Dancing in the Fountain:
How to Enjoy Living Abroad
Karen McCann
(Cafe Society Press, $13.95)
Put the fears of living abroad aside. Karen McCann, who lived in Cleveland for 20 years before making the move to Spain, insists that with a sense of humor and respect for other cultures, anyone can move to foreign lands. Through personal experiences, including embarrassing language barriers and spending an evening doing just as the title suggests, McCann turns the doubts of living abroad into positive learning experiences that will send the reader packing. // Rachel Hagenbaugh
The Master's muse
Varley O'Connor
(Simon & Schuster, $25)
Kent State professor Varley O'Connor creates a mesmerizing fictional account of the real-life volatile relationship between ballerina Tanaquil Le Clercq and her husband, legendary New York City Ballet director George Balanchine. After Tanaquil is diagnosed with polio and told she will never walk again, Balanchine takes an interest in younger, more beautiful dancers, forcing Tanaquil to redefine herself. Told from Tanaquil's raw, heartbreaking perspective, the novel is a striking look at the sacrifices we make for the people we love. // Katie Naymon
