Here are some books that have crossed our desks recently.

HARDBACKS

“HOW TO SQUEEZE A LEMON: 1,023 Kitchen Tips, Food Fixes and Handy Techniques,” The Taunton Press, $19.95 (nf)

The author to this one is listed as “editors, contributors and readers of ‘Fine Cooking.'” And what tips they have. In addition to basic knowledge of different equipment, foods (broken down into produce and meats and poultry) techniques and what to do when things go wrong, there are sections with reader tips. Like keeping a hair dryer in the kitchen to help dry out wet potatoes for French fries to using Styrofoam or a piece of cork to keep corn holders organized. All of the advice is clearly sourced so you know how it’s organized.

There aren’t any recipes in this one, but it does have 261 pages of information that will help the beginner or the expereinced cook or chef make life a bit easier in the kitchen.

More hardbacks that have recently been released:

“SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: For Better or For Worse 1st Treasury,” by Lynn Johnston, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 408 pages, $25.99, is a compilation of the comic strip “For Better or for Worse.”

“CINCH!” by Cynthia Sass, HarperOne, $25.99 (nf), offers weight loss results by following simple tips including eating regularly spaced meals and eating healthful meals. “THE NEW EVOLUTION DIET” by Arthur De Vany, Rodale, $24.99 (nf), advocates a diet and exercise regime that is more like the cavemen than the current trends. “WHY WE GET FAT AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT,” by Gary Taubes, Alfred A. Knopf, $24.95 (nf), presents a more scientific approach to weight gain in layperson’s terms.

PAPERBACKS

“APPETIZERS,” Fine Cooking, Taunton Press, $19.95, is a cookbook that offers more than 200 recipes for “small bites with big flavor.” Although many of the recipes appear fairly simple, a run to the store might be in order for a few ingredients. It also offers tips (like cutting a pepper and rolling out wrappers for Chinese dumplings) and how to make your own variations on a particular recipe.

“I’M TEMPTED TO STOP ACTING RANDOMLY,” by Scott Adams, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 128 pages, $12.99, is the latest compilation of the “Dilbert” comic strip. “BIG NATE FROM THE TOP,” by Lincoln Pierce, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 223 pages, $9.99, is a compilation of “Big Nate” comics. “TASTES LIKE CHICKEN: An Argyle Sweater Treasury,” by Scott Hilburn, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 245 pages, $16.99, is a collection of “Argyle Sweater” comics, which run in the Deseret News. “SHAPES AND COLORS: A Cul de Sac Collection,” by Richard Thompson, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 128 pages, $12.99, is a collection of “Cul de Sac” comics, which run in the Deseret News.

“THE NEW NORMAL: AN AGENDA FOR RESPONSIBLE LIVING,” by David Wann, St. Martin’s, 250 pages, $14.99 (nf), advocates living a greener life and gives a few tips on how a community can create gardens, babysitting co-ops, etc.

— compiled by Christine Rappleye

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Mel Gibson’s new movie “The Beaver,” which saw its release postponed last year following the release of audio tapes that damaged the actor’s reputation, will finally receive a premiere in March at a Texas festival.

The South by Southwest music and film festival in Austin, Texas said on Thursday “The Beaver” will have its world premiere at the event on March 16.

The movie, directed by Jodie Foster, tells of a troubled man (Gibson) who communicates with people by using a handheld beaver puppet. Along with Foster and Gibson, the cast includes Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence.

“The Beaver” was expected in theaters last fall, but was taken off release schedules when tapes were posted on celebrity website Radaronline.com in July during which a man widely believed to be Gibson rants at his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva during a phone conversation. The man also makes a racist slur in one of the tapes. [nN01169732]

The tapes were released when the “Braveheart” actor was still trying to recover from a public backlash over anti-Semitic comments he made to a police officer in 2006.

While film studios fear their stars falling out of favor with the moviegoing public, the tapes of the conversation with Grigorieva may not have had as much of an impact on Gibson’s popularity as once believed.

In August, a “60 Minutes”/Vanity Fair poll found 76 percent of people questioned said they would still buy a ticket to a Gibson movie.

(Reporting by Bob Tourtellotte)