Monday, August 1, 2011

New Book Release: The Targums

The Targums: A Critical Introduction by Paul V.M. Flesher and Bruce Chilton

The value and significance of the targums—translations of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, the language of Palestinian Jews for centuries following the Babylonian Exile—lie in their approach to translation: within a typically literal rendering of a text, they incorporate extensive exegetical material, additions, and paraphrases. These alterations reveal important information about Second Temple Judaism, its interpretation of its bible, and its beliefs.

This remarkable survey introduces critical knowledge and insights that have emerged over the past sixty years, including targum manuscripts discovered this century and targums known in Aramaic but only recently translated into English. Prolific scholars Flesher and Chilton guide readers in understanding the development of the targums, their relationship to the Hebrew Bible, their dates, their language, their place in the history of Christianity and Judaism, and their theologies and methods of interpretation.

New Book Release: The Handy Presidents

The Handy Presidents Answer Book by David L. Hudson, Jr.

Offering an engaging overview of the U.S. presidency and all past presidents, this valuable tome asks a variety of questions, from the trivial to the topical, that further expands one's understanding of America's highest office. With an intriguing range of questions about religious affiliations, unusual backgrounds, and tidbits of odd trivia--from "Which president killed a man in a duel?" to "Who was the first Baptist to become president?"--this reference also covers former presidential candidates, first ladies, key appointments, and election results. Revealing important answers to foreign policy questions and decisions made during times of war, as well as presidential actions in times of economic boom and bust, isolationism and expansion, and economic policies and unusual anecdotes, this fun and absorbing anthology provides a thorough overview of more than 200 years of U.S. presidents.

New Book Release: Winging It

Winging It by Sandra Sookoo

Devlin Addams has recently returned home from Afghanistan. Haunted by memories that he survived the fighting while his buddies didn't, as well as chased by the knowledge his mom is crazy, he’s having trouble acclimating himself to civilian life. Now, armed with a dog and a therapist, he constantly battles the urge to end it all.

Lia Farry—because her Fae name is a mouthful—has tumbled into the Mortal Realm through the Veil between worlds by mysterious circumstances. Thrust into a new and harsh human existence, finding anything to be happy about is hard. If she can’t go home, she’ll have to make it work.

Forced to interact, Dev’s protective instincts kick in, but he’s unprepared for the onslaught of lust Lia represents. He wants a normal life but not at the expense of getting involved. Lia knows she soothes his torment yet she’s battling her own problems. Desiring Dev is a dangerous prospect. Add in a meddling Fae queen and suddenly life as they know it will change forever. Love is at stake. A leap of faith is all they have to depend on.