16th-century classic by brilliant humanist, churchman and scholar envisioned a patriarchal island kingdom that practiced religious tolerance, in which everybody worked, all goods were community-owned, and violence, bloodshed and vice were nonexistent. Forerunner of many later attempts at establishing "Utopias" both in theory and in practice.

When they opened their first store in 1977, Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca's mission was to spread the gospel of good eating. Today the very name Dean & DeLuca conjures up visions of the holy land for seekers of fine cheeses, charcuterie, and fresh-baked artisan breads. In Dean & DeLuca: The Food and Wine Cookbook, D&D wine director Jeff Morgan celebrates the sublime marriage of D&D's original old-world concept—offering top-quality international culinary selections—and the influence of California's diverse wines. Beginning with a veritable "California Wine 101" course, Morgan details a concise history of California winemaking from pre-gold rush days through the dry gulch of Prohibition and onward to glory in the 1980s. Also included are primers on the chief varietals and the basics of pairing wine with food. The recipes, which range from uncomplicated to fairly ambitious, and from economical to downright indulgent, are both inventive and inviting. Simple dishes like Chilled Yellow Tomato Soup with Guacamole, and Fish Soup with Artichoke Hearts and Artichoke Aioli highlight the best of California's bounty, while Lobster, Cabernet, and Shitake Soup, or Caviar Soufflé provide opportunities to revel in the elegant. Clever twists on more usual dishes are also well represented: Chile-Pecan Chicken Breasts with Honey Mustard Glaze, Garlic Pork Chops with Sauvignon Beurre Blanc, and Saffron Chardonnay Risotto offer welcome variety. Not all of the recipes include wine as an ingredient, but each includes helpful wine-pairing suggestions. All in all, this book provides a handy recipe for embracing the good life by celebrating the best of food and wine. —Robin Donovan

A #1 Bestseller in Australia and Book Sense 76 Pick

Life is pretty complicated for Elizabeth Clarry. Her best friend Celia keeps disappearing, her absent father suddenly reappears, and her communication with her mother consists entirely of wacky notes left on the fridge. On top of everything else, because her English teacher wants to rekindle the "Joy of the Envelope," a Complete and Utter Stranger knows more about Elizabeth than anyone else.

But Elizabeth is on the verge of some major changes. She may lose her best friend, find a wonderful new friend, kiss the sexiest guy alive, and run in a marathon.
So much can happen in the time it takes to write a letter...

A #1 bestseller in Australia, this fabulous debut is a funny, touching, revealing story written entirely in the form of letters, messages, postcards—and bizarre missives from imaginary organizations like The Cold Hard Truth Association.

Feeling Sorry for Celia captures, with rare acuity, female friendship and the bonding and parting that occurs as we grow. Jaclyn Moriarty's hilariously candid novel shows that the roller coaster ride of being a teenager is every bit as fun as we remember—and every bit as harrowing.

Popular Aussie writer Jaclyn Moriarty, author of the smash debut, Feeling Sorry for Celia avoids the notorious sophomore slump with this bouncy epistolary follow-up that is brimming with self-confidence and charm. In The Year of Secret Assignments, a tenth grade English teacher attempts to unite feuding schools by launching a pen-pal project. Best friends Cassie, Emily and Lydia initiate the correspondence, and are answered by Matthew, Charlie and Seb. Emily and Lydia are more than pleased with their matches, but quiet Cassie has a frightening experience with Matthew. When Lydia and Emily discover that Matthew has threatened their fragile friend, the Ashbury girls close ranks, declaring an all-out war on the Brookfield boys. Soon, the couples are caught up in everything from car-jacking and lock-picking, to undercover spying and identity theft.

Moriarty’s captivating comedy of manners reads like a breezy 21st century version of Jane Austen—with no end of ridiculous misunderstandings, angst-ridden speeches, and heartfelt make-ups. Female teen fans of Ann Brasheres' The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Megan McCafferty's Sloppy Firsts will waste no time swapping copies of The Year of Secret Assignments, with all their best buds. (Ages 12 and up) —Jennifer Hubert

A cat book unlike any other: a fresh, fact-filled look at their affections, their aggressions, and their life cycles. Morris explains your cat's most curious habits. Companion volume to Dogwatching. Line art throughout.

The challenges facing mothers in the twenty-first century go well beyond tantrum control and potty training. Camille Peri and Kate Moses, the founding editors of Salon.com's "Mothers Who Think" column and the subsequent anthology of the same name, have once again compiled a selection of intimate and fiercely honest essays on the profound issues that affect women and their children.

Because I Said So offers thirty-three unique perspectives on motherhood from such writers as Janet Fitch, Mariane Pearl, Ayelet Waldman, Mary Roach, Rosellen Brown, Mary Morris, and Ana Castillo. Witty and wise, their stories range from the anguish of giving up child custody to the guilt of having sex in an era of sexless marriages; from learning to love the full-speed testosterone chaos of boys to raising girls in a pervasively sexualized culture; from facing racial and religious intolerance to surviving cancer and rap simultaneously. This is the collective voice of real mothers in all their humor, anger, vulnerability, grace, and glory.

In Vegan with a Vengeance, Isa Chandra Moskowitz, cohost of the vegan cooking show, The Post Punk Kitchen, brings the do-it-yourself, community-driven ethos of punk rock into the kitchen. Her cooking philosophy embraces being kind to animals (all recipes are completely animal-product free) and your wallet—while being creative and having fun in the process. She emphasizes fresh ingredients over heavily processed corporate brand-name foods and says that, like good music, cooking is best when it's an innovative, experimental, and completely real experience. Her inspired recipes—covering all meals of the day and influenced by dishes from around the world—include:

Asparagus and Sun-dried Tomato Frittata—Fresh Mango Summer Rolls—Pumpkin Waffles—Tofu Dill Salad Sammiches—Green Goddess Garlic Pizza—Sweet Potato Crepes with Cilantro-Tamarind Sauce—Brooklyn Pad Thai—Banana Split Pudding Brownies—Fauxstess Cups—Gingerbread Apple Pie

PLUS: - Lists of essential tools and post punk pantry items - Suitable substitutes for those without all the fancy kitchen gear and ingredients - Inventive twists on classic dishes - Handy resources for vegans and punks - The story of The Post Punk Kitchen - Rockin' recipe intros and descriptions - Even fun facts and tips from Isa's cat, Fizzle!

The hosts of the vegan cooking show The Post Punk Kitchen are back with a vengeance — and this time, dessert. A companion volume to Vegan with a Vengeance, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World is a sweet and sassy guide to baking everyone's favorite treat without using any animal products. This unique cookbook contains over 50 recipes for cupcakes and frostings — some innovative, some classics — with beautiful full color photographs. Isa and Terry offer delicious, cheap, dairy-free, egg-free and vegan-friendly recipes like Classic Vanilla Cupcakes (with chocolate frosting), Crimson Velveteen Cupcakes (red velvet with creamy white frosting), Linzer Torte Cupcakes (hazelnut with raspberry and chocolate ganache), Chai Latte Cupcakes (with powdered sugar) and Banana Split Cupcakes (banana-chocolate chip-pineapple with fluffy frosting). Included also are gluten-free recipes, decorating tips, baking guidelines, vegan shopping advice, and Isa's true cupcake anecdotes from the trenches. When Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, no dessert lover can resist.

Fun, smart, empowered, and still cute as a bug—that—that's the Hello Kitty of the 21st century. For more than 25 years, Hello Kitty's familiar cartoon face has graced T-shirts, purses, pencils, stickers, advertisements, and books, to the never-ceasing delight of girls and teens. Now, with the onset of grrrl power, Hello Kitty has become more than just another pretty face. She's cool, she's studious, she's creative, she exudes personal style. This little book of big ideas is designed to inspire and motivate girls to become the fashionable, confident, clever captains of their own destiny. Packed with hints and tips, the guide features such chapters as "Witty Kitty" (Hello Kitty urges girls to broaden their brainpower and keep on learning), "Castle Chic" (keeping bedrooms clean, organized, and regularly redecorated), and "Pal Power" (how to be a great friend). There are also plenty of beauty makeover ideas, suggestions for sleepover activities, and extra-simple recipes ("Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on a bowl of hot popcorn," "Personalize a peanut butter sandwich by adding sliced banana"). Browse at will or read the book cover to cover—either way, girls will find "a galaxyful of fun-to-follow tips and tricks for getting the most out of all that you do." Move over, Martha Stewart! (Ages 8 to 12) —Emilie Coulter

Ryan is a university student dealing with the normal problems of a 22-year-old guy — shyness, virginity, weird roommates, and a massive crush on Cassandra, a waitress at his local greasy spoon. (Oh, and a freakish ability to change into a fly.) When he finally gets up the nerve to ask Cassandra for a date, he learns that the two have more in common than they first thought. (Turns out that Cassandra can make things disappear.)

Sharing their secrets for the first time, Ryan and Cassandra realize they were made for each other...and to battle forces of evil! Inspired by Sailor Moon, they team up to fight the villians in their own backyard, taking on cigarette barons, right wing newspapers, and the overzealous local police. But can the Superheroes for Social Justice transform the world in time? Find out in...

For some of us, moviegoing is an occasional pleasure. Kevin Murphy made it his obsession, and he did it for you.

Mr. Murphy, known to legions of fans as Tom Servo on the legendary TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000, went to the movies every day for a year. That's every single day, people. For a whole fricken' year. And not only did he endure, he prevailed — for this is the hilarious, poignant, fascinating journal of his adventures: the first book about the movies from the audience's point of view.

Kevin went to the multiplex, sure. But he didn't stop there. He found the world's smallest commercial movie theater. Another one made completely of ice. Checked out flicks in a tin-roofed hut in the South Pacific. Tooled across the desert from drive-in to drive-in in a groovy convertible. Lived for a week solely on theater food. Took six different women to the same date movie. Dressed up as a nun for the Sing-Along Sound of Music in London. Sneaked into the Cannes and Sundance film festivals. Smuggled an entire Thanksgiving dinner into a movie theater. And saw hundreds of films, from the Arctic Circle to the Equator, from the sublime to the unspeakable. Come along on a joyous global celebration of the cinema with a man on a mission — to spend A Year at the Movies.

This provocative analysis of women's relationships with their bodies, including sexuality, rape, and prostitution, reclaims the word "cunt" as a positive force in the movement to unite and empower women.