In honor of Black History month, the following new titles are recommended. color by Kenneth A. McClane is a collection of essays by Cornell University's W.E.B.

     As Valentine's Day approaches, many turn their thoughts to their partner or their search for one.  Some people need a little encouragement to get in the romantic mood.  For inspiration on happy marriages, try Everlasting matrimony: pearls of wisdom from couples married 50 years or more by Sheryl P.

    Ready to tackle some of the easier repairs on your car?  Try some of these! To get a nice, clear presentation with appropriate charts and photos, Auto upkeep: basic car care, maintenance, and repair by Michael E. and Linda E. Gray, 2nd edition, is a good choice.  Steps and troublespots are clearly set out and price guides give reasonable maintenance and repair budgets.

      For the past several weeks I have listened to the CD format of the book The girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson during my commute.  The narrator was excellent--I completely forgot about him, although I can't speak to his ability with the Swedish language.  The story kept me fascinated from beginning to end.  One caveat--this is a gritty read. It has all the factors which usually drive me away from an author--extreme violence, language, sex, and more.