot descent, hopes it is enough to help her survive. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

DB 122021 Fat vampire, book 1 by Johnny B. Truant

"When overweight treadmill salesman Reginald Baskin finally meets a co-worker who doesn't make fun of him, it's just his own bad luck that tech guy Maurice turns out to be a thousand-year-old vampire. And when Maurice turns Reginald to save his life, it's just Reginald's own further bad luck that he wakes up to discover he's become the slowest, weakest, most out-of-shape vampire ever born, doomed to "heal" to his corpulent self for all of eternity. As Reginald struggles with the downsides of being a fat vampire -- too slow to catch people to feed on, mocked by those he tries to glamour, assaulted by his intended prey and left for undead -- he discovers in himself rare powers that few vampires have... and just in time too, because the Vampire Council might just want his head for being an inferior representative of their race."-- Goodreads. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 61222 Interview with the vampire by Anne Rice

Frightening world of vampires as told to a young boy who tapes the story on cassette. Follows the fortunes of Louis, a gentle vampire; Lestat, a vengeful and bloodthirsty vampire; and Claudia, a little demon with the face of a doll. 1976.

Troy Arndt, Circulation Clerk

DB 89005 My absolute darling by Gabriel Tallent

Since her mother's death, fourteen-year-old Turtle has been isolated. She keeps to herself at school and roams the woods near her Northern California home. Things change when she meets Jacob and realizes the treacherous life she shares with her father must change. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

Nataly Renfro, Machine Clerk

DB 110476 Final heir by Faith Hunter

"Jane Yellowrock is the queen of the vampires, and that makes her a target as she fights to maintain control and keep peace in the city of New Orleans. She has enemies at every turn, because vampires live forever, and they keep their grudges alive with them. That includes the Heir, the vampire sire of the Pellissier bloodline, which gave rise to Leo Pellissier himself-Jane's old boss and the former master of the city. With the Heir and all the forces of darkness he can muster arrayed against her, Jane will need all the help she can get. She'll find it in her city, her friends, her found family, and, of course, the Beast inside of her." -- Provided by publisher. -- Some violence, some strong language and some descriptions of sex.

Maggie Witte, Outreach Librarian

DB 121430 Avenging angel by Kristen Ashley

"Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world's wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel. And maybe she's a bit too cocky about it. While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien "Cap" Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he's a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch. It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye's the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap. As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world. But there's a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they've become very interested. Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren't taking it seriously. Raye believes someone should. So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue."-- From publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 120986 Creed by Kristen Ashley

"As children, Tucker Creed and his neighbor Sylvie Bissenette find they have something awful in common. The bond they form blossoms with their ages. Creed breaks free from the town, and Sylvie is forced to endure a nightmare-- and do the unspeakable to end it. To deal, she develops a hard shell with sharp edges that very few can break through. When Creed again finds his Sylvie, he discovers he has to find his way back into her heart without getting shredded in the process."-- From publisher.  -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 120987 Sebring by Kristen Ashley

"Nick Sebring has issues. Born feeling like an outsider in his own family, growing up under the shadow of a brother who could do anything, Nick isn't that great of a guy. But when this culminates with Nick lashing out to hurt his brother through the woman he loves, Nick turns inward and makes some decisions about the man he intends to be. And as he does this, he falls in love and truly learns the man that he's grown to be. When his love is murdered right before Nick's eyes, Nick knows he has to avenge her. He knows how he's going to avenge her. And he has no qualms using Olivia Shade to exact that vengeance. Olivia Shade has grown up on the outside of her family too. Her problem is that they don't want her outside. They want her all the way in, right under their thumbs. She pays the price for seeking escape and learns her lesson--she'll never see a dawn where she wakes up free. Then she meets Nick Sebring, and even as she fights it, the hope that died years ago starts to blossom. She can find love. She can have a man of her own. She can be happy. She can be free. Olivia hopes while Nick schemes. However, as Nick peels back the layers of all that is Olivia Shade, he finds something surprising. He understands its fragility. He falls in love with its beauty. He seeks to protect it. But he forgets to protect his Livvie from one thing: Nick Sebring"--Back cover.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 119074 Taking the leap by Kristen Ashley

"Alexandra Sharp has been crushing on her coworker John "Rix" Hendrix for years. He's her perfect man, she knows it. She's just not his perfect woman, and she knows that, too. Then Rix gives Alex a hint that maybe there's a spark between them, that if she takes the leap, she might be able to fan into a flame. This leads to a crash and burn, and that's all shy Alex needs to catch the hint never to take the risk again. However, with undeniable timing, Rix's ex, who broke his heart, and Alex's family, who spent her lifetime breaking hers, rear their heads, gearing up to offer more drama. With the help of some matchmaking friends, Rix and Alex decide to face the onslaught together.... As a fake couple." -- Provided by publisher.  -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 119383 Fighting the pull by Kristen Ashley

"Hale Wheeler inherited billions from his father. He's decided to take those resources and change the world for the better. He's married to his mission, so he doesn't have time for love. There's more lurking behind this decision. He hasn't faced the tragic loss of his father, or the bitterness of his parents' divorce. He doesn't intend to follow in his father's footsteps, breaking a woman's heart in a way it will never mend. So he vows he'll never marry. But Hale is intrigued when he meets Elsa Cohen, the ambitious celebrity news journalist who has been reporting on his famous family. He warns her off, but she makes him a deal. She'll pull back in exchange for an exclusive interview. Elsa Cohen is married to her career, but she wants love, marriage, children. She also wants the impossibly handsome, fiercely loyal, tenderhearted Hale Wheeler. They go head-to-head, both denying why there are fireworks every time they meet. But once they understand their undeniable attraction, Elsa can't help but fall for the dynamic do-gooder. As for Hale, he knows he needs to fight the pull of the beautiful, bold, loving Elsa Cohen, because breaking her would crush him." -- Provided by publisher.  -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 110785 Dream maker by Kristen Ashley

"Evie is a bona fide nerd and a hyperintelligent chick who has only ever been able to rely on herself. So when she decides to earn an engineering degree, she takes a job dancing at Smithie's club to make the tuition money she needs. But between her lack of dancing skills and an alpha bad boy who becomes overly protective, Evie realizes this gig might not be as easy as she thought. Daniel "Mag" Magnusson knows a thing or two about pain, but the mask he wears is excellent. No one can tell that this good-looking, quick-witted, and roguish guy has deep-seated issues. Mag puts on a funny-guy routine so he can hide his broken heart and PTSD. But when Evie dances her way into Mag's life, he realizes that he needs to come face-to-face with the demons of his past if he wants a future with her." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 112337 Dream chaserby Kristen Ashley

"Ryn Jansen has no interest in taking a risk on Boone Sadler. Thanks to a long list of men who've done nothing but let her down, Ryn vows to stay far away from the caring, protective commando. And when Boone confronts Ryn with evidence that her loved ones are conning her, Ryn is less than thrilled -with her family and Boone. But even as Boone proves he's the kind of guy to meet her every need, she doesn't trust him to stay when life gets hard ... Boone Sadler's never been one to back down from a challenge. He's determined to show the funny, sexy Ryn that the irresistible connection between them is worth exploring. But caring for Ryn's heart and body becomes a matter of life and death when Ryn's beloved niece and nephew are put in danger and dirty cops begin gunning for Ryn. Soon Boone realizes their romance is in danger of more than heartbreak -and to have any future together, they'll have to put their trust in each other." -- Provided by publisher.  -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

High school can be the best time of your life, the total opposite where you can’t wit to leave, or middle of the road. No matter which it is for you, there’s no doubt that there is some sort of drama going down at some point, be it small disagreements, large throw-down arguments, or physical aggressions. Don’t forget about the social hierarchy and the cliques. There’s a reason books are so often set in school with so rich a source of inspiration.

But as much as there is drama, it’s a great time to make friends, live in the present while keeping an eye on the future, and learn about yourself in the process. We’ll help prep you for the new school year with a selection of great books all set in high school. Each one is different, with their own kinds of drama and not always the most realistic. However, the interactions between characters come from experience as well as creativity. Check out these books as the first day of school draws near.

Are you and your family running around trying to get everything prepped for the new school year? Take a break with BARD where each of these books can be downloaded with just a few taps on your mobile device or some clicks on your computer. BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, is a web-based download service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books that makes accessing the books and other materials in our collection easy and available at your fingertips. To learn more, visit our website at https://kslib.info/talking or contact us at 1-800-362-3699 or KTB@ks.gov. We are happy to guide you through getting BARD set up on your smart device or using your computer. BARD lets you read what you when you want it.

DB 79573 The nightmare affair by Mindee Arnett

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, sixteen-year-old Destiny "Dusty" Everhart feeds on the dreams of others. When she sees a murder in hot, bad boy Eli Booker's dream, the two search for a killer. Some violence. For senior high and older readers. 2013.

DB 82401 The fixer by Jennifer Barnes

When her grandfather develops dementia, Tess, a high school junior who runs his Montana ranch, is whisked away to Washington, D. C., by a sister she barely knows and thrown into a world of politics and power. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2015.

DB 66621 I’d tell you I love you, but then I’d have to kill you by Ally Carter

Sophomore Cameron Morgan attends the Gallagher Academy--a girls' school for secret agents, where her mother is the headmistress. On a covert training mission in town, Cammie meets Josh, a cute and ordinary boy, and arranges to see him again. For junior and senior high readers. 2006.

DB 117544 True true by Don P. Hooper

"When Gil, a Black teen from Brooklyn, struggles to fit in at his primarily white Manhattan prep school, he wages a clandestine war against the racist administration, parents, and students, while working with other Black students to ensure their voices are finally heard. This is not how seventeen-year-old Gil imagined beginning his senior year--on the subway dressed in a tie and khakis headed towards Manhattan instead of his old public school in Brooklyn. Augustin Prep may only be a borough away, but the exclusive private school feels like it's a different world entirely compared to Gil's predominately Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn. If it weren't for the partial scholarship, the school's robotic program and the chance for a better future, Gil wouldn't have even considered going. Then after a racist run-in with the school's golden boy on the first day ends in a fight that leaves only Gil suspended, Gil understands the truth about his new school--Augustin may pay lip service to diversity, but that isn't the same as truly accepting him and the other Black students as equal. But Gil intends to leave his mark on Augustin anyway. If the school isn't going to carve out a space for him, he will carve it out for himself. Using Sun Tzu's The Art of War as his guide, Gil wages his own clandestine war against the racist administration, parents and students, and works with the other Black students to ensure their voices are finally heard. But the more enmeshed Gil becomes in school politics, the more difficult it becomes to balance not only his life at home with his friends and family, but a possible new romance with a girl he'd move mountains for. In the end, his war could cost him everything he wants the most." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 116765 The making of Yolanda la Bruja by Lorraine Avila

"Yolanda Alvarez is having a good year. She's starting to feel at home at Julia De Burgos High, her school in the Bronx. She has her best friend Victory, and maybe something with José, a senior boy she's getting to know. She's confident her initiation into her family's bruja tradition will happen soon. But then a white boy, the son of a politician, appears at Julia De Burgos High, and his vibes are off. And Yolanda's initiation begins with a series of troubling visions of the violence this boy threatens. How can Yolanda protect her community, in a world that doesn't listen? Only with the wisdom and love of her family, friends, and community--and the Brujas Diosas, her ancestors and guides." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 116591 Their vicious games by Joelle Wellington 

"Eighteen-year-old Adina Walker, a scholarship student at a prestigious academy, faces the consequences of a single mistake and competes in a high-stakes contest hosted by the wealthy Remington family, where she uncovers unsettling truths about the sponsors and the contest's high stakes." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 113468 Imposter syndrome and other confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park

"Alejandra Kim doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere. At her wealthy Manhattan high school, her super Spanish name and super Korean face do not compute to her mostly white "woke" classmates and teachers. In her Jackson Heights neighborhood, she's not Latinx enough. Even at home, Ale feels unwelcome. And things at home have only gotten worse since Papi's body was discovered on the subway tracks. Ale wants nothing more than to escape the city for the wide-open spaces of the prestigious Wyder University. But when a microaggression at school thrusts Ale into the spotlight--and into a discussion she didn't ask for--Ale must discover what is means to carve out a space for yourself to belong." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 111542 The fill-in boyfriend by Kasie West

"When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend Bradley dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she decides to do the unthinkable: convince the cute guy waiting to pick up his sister to pretend to be her boyfriend for the night. Will Gia turn her fake boyfriend into a real one without exposing her lie and possibly destroying her friendships and her newfound relationship?" -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 110117 Nothing more to tell by Karen M. McManus

"Brynn Gallagher uses her internship at a new true crime show to investigate the unsolved murder of her favorite teacher, uncovering secrets about her school, her teacher, and her ex-best friend in the process." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 108455 Blaine for the win by Robbie Couch

"After his boyfriend Joey breaks up with him to pursue more "serious" guys, Blaine decides to run for senior class president as Joey's successor to prove his worth. But is Blaine willing to sacrifice everything about himself to do it?" -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2022.

DB 102535 The escape of light by Fred Venturini

Teenage burn survivor Wilder Tate faces the challenges of high school but in the aftermath of tragedy he discovers the capacity to forgive and empathize, learning the importance of healing from the inside out. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2019.

DB 101776 This is my brain in love by I. W. Gregorio

Rising high school juniors Jocelyn Wu and Will Domenici fall in love while trying to save the Wu family restaurant, A-Plus Chinese Garden. Meanwhile, mental health issues and family prejudices threaten their budding romance. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2020.

DB 106638 In every generation by Kendare Blake

As Frankie learns magic from her mother, Willow, a new student shows up at New Sunnydale High School with news that the annual Slayer convention has been the target of an attack. Frankie must become a slayer-witch, prevent the Hellmouth from opening again, and find out what happened to her aunt Buffy. Strong language and some violence. For senior high and older readers. 2022.

DB 112060 Highly suspicious and unfairly cute by Talia Hibbert

"Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He's a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine. Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption--yet, she's still not cool enough for the popular kids' table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that's how Celine sees it.) These days, there's nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she's surprised to find Brad right beside her. Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?" -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

<DB 117037 Destination anywhere by Sara Barnard

"Peyton King has always wanted to belong. She seizes the opportunity to start over at a new school and finally finds real connections with the friends she's always dreamed of and even an actual boyfriend! But after flying high in her newfound happiness, Peyton comes crashing down when reality sets in and the ones she cares about let her down. Peyton's friends can't fix her and she can't help them if they won't let her. If she wants to find real, lasting happiness, Peyton will have to search somewhere else. With nothing but her sketchpad and a backpack, she buys a one-way ticket and gets on a plane. How far will she go to change her story?" -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

Olympic games originated in ancient Greece around the 6^th century BCE, occurring every four years as do our modern Olympics. The first Olympics started with a foot race, but, as more sports were included, the games expanded to cover four days with a fifth for a closing ceremony (Britannica, 2024). However, the Olympics ended in the late 4^th century CE and were revived after much interest in the 19^th century. In both ancient times and our modern world, truces are observed throughout the Olympic Games so that the athletes and people from around the world can come together as a symbol of peace.

There are many sports included in the Summer Olympics. Here are just a few of the sports: archery, basketball, beach volleyball, diving, equestrian, cycling, golf, swimming, and much more. You can find a complete list on the Olympics website: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports. We’ve gathered a list of books about sports included in the Olympics. Learn about these sports and the individuals associated with them.

Don’t miss a single book from this list: they are all available on BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download web-based download repository. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books provide BARD so that our patrons have access to almost all the digital audio and braille books and magazines in the collection. These books can be downloaded in about a minute with a couple of taps using BARD Mobile on an Android or Apple smart device. You can also download books from the website or BARD Express desktop application (Windows only) to a flash drive that will play using the USB port on the side of the digital talking book machine. If you would like more information, contact our office by phone at 1-800-362-0699 or by email at KTB@ks.gov.

Sources

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, June 28). ancient Olympic Games. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games

Sakavitsi, K. (2024, January 11). The history of the Olympic Games. Olympics. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://olympics.com/en/news/the-history-of-the-olympic-games

Paris 2024 Olympic sports. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports

Swimming

DB 56039 Gold in the water: the true story of ordinary men and their extraordinary dream of Olympic glory by P. H. Mullen

Chronicles the arduous years of training of the 2000 U.S. Olympic swim team that led to victory in Australia. Follows coach Dick Jochums and his athletes, including two asthmatics who overcame their medical problems to succeed. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

DB 118959 The watermen: the birth of American swimming and one young man’s fight to capture Olympic gold by Michael Loynd

"In the early twentieth century, few Americans knew how to swim, and swimming as a competitive sport was almost unheard of. That is, until Charles Daniels took to the water. On the surface, young Charles had it all: high-society parents, a place at an exclusive New York City prep school, summer vacations in the Adirondacks. But the scrawny teenager suffered from extreme anxiety thanks to a sadistic father who mired the family in bankruptcy and scandal before abandoning Charles and his mother altogether. Charles's only source of joy was swimming. But with no one to teach him, he struggled with technique-until he caught the eye of two immigrant coaches hell-bent on building a U.S. swim program that could rival the British Empire's seventy-year domination of the sport. Interwoven with the story of Charles's efforts to overcome his family's disgrace is the compelling history of the struggle to establish the modern Olympics in an era when competitive sports were still in their infancy. When the powerful British Empire finally legitimized the Games by hosting the fourth Olympiad in 1908, Charles's hard-fought rise climaxed in a gold-medal race where British judges prepared a trap to ensure the American upstart's defeat. Set in the early days of a rapidly changing twentieth century, The Watermen-a term used at the time to describe men skilled in water sports-tells an engrossing story of grit, of the growth of a major new sport in which Americans would prevail, and of a young man's determination to excel." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Gymnastics

DB 23706 Mary Lou: creating an Olympic champion by Mary Lou Retton

The popular winner of gymnastics competition in the 1984 Olympics tells how it is possible to achieve excellence in any field. Her message is that natural ability is only half the battle; hard work and mental toughness are equally important. Includes chapters by both coach and pupil.

DB 91675 Letters to a young gymnast by Nadia Comaneci

Reflections on her career by the legendary gymnast who was the first person to score a perfect 10. 0 in Olympic competition. Topics covered include dedication, strength, courage, pressure, goals, dreams, triumphs, challenges, and love. Pays particular attention to living under a totalitarian regime as a celebrated figure. 2004.

Basketball

DB 107588 Coach K.: the rise and reign of Mike Kryzewski by Ian O’Connor

Biography of Mike Krzyzewski, known worldwide as "Coach K," who led the Duke basketball program for more than four decades. The author had unprecedented access to Krzyzewski's best friends, closest advisers, fiercest adversaries, and generations of his players and assistants. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

DB 116763 When the game was war: the NBA’s greatest season by Rich Cohen

"The 1980s were a transformative decade for the NBA. Since its founding in 1946, the league had evolved from a bruising, earthbound game of mostly nameless, underpaid players to one in which athletes became household names for their thrilling, physics-defying play. The 1987 season was the peak of that golden era, a year of incredible drama that featured a pantheon of superstars in their prime-the most Hall of Famers competing at one time in any given season-battling for the title, and for their respective legacies. In When the Game Was War, bestselling author Rich Cohen tells the story of this incredible season through the four teams, and the four players, who dominated it: Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers, Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons, and a young Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls. Taking the reader from rural Indiana to the southside of Chicago, suburban North Carolina to rust-belt Michigan, Cohen explores the diverse journeys each of these iconic players took before arriving on the big stage. Drawing from dozens of interviews with NBA insiders, Cohen brings to vivid life some of the most colorful characters of the era-like Bill Laimbeer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Danny Ainge, and Charles Oakley-who fought like hell to help these stars succeed. In the decades since, the NBA has grown into a multi-billion-dollar organization, with rabid fans all over the globe. For anyone who longs to understand how the NBA came to be the cultural juggernaut it is today-and to relive the magic and turmoil of those pivotal years-When the Game Was War brilliantly recasts one unforgettable season and the four transcendent players who were at the center of it all." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 93941 The mamba mentality: how I play by Kobe Bryant

The former basketball star, who retired in 2016 after playing for the Los Angeles Lakers for twenty years, discusses his career. He shares details of his workout schedules, mental preparations, and technical descriptions of how he approached the game. Bestseller.  2018.

Cycling

DB 109033 Two wheels good: the history and mystery of the bicycle by Jody Rosen

"The bicycle is a vestige of the Victorian era, seemingly at odds with our age of smartphones and ride-sharing apps and driverless cars. Yet we live on a bicycle planet. Across the world, more people travel by bicycle than any other form of transportation. Almost anyone can learn to ride a bike--and nearly everyone does. In Two Wheels Good, journalist and critic Jody Rosen reshapes our understanding of this ubiquitous machine, an ever-present force in humanity's life and dream life--and a flash point in culture wars--for more than two hundred years. Combining history, reportage, travelogue, and memoir, Rosen's book sweeps across centuries and around the globe, unfolding the bicycle's saga from its invention in 1817 to its present-day renaissance as a "green machine," an emblem of sustainability in a world afflicted by pandemic and climate change. Readers meet unforgettable characters: feminist rebels who steered bikes to the barricades in the 1890s, a prospector who pedaled across the frozen Yukon to join the Klondike gold rush, a Bhutanese king who races mountain bikes in the Himalayas, a cycle-rickshaw driver who navigates the seething streets of the world's fastest-growing megacity, astronauts who ride a floating bicycle in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station. Two Wheels Good examines the bicycle's past and peers into its future, challenging myths and cliche´s while uncovering cycling's connection to colonial conquest and the gentrification of cities. But the book is also a love letter: a reflection on the sensual and spiritual pleasures of bike riding and an ode to an engineering marvel--a wondrous vehicle whose passenger is also its engine." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Some descriptions of sex, strong language, some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

Golf

DB 67147 The match: the day the game of golf changed forever by Mark Frost

Recreates a 1956 California golf match, arranged on a bet by millionaires Eddie Lowery and George Coleman, that pitted amateurs Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi against professionals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and changed golf from amateur pastime to career sport. Details the evolution of the game in America. 2007.

DB 113478 The greatest game ever played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the birth of modern golf by Mark Frost

"THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED is the story of Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon, who in pursuit of their passion for a game that captivated them as children, broke down rigid social barriers that made their sport accessible to everyone on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, positioning golf as one of the most widely played games in the world. Ouimet and Vardon were two men from different generations and vastly different corners of the world whose lives, unbeknownst to them at the time, bore remarkable similarities, setting them on parallel paths that led with a kind of fated inevitability to their epic battle at Brookline years in the future. This collision resulted in the 'big bang' that gave rise to the sport of golf as we know it today. For Mark Frost, Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon represent everything that's right about sports in general and sportsmen in particular; gentlemen, champions, teachers, leaders, and each in their own quiet way, heroes. In THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED, Frost attempts to create penetrating studies of both of these men, along with over dozens of the game's seminal figures, within the dramatic framework offered by the tournament when they finally met, one of the most thrilling sports events in history, the 1913 U.S. Open." -- Provided by publisher.  --   Commercial audiobook.

Rowing

DB 77138 The boys in the boat: nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel Brown

Recounts the accomplishments of nine working-class athletes from the University of Washington who beat elite teams at home and abroad and won the gold medal for rowing at the 1936 Nazi-orchestrated Berlin Olympics. Bestseller. 2013.

Surfing

DB 78134 The world in the curl: an unconventional history of surfing by Peter J. Westwick

A sociological history of surfing, from its ancient roots in the Hawaiian islands to its move from counterculture popularity into the middle-class mainstream. Discusses the best places to catch a big wave, technological improvements to surfboards and wetsuits, and environmental concerns. 2013.

Fencing

DB 57237 By the sword: a history of gladiators, musketeers, samurai, swashbucklers, and Olympic champions by Rich Cohen

British Olympic fencer details the history of sword fighting from ancient Egyptian times to the twenty-first century. Includes anecdotes about noted warriors, politicians, and actors who wielded the sword; ponders the sociology of dueling--including cheating; and details the art of blade making. Some violence. 2002.

Boxing

DB 82525 The domino diaries: my decade boxing with Olympic champions and chasing Hemingway’s ghost in the last days of Castro’s Cuba by Brin-Jonathan Butler

Writer, filmmaker, and avid boxer Butler traveled to Cuba to write about the national boxing team. This memoir weaves in his personal experiences visiting Havana over the years with stories about Cuban athletes who forgo wealth to remain on the island. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2015.

DB 24209 The black lights: inside the world of professional boxing by Thomas Hauser

The author follows superlightweight boxer Billy Costello during a three-month period ending November 3, 1985, when he successfully defended his World Boxing Council crown. Offers a vivid portrait of the life of a professional boxer. Some strong language.

Tennis

DB 89048 Unstoppable: my life so far by Maria Sharapova

A memoir from tennis champion Maria Sharapova. Maria arrived in Florida from Russia with her father at the age of seven; neither spoke any English. She recounts her youth spent training, her first win at Wimbledon at seventeen, and her fight to get back on the court. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

DB 104721 The master: the long run and beautiful game of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey

A sportswriter profiles the Swiss-born tennis legend, based on his reportage of Federer's long career and interviews with his subject and the many rivals he played against, such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

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Most popular talking books on BARD July 2024

• DB120798 A calamity of souls by Baldacci, David
• DB 85796 Hillbilly elegy: a memoir of a family and culture in crisis by Vance, J. D
• DB121247 Think twice by Coben, Harlan
• DB121646 The 24th hour by Patterson, James & Paetro, Maxine
   
• DB121429 Only the brave by Steel, Danielle
• DB121769 Eruption by Patterson, James & Crichton, Michael
   
• DB120803 The pact by Castillo, Linda
• DB119313 The locked door by McFadden, Freida
• DB121139 Table for five by Wiggs, Susan
• DB120802 Murder Inn by Patterson, James & Fox, Candice
   
• DB118858 Basic training for NVDA by NV Access
• DB121568 Camino ghosts by Grisham, John
• DB120867 Skeleton road by McDermid, Val

Most popular audio magazine on BARD July 2024

• The Week July 26, 2024
• Atlantic Monthly July, 2024
• Reader's Digest July, 2024
• Economist June 29, 2024
• Contemporary Soundtrack July, 2024
• Horticulture: For Gardeners Everywhere July, 2024
• People July 22, 2024
• Consumer Reports July, 2024
• Consumer Reports: On Health July, 2024
• Audubon December, 2023
• Health and Nutrition June, 2024
• American Indian March, 2024
• Harvard Women's Health Watch July, 2024

Find a list of available magazines on the NLS website.