Landlord Tenant Rights for Washington, by Sidney J. Strong, Self-Counsel Press, 1984, $5.95, 102 pp. This informative guide explains everything from who's covered by the Landlord-Tenant Act to what a tenant should expect to gain (or lose) through arbitration. The author is an experienced landlord and tenant law attorney, and although the publisher updates this every couple of years, there's hardly any need to. Progressive Landlord-Tenant law reform is way down there on the to-do lists of Washington state legislators.

Landscape Painting Techniques, edited by Mary Suffudy, Random House, 144 pp. This excellent book on painting landscapes makes a great companion to Pencil Drawing Techniques (Random House, $16.95), edited by David Lewis.

Lapham's Quarterly: Happiness, Volume XII, Number 3, edited by Lewis H. Lapham, The American Agora Foundation, Summer 2019, $19.00, 224 pp. Lapham's Quarterly is published four times a year by The American Agora Foundation, each issue focusing on a specific them chosen by its editorial board. Then the magic happens. Drawing from writing across the ages, it presents varying perspectives on the theme of choice. For the Summer issue of 2019, the theme was Happiness. From front to back, the issue embodies the theme. The scope and distance Lapham's goes to bring writings on happiness is breathtaking. Divided into sections (which are meant to be helpful, but I don't fully understand their delineations). Lapham's doesn't limit its essays to just mulling over the nature of happiness. Some essays encompass the theme by revisiting a happy occasion; others embody happiness in objects. The goal of the quarterly is not to to offer a rigid definition of happiness. Rather, it's to provide a potpourri of ideas on the theme, which they do wisely and well. As Benjamin Franklin pointed out in his 1735 thesis On True Happiness, our approach to happiness is so varied and we are so much divided in our notions of it, a simple one-size-fits-all definition continues to elude us. Like happiness itself.

Last Chance, by Hank Mitchum, Bantam Books, 1985, $2.50, 185 pp. A cowboy's answer to Harlequin Romance, this is volume 19 in the Stagecoach series. It involves a blind Civil War veteran who shares a stagecoach with a lovely Irish lass. On their adventure they encounter hungry wolves and battle-starved Indians, the latter of which kill the driver. It is left to the blind man to deliver the coach and cargo to their final destination, winning the girl along the way. It's about as believable as the author's name, but that's romance.

The Last Picture Show, by Larry McMurtry, Dell, 1967, .75, 220 pp. This is the novel that secured McMurtry's place as one of the great modern American storytellers. Set in 1950's Texas, it follows the lives of Sonny, Jacy and Duane - three pals on the threshold of adulthood - and the people they share the town of Thalia with. The star of the story though, is the movie theater. It's the uncelebrated center of Thalia's social universe and her portal to the rest of the world.

Laughing Camera II, by Hans Reich, Hill and Wang, 1969, $20.99, 72 pp. Hans Reich collected photographs from over four dozen photographers for inclusion in Laughing Camera II that celebrate the silly. It can be thought of as the Candid Camera of publishing. Beginning with the cover photo (a seal winking at the camera by Erik Parbst) the tone is set for silliness. Some photos he's chosen for their strange juxtaposition of things, and others for the humor in something you might see - but not notice - everyday (e.g., the reflection of reeds on a pond in the shape of a Picasso-esque fish, by Georges Joniaux). Other photos are less subtle, some are sublime, but all are humorous. While Reich brings all these clever photos together, it's the individual photographers who deserve credit.

Lee Bailey's Soup Meals, by Lee Bailey, Clarkson N. Potter, 1989, 164 pp. This is a great cookbook for cooks wanting to complement their soups. The soup recipes are excellent, but the real stars are the salads, baked goods and desserts that go with them. Bon appetit!

Let the Dead Bury Their Dead, by Randall Kenan, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992, 334 pp. Tims Creek has a history not so unlike other North Carolina towns, but in the hands of Kenan it's richer times ten. In this collection Kenan brings to life the inhabitants of Tims Creek - the quirky, the damned, the saved - through an assortment of twelve compassionate stories that expose him as a writer with promise. His tales are sometimes suspenseful, sometimes funny and always more than you expect.

Letters to a Young Activist, by Todd Gitlin, Basic Books, 2003, $22.50, 176 pp. Influential social activist Todd Gitlin puts down in words what he knows in his heart and mind. Beyond mere manifesto, Letters combines tips with personal experience, resulting in a book filled with compassion rather than political rhetoric.

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, by Al Franken, Dutton, 2004, $24.95, 377 pp. In Lies, Franken debunks the myth of liberal-media bias by exposing the vast majority of media misinformation for what it is: right-wing. The book resulted in a lawsuit brought by Fox against the author which was laughed out of court. But you didn't hear that on the evening news.

The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception, by David Corn, Crown Publishing, 2003, $24.00, 337 pp. No shortage of material here.

Life, the Universe and Everything, by Douglas Adams, Pocket Books, 1983, $3.50, 227 pp. In this, the third installation of the Hitchhiker's series, Arthur Dent is back on Earth, some two million years in the past. Not a pleasant place to be, but in no time he's joined by his buddy Ford Prefect and they're off time-traveling the universe together, explaining everything and concluding nothing. Typical Adams.

The Life, Times and Work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, by K. E. Sullivan, Brockhampton Press, 1997, $19.13, 127 pp. Sullivan strives to deliver the life and times of the Modern movement's father. She does a first-rate job of the latter, but gives us only enough information about the designer's personal life to make us want more. Beautifully designed with 72 illustrations spread across its pages, this is a sumptuous feast befitting a man with so much influence on modern design.
Life Without Socks, by Carole Paulson, One In Ten Publishing, 1990, $11.95, 173 pp. This is Paulson's first book. It's a collection of poignant articles and essays written over a period of five years in the late eighties, most of them having appeared in her monthly column at the time, Views From A Barmaid. Throughout, her writing style veers and swerves affording the reader the opportunity to witness the development of a writer. Well worth hunting down.

The Light of Conscience: How a Simple Act Can Change Your Life, by Bill Shore, Random House, 2004, $22.95, 268 pp. Shore knows about conscience. Since founding Share Our Strength he's raised over $150 million in the fight against hunger and poverty. But The Light of Conscience isn't about him. It's a collection of stories about regular people doing small things that make the world a better place for everybody.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis, Collier Books, 1970, $1.95, 186 pp. I have a closet in my house I'm convinced connects to infinity. Anything I put in it is separated from me forever. Not nearly as cool, but with a lot more potential for mischief is the closet in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It leads to a place called Narnia with bad witches, noble lions and pieces that fit just right for a healthy dose of moralizing. That said, Lewis is a captivating storyteller.

The Lipizzaners and the Spanish Riding School, by Wolfgang Reuter, Pinguin-Verlag, 69 pp. The Spanish Riding School has a long, rich history. Its earliest records date back to 1562 when the groundwork was laid in Vienna in the form of a Rosstummelplatz, literally an "exercise ground for horses." Since then, in the face of obstacles including war, revolution and the fall of empire, it has emerged as the benchmark for equestrian arts. Though this volume is slim, it packs a punch, its author unerringly focused on highlights, historical and technical. Photographs.
Little Annie Rooney on the Highway to Adventure, by Darrell McClure, Whitman Publishing Co., 1938 When the Little Annie Rooney comic strip came out in 1927, it was in competition with another orphan of a similar name. Although this looks and feels like blatant plagiarism, this Annie actually predates the redheaded step child of Broadway and film acclaim by two years. One of the earliest serials in Whitman Publishing Co's. BIG LITTLE BOOK series.
The Little Black Book - Seattle, by Ann Studebaker and Tracy Wahl, Creme de la Creme, 1982, 191 pp. This book is a guide to the most eligible bachelors in Seattle, circa 1982. Conspicuously absent is any of the Microsoft money-to-be. Ladies, what were you thinking? Each guy gets a photo though, making this an amusing record of threads and hairdos.

The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality, by André Comte-Sponville, Viking, 2007, $19.95, 212 pp. French philosopher André Comte-Sponville appears at first to be teetering on the edge of contradiction with his title The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality. Upon examination though, he may be onto something. His premise is humanity has a deep-seeded capacity for compassion and grace - traits traditionally associated with God - regardless of our religious views. Thought provoking.

Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian's Survival Handbook, by Carol Adams, Three Rivers Press, 2001, $15.00, 324 pp. Living Among Meat Eaters gets my vote for best title. In it, Adams shares tips on how to stay committed to vegetarianism when other members of your household don't share the same loyalty. Includes fifty of her favorite veggie recipes.
Living Letters: The Paraphrased Epistles, by Kenneth N. Taylor, Tyndale House, 1962, $1.95, 334 pp. The letters of the New Testament that made Paul a rock star, paraphrased for modern english speakers. Special edition includes a preface by Billy Graham.

Living Simply with Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide for Moms, Dads, and Kids Who Want to Reclaim the Bliss of Childhood and the Joy of Parenting, by Marie Sherlock, Three Rivers Press, 2003, $12.95, 287 pp. In Living Simply with Children, Sherlock shares her successes for simplifying family life. They include living environmentally responsibly, focusing on quality rather than quantity, and helpful tips for skirting the consumer-centered culture we're bombarded with 24/7. A practical guide to go with the "Live Simply That Others May Simply Live" bumper sticker on your spanking new Volvo.

Living Terrors: What America Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe, by Osterholm and Schwartz, Dell, 2000, $13.95, 232 pp. Living Terrors gets my vote for most downer title. In it, Osterholm and Schwartz use their expertise (Osterholm's the nation's leading expert on biological terrorism) to analyze the threat of bioterrorism on the United States. Already scared of the big bad world? Skip this book.

Lonely Planet Bluelist 2006-2007: 618 Things To Do & Places To Go, Lonely Planet Publications, 2006, $20.00, 328 pp. Anyone who's ever used a Lonely Planet Guidebook knows how valuable and complete their informaion is. By encouraging exploration rather than tourism, they've filled a niche for global trekking. Toward that aim, Bluelist catalogues the best of the best (treks, nude beaches, etc.) our lonely planet has to offer.

The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time, by G.B. Trudeau, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005, $9.95, 93 pp. The Long Road Home is a collection of the first seven months of Doonesbury strips focusing on B.D., Trudeau's comic strip character who lost a leg in Iraq. It follows his rehabilitation and portrays the huge impact the war has on our men and women there. This is Trudeau at his best. Foreword by the late Senator John McCain.

The Long Way Home, by Alan Ebert, Bantam Books, 1985, 432 pp. This could be about any American dynasty - the Rockefellers, Kennedys, Hearsts - but it's not. Their stories would be interesting and they'd stick to you after reading them. Lest we forget just how dull this family is, the author gave us a sequel (Traditions, Bantam Books, $3.95), for those nights you require a sleeping aid.

The Lost Heart of Asia, by Colin Thubron, HarperCollins, 2008, $15.99, 400 pp. In Lost Heart, Colin Thubron, who's made a reputation for himself as one of Britain's foremost travel writers, visits the northwestern reaches of China's frontier/former Soviet bloc states, via the northern route of the Silk Road. The precursor to his seminal travelogue on the southern route recounted in Shadow of the Silk Road (HarperCollins, $15.99).

The Lost Princess of Oz, by Frank Baum, Ballantine Books, 1979, 281 pp. I want what he's smoking. Best known for The Wizard of Oz, Baum wrote volumes of adventures swirling around the characters from his phenomenally imaginative world of Oz. Lost Princess follows Dorothy on a madcap search for Ozma, the Princess of Oz, who, incidentally, shares her name with Baum's real-life granddaughter. Among the creatures she encounters along the way are the Frogman and Lavender Bear. Pretty. Map of Oz included to help readers keep their bearings.

Love Is Letting Go of Fear, by Gerald G. Jampolsky, MD, Celestial Arts, 2011, $11.99, 136 pp. This, Dr. Jampolsky's celebrated treatise on eliminating the main deterrent to loving, has been popular with the self-improvement set for decades. Within its pages he makes a compelling argument against fear. Love, Jampolsky observes, cannot exist in the face of fear. Fear, by nature, prevents compassion and understanding, without which love cannot be practiced. Sage words.
Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis, Random House, 1992, $11.95, 251 pp. A cornerstone of Britain's post-war literary movement dubbed "The Angry Young Men," Lucky Jim takes place at a provincial college outside London. It's protagonist, Jim Dixon, is the sort of fellow who in his pursuit of shortcuts - professional and personal - makes more trouble for himself than it's worth. A critique of old school manners.

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