Xpress Reviews for August, Continued...

-- Library Journal, 8/15/2005

Week of July 26

WEB EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REVIEW
V-Day: Until the Violence Stops. color. 73 min. Abby Epstein, dist. by Docurama c/o New Video, 19 Gregory Dr., Burlington, VT 05403; 800-314-8822; www.newvideo.com. 2005. DVD ISBN 0-7670-7855-1. $26.95. soc sci

V-Day documents the creation of a remarkable grass-roots organization and movement building on Eve Ensler's play The Vagina Monologues. The "V" stands for Vagina Day, Valentine's Day, and Victory Over Violence Day. The film chronicles how women nationwide and worldwide have seized the opportunity to work together to end violence against women. Communities in over 35 countries have produced Ensler's play, giving the proceeds to local groups dedicated to that end. We hear inspiring stories by women and men about their personal experiences with abuse and how their involvement with the movement has helped them become true survivors rather than victims. Though the subject matter is heartbreaking, the film is presented with a great deal of positive humor. Highly recommended for public and academic library collections.-Mary Laskowski, Undergraduate Lib., Univ. of Illinois, Urbana

WEB EXCLUSIVE BOOK REVIEWS
Foley, Sallie. Sex & Love for Grownups: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Life of Passion. Sterling. Aug. 2005. c.160p. illus. ISBN 1-4027-1738-5. $12.95.

Westheimer, Ruth K., M.D. Dr. Ruth's Sex After 50: Revving Up the Romance, Passion & Excitement! Quill Driver. Jul. 2005. c.228p. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-884956-43-2. pap. $14.95. PSYCH

In separate works, respected sex therapist Westheimer (a.k.a. "Dr. Ruth") and AARP magazine's "Modern Love" columnist Foley address concerns of sexuality and aging, focusing on heterosexual couples in monogamous (or potentially monogamous) relationships. With her usual humor and candor, the inimitable Dr. Ruth explores the sexual issues of many senior couples. After opening with "Your brain is your most important sexual organ," she discusses the physical changes that women and men can expect as they grow older (including those brought on by chronic illness and surgery); suggests emotional adjustments to compensate for these changes; and advises on ways to add spice and romance to relationships while managing the pitfalls of aging and retirement. Separate chapters are devoted to erotica (including Internet addiction), dating ("Finding a Partner"), and masturbation ("Solo Sex").

Sex & Love for Grownups collects Foley's popular Q&A columns. Addressing the sexual and interpersonal issues of people 40 and older, she begins with meeting and dating, goes on to discuss lovemaking, and then expounds on the various difficulties that many grown-up couples face, including blended families and intergenerational concerns. Her approach is informative, practical, and supportive. Like Dr. Ruth, Foley features key information in sidebars for quick reference. Readers of this anthology, however, will need to take a serendipitous approach: unlike Dr. Ruth's work, it lacks an index. Both writers stress the importance of communication, urging readers to seek professional advice when at an impasse, and provide the appropriate resources. Public libraries should order both titles.-Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA

Garrison, Webb. Casual Lex: An Informal Assemblage of Why We Say What We Say. Rutledge Hill. 2005. 247p. bibliog. ISBN 1-4016-0218-5. pap. $14.99. LIT

If the contents were as clever as the title, this compendium of roughly 500 alphabetically organized entries would be a joy to read. However, in rather pedestrian prose, the author seems more intent on explaining-to foreigners perhaps-how to use a phrase, while giving short shrift to its origin. Surely there are more than 500 expressions in English, so the choice of these particular ones is a mystery. For example, "bay window" comes from a window shaped like a bay; "fast lane" comes from a highway having a fast lane; and "know the ropes" comes from sailors who-you guessed it. Many entries are incomplete: "OK" has only the theory about Old Kinderhook; "rain cats and dogs" mentions a few theories but omits many more. Still, some entries are noteworthy: "umpire" is a corruption of "unpaired," an arbitrator not siding, or pairing, with either party; "checkmate" is a mispronunciation of "Shah mat" ("The king is dead"). Garrison, a college administrator and president and author of 55 books, is now deceased, so his children compiled this book in tribute to him. Recommended for libraries with a population of non-native speakers.-Kitty Chen Dean, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, NY

Rush, Anne Kent. The Way of Stretching: Flexibility for Body and Mind. Little, Brown. Aug. 2005. c.288p. illus. ISBN 0-316-17231-6. pap. $15.95. HEALTH

Rush has previously written on a wide range of health and wellness issues, e.g., massage, aromatherapy, and meditation. Her latest work is a potpourri of yoga postures, anatomy lessons, simple stretching moves, breathing and meditation exercises, and aromatherapy advice, all presented in a holistic context. Rush instructs on how to perform her stretching technique, the "Rush Reverse," and includes roughly 100 stretching exercises that are introduced, carefully explained, and grouped into chapters corresponding to specific anatomical zones called chakras (areas of concentrated energy flow within the human body). The flexibility movements are accompanied by the author's numerous black-and-white drawings. Unfortunately, Rush omitted examples of workout routines integrating poses from each of the chakra stretch areas. Bob Anderson's Stretching, though less holistic in approach, features a variety of such workouts, including routines for people with specific physical and health conditions. An optional purchase.-Deborah Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Dunwoody

Sena, Michael & others. Lean Mom, Fit Family: The 6-Week Plan for a Slimmer You and a Healthier Family. Rodale. Aug. 2005. 304p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-59486-067-X. pap. $16.95. HEALTH

Most moms want to lose weight and get fit, but how can they with crazy schedules and kids clamoring for fun, fattening foods? What's more, can a family become healthy and fit together? In this book, personal trainer Sena, registered dietitian Straughan, and physiologist Sattler (Univ. of Illinois) answer with a resounding "Yes!" After an outline of basic fitness and nutritional information, the authors detail a six-week fitness plan that caters to the needs of children, teens, and adults alike. The chapters (one for each week) cover such topics as family meeting agendas and guidance, menu plans, and family fitness activities. Throughout, there are enhancing black-and-white photographs of adults and kids demonstrating various exercises. Recipes and more family fitness activity ideas round out this informal and easy-to-comprehend book. Although its purpose is to help families attain a healthy lifestyle together, singletons or couples without children can also learn a thing or two from the authors. Recommended for public libraries with consumer health collections.-Samantha J. Gust, Niagra Univ. Lib., NY

Simpson, John Warfield. Dam!: Water, Power, Politics, and Preservation in Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite National Park. Pantheon. Jul. 2005. c.400p. maps. index. ISBN 0-375-42231-5. $28.50. SCI

No event in the history of the environmental movement evoked as much outrage as did the 1913 construction of the O'Shaughnessey Dam in northern California's Hetch Hetchy Valley. Simpson (landscape architecture & natural resources, Ohio State Univ.; Visions of Paradise: Glimpses of Our Landscape's Legacy) divides this narrative into two parts: a history of Yosemite National Park within the context of the late 1800s conservation movement and the Progressive era of the early 1900s; and a detailed account of the Hetch Hetchy controversy. From the 1849 California gold rush to the building of San Francisco, there was always a need for water. Simpson details the politics, at both the regional and the national level, that brought about the dam despite widespread public objection. Progressive era conservationists like Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and John Muir are but a few of the major players involved in this battle to decide the meaning of the sanctity of a national park. Simpson's recitation of factual data is amplified by his personal observations of hiking in the Yosemite area and examining the contemporary question of whether to now repair the dam or tear it down and restore the valley. A timely addition for most environmental collections.-Patricia Ann Owens, Wasbash Valley Coll., Mt. Carmel, IL

Soloway, Jill. Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants: Based on a True Story. Free Pr: S. & S. Sept. 2005. c.288p. ISBN 0-7432-7217-X. $21.95. AUTOBIOG

This memoir of a Generation X Jewish non-Princess growing up and into adulthood is not sex-free, as humorously claimed in the introduction, but is not erotica, either. The 13 loosely strung together autobiographical essays instead deal with the whole gamut of human experience-postfeminism, celebrity, sex, relationships, television, and religion. Soloway, best known as a writer and co-executive producer of the popular HBO television series Six Feet Under, delivers a book (her first exclusively authored) that, though crude in parts, is energetic and engrossing. From beginning to end, she is hardly at a loss for interesting anecdotes to share, be they about sorority life at the University of Wisconsin-Madison or her plan to create a "Lesbo Island," whose application for residency can be found in the back of the book. This book would balance out collections containing Toni Bentley's Surrender and Melissa P.'s 100 Strokes of the Brush Before Bed. Recommended for larger public libraries and libraries with fans of Six Feet Under.-Martha Stephenson, Univ. of Wisconsin-Whitewater Lib.

Waldman, Murray, M.D. & Marjorie Lamb. Dying for a Hamburger: Modern Meat Processing and the Epidemic of Alzheimer's Disease. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. 2005. c.320p. ISBN 0-312-34015-X. $24.95. HEALTH

In this eyeopening work, Toronto physician/coroner Waldman and science writer Lamb argue that Alzheimer's disease was virtually unknown until modern meat processing and high meat consumption became popular worldwide. They note that the disease's symptoms are strikingly similar to prion diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, mad cow disease in cattle, and scrapie in sheep. And the authors point out that over 175 items, including slaughterhouse waste, municipal garbage, dried cattle and poultry manure, remains of downer (sick) animals, poultry industry waste products, and numerous chemicals, are components of farm animal rations. These ingredients can damage proteins and cause prion diseases that can ultimately be transmitted to humans through the contaminated meat they consume. Basing its assertions on an array of sources from peer-reviewed journals, monographs, government documents, and web sites, this well-written and provocative book may cause some readers to put down their Big Macs. For more on our tainted meat supply, see Howard Lyman's Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat and Sheldon Rampton's Mad Cow USA: Could the Nightmare Happen Here?-Irwin Weintraub, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., New York

Wells, Matthew. Skyscrapers: Structure and Design. Yale Univ. Sept. 2005. 192p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-300-10679-3. $45. ARCHITECTURE

Contrary to what the title may imply, this is not an engineering manual but an architectural survey of state-of-the-art skyscrapers, including some of the world's tallest. Wells (30 Bridges), a British structural engineer, leads with an engaging history of tall buildings, then details 30 recent and diverse examples, many of which boast energy-saving features. Architects of these projects include Santiago Calatrava, Foster and Partners, Cesar Pelli, and Renzo Piano. He pairs each project with a short critical essay that, among other things, highlights any design and construction challenges that might have been overcome; several color photographs; plans; and cross sections. In an added personal touch, Wells's own freehand drawings illustrate aspects of each structure. Most of the subjects are located in Europe; some U.S. skyscrapers covered are the Condé Nast Tower, the New York Times Building, and the AOL Time Warner Center. Project credits are included, but a glossary of structural engineering terms would have been helpful to lay readers. Recommended for large public libraries or specialized collections.-David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.

Whitelaw, Paul. Belle and Sebastian: Just a Modern Rock Story. Griffin: St. Martin's. Aug. 2005. c.320p. photogs. ISBN 0-312-34137-7. [ISBN 978-0-312-34137-4]. pap. $15.95. MUSIC

If indie cult favorites Belle and Sebastian (B&N) had not already spent a decade confounding music biz expectations, this would be one of the most unexpected rock biographies today. However, when you take into account that B&N celebrated its overnight British chart success with a press blackout, the sudden appearance of an official history years later makes perverse sense. And what a history music journalist Whitelaw has uncovered! With full access to and cooperation from the band, Whitelaw lets the members of B&S tell their story in their own words (and pictures), making for a richer, oral history-type read. Even the uninitiated will be entertained by tales of library concerts, intraband drama, fights with maverick director Todd Solondz, and awards show hijinks. Still, there is the nagging feeling that this tome was written too early. It is, however, the first extended work to delve into the singular career of B&S and sets the bar high; it also serves as a fantastic document of the 1990s Glasgow, Scotland, underground, from whence B&N sprang. Strongly recommended for larger public and academic libraries.-Matthew Moyer, Jacksonville P.L., FL

Week of July 19

Blumenthal, Eileen. Puppetry: A World History. Abrams. Aug. 2005. c.272p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8109-5587-3. $65. THEATER

While there are other books on the history of puppet traditions, and even a few that cover the subject worldwide (e.g., David Currell's The Complete Book of Puppet Theatre), this work takes a unique approach to this oldest of dramatic arts. Rather than tackling one tradition or puppet type at a time, Blumenthal (theater arts, Mason Gross Sch. of Arts, Rutgers Univ.) takes a thematic approach. After presenting a brief history of puppetry from its origins in 3000 B.C.E. and the development of different puppet types, she discusses everything from the theatricality of puppet masters' illusions to the advantages of casting constructed actors over live ones to the international and historical use of puppets in plays about sex, violence, politics, public service (education, religious ritual, propaganda), and death. She concludes with a chapter on what separates puppets from other performance objects and takes a brief look at live actors who have played famous puppet characters. This work is lavishly illustrated with more than 350 photographs, some that may already be familiar to readers of puppetry books; but many are new and exciting images from historical archives and contemporary performance. Highly recommended for all theater collections.-Laura A. Ewald, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY

Cartwright, Garth. Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians. Serpent's Tail, dist. by Consortium. Nov. 2005. c.309p. photogs. filmog. discog. bibliog. ISBN 1-85242-877-5. pap. $20. MUSIC

In this potent mixture of offbeat travelog, historical and social commentary, and musical quest, journalist Cartwright travels through Serbia, Macedonia, Romania, and Bulgaria to uncover the essence of the gypsy musical world. At the same time, he paints a vivid landscape of life in each locale, from streets often tinged with poverty to old traditions observed with joyous revelry. His meetings with diverse performers such as the vibrant singer Esma and the successful gypsy band Fanfare Ciocarlia are rich in observation and telling in dialog; Cartwright is knowledgeable and intensely curious, and his enjoyment of these singular adventures is obvious. He eagerly digs beneath stereotypical assumptions to reveal a sometimes elusive yet always fascinating gypsy musical culture with its distinctive heritage, styles, sounds, practices, variations, and people. This book will be illuminating for those who are already acquainted with the subject and can serve as a springboard for others who would like to learn more. Photographs and basic maps enhance the text. For circulating libraries.-Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ

CBGB & OMFUG: Thirty Years from the Home of Underground Rock. Abrams. Jul. 2005. c.160p. photogs. ISBN 0-8109-5786-8. $24.95. MUSIC

Readers enter this purported visual history by way of a book jacket that reproduces CBGB's iconic awning. That image promises an experience on par with an actual visit to the legendary New York City punk club, with plenty of noise, stench, and camaraderie. What fans get instead is a slapdash souvenir that barely ranks above a T-shirt. Truly, 30 years of underground rock have percolated in CB's graffiti-splattered walls, but you wouldn't know it from the mainly uninspired selection of photos (200-plus, all taken on site) and scant testimonials. The halcyon 1970s are well represented with classic shots of Blondie, the Ramones, and Talking Heads, but the fervent hardcore scene of the 1980s and early 1990s-for which CBs was ground zero-barely registers. Commercial, one-night-only acts like Soul Asylum and Dave Matthews Band garner coverage instead of local heroes like Sick of It All and Gorilla Biscuits. Given that CBs is at risk of losing its longtime lease, and this book is ostensibly an emergency fund-raising effort, inclusion might have been dictated by the accessibility of the pictures rather than the merit of the bands. Still, this is a most unimpressive artifact of a most uncommon club. Not recommended; to help save CBs, send a letter to Mayor Bloomberg instead.-Heather McCormack, Library Journal

Ciminelli, David & Ken Knox. Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock. Alyson, dist. by Consortium. Aug. 2005. c.224p. ISBN 1-55583-855-3. pap. $15.95. MUSIC

Journalist Ciminelli and freelance writer Knox should be applauded for bringing the gay underground rock scene out of the closet-but not too loudly. Because while their book sheds some much-needed light on an interesting subgenre that's often ignored or distorted by the mainstream media, the authors do little to validate the musicians they cover. Chapters on influential figures like punk band Pansy Division or ex-Indigo Girl Amy Ray read like PR essays; this lack of objectivity diminishes the book's potential as a sociopolitical force. Still, Homocore proves its relevance with insights from Extra Fancy frontman Brian Grillo, who describes the discrimination he faced after his band was signed to a major label, and drummer Alicia Warrington, who talks about how early homocore artists gave her the strength to pursue her passion in a heterosexual-dominated music industry. Though far from a definitive account, this is a nice start. Recommended for extensive music libraries or any libraries that fly the Rainbow flag.-Robert Morast, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD

Evans, Dwight L., M.D. & Linda Wasmer Andrews. If Your Adolescent Has Depression or Bipolar Disorder: An Essential Resource for Parents. Oxford Univ. (Adolescent Mental Health Initiative). Jul. 2005. c.160p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-19-518209-X. $30; pap. ISBN 0-19-518210-3. $9.95. PSYCH

Evans (psychiatry, Univ. of Pennsylvania) and journalist Andrews have written a concise and informative book to help parents recognize, understand, and find the appropriate treatment for their teenagers' mood disorders. The authors present the symptoms of depressive and bipolar illnesses in adolescents and summarize existing research on their biological causes and social triggers. Available treatments, including psychotherapy, medication, light therapy, and hospitalization, are discussed, and both the risks of undertaking these treatments and the risks of forgoing them are presented. The warning signs of suicide are highlighted, as is the controversial debate over whether antidepressants trigger suicide in some adolescents. Suggestions about how parents can persuade their managed care companies to cover their child's treatment and ways to find support for a depressed or bipolar teenager's needs at school are included. A glossary and lists of organizations, web sites, and books for parents and adolescents complete the book. While not an exhaustive resource, this is a broad and practical introduction for concerned parents. For public libraries.-Susan Pease, Univ. of Massachusetts Lib., Amherst

Moynihan, Ray & Alan Cassels. Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All into Patients. Thunder's Mouth: Avalon, dist. by Publishers Group West. Jul. 2005. c.272p. index. ISBN 1-56025-697-4. $26. MED

Science writers Moynihan (a frequent contributor to major British and American medical journals) and Cassels (health information science, Univ. of Victoria, B.C.) have collaborated on a book that considers ten contemporary maladies, including depression, ADD, osteoporosis, and female sexual dysfunction, and the various ways that drug companies have profited from them by selling sickness. In their prolog, the authors state that their aim is to expose the way in which the industry's promotional machinery is turning too much ordinary life into medical illness, in order to expand markets for medications. In a lively and readable style, they reveal the many ways in which drug companies peddle their influence: to patients, by way of TV and magazine advertising; and to prescribing physicians, through, among other ways, published articles by physicians who are actually paid consultants for drug companies. This book shares many similarities with Marcia Angell's excellent The Truth About the Drug Companies, but while the latter focuses more on the drugs, the former deals more with the (perceived) sickness. A 40-page bibliography is mostly made up of web sites but also includes medical literature and interviews. This well-written book, which both entertains and informs, is an eyeopener even for those who might think themselves well read in the field. Recommended for public libraries.-Martha E. Stone, Treadwill Lib., Boston

Murkoff, Heidi with Sharon Mazel. What To Expect®: Eating Well When You're Expecting. Workman. 2005. 470p. index. ISBN 0-7611-3326-7. [ISBN 978-0-7611-3326-1]. pap. $12.95. HEALTH

Every pregnant woman wants to make sure that her baby is healthy, and nutrition plays a major role. Since mothers often suffer from morning sickness, heartburn, constipation, and food cravings, this can be challenging. Childbirth educator Murkoff (coauthor, What To Expect When You're Expecting) presents a plan that offers healthy, appetizing food along with suggestions for staying comfortable during pregnancy. She explains why nutrition is important for mother and baby, which foods supply the required vitamins and minerals (the Daily Dozen), how much weight one should gain, and which foods to avoid. Sidebars offer tips as well as a look at old myths about pregnancy. Information about food safety, allergies, and eating out, on the road, or on a tight budget is very useful, as are special tips for vegetarians, breastfeeding mothers, and those caring for multiples. A postpartum diet insures that mothers will stay well nourished, and a selection of tasty recipes follows the main text. This update of What To Eat When You're Expecting loses the Earth Mother tone and instead serves up contemporary and delicious advice. Highly recommended.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., Berkeley, CA

O'Neil, Brian. Acting as a Business: Strategies for Success. 3d ed. Heinemann. Sept. 2005. c.160p. ISBN 0-325-00807-8. pap. $16.95. FILM

O'Neil-the poster child of sagacious career counseling for the professional actor-first published this important book in 1993. With the third edition, he continues to draw on his considerable experience as an actor, agent, and manager to distill the most fundamental and advantageous approaches and stratagems for professional actors seeking employment in theater, film, and television. Retaining the previous editions' basic structure, the text includes ten chapters on such areas as photographs and résumés, unions, agents, television, the gathering of production information, and personal management. An excellent Q&A portion and appendixes providing sample résumés and resources are also included. While a chapter titled The Local Scene will assist actors anywhere, it is primarily intended for working or wannabe pros in New York City and/or Los Angeles. Like Michael Shurtleff's Audition, this is a core title for any collection ministering to the needs of professional actors.-Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX

Oden, Scott. Men of Bronze. Medallion. 2005. c.473p. ISBN 1-932815-18-X. $26.95. F

By 526 B.C.E., Egypt is on the brink of destruction. Ruling dynasties are increasingly corrupt, the common people are looking for new, strong leadership, and neighboring countries stalk the borders like hyenas on the trail of fresh meat. When the old pharaoh dies and his eldest son, Psammetichus, assumes the throne, Persia seizes the opportunity to attack. The fate of Egypt rests on the shoulders of two men: Phanes, a traitor to Eygpt who has allied himself to Persia, and Barca, an embittered Phoenician mercenary and the backbone of Pharaoh's army. Debut novelist Oden weaves a story of intrigue, political corruption, treachery, and loyalty as seen though the eyes of a multitude of intriguing characters. Although readers get occasionally bogged down in a tangle of subplots, the ultimate message is one of courage, love, duty, and abiding honor. Recommended for public libraries where there is a strong interest in historical fiction, especially fiction dealing with ancient Egypt.-Jane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK

Vargo, Julie & Maureen Regan. A Few Good Eggs: Two Chicks Dish on Overcoming the Insanity of Infertility. ReganBks: HarperCollins. 2005. c.396p. index. ISBN 0-06-077681-1. $24.95. HEALTH

It was this reviewer's hope that journalist Vargo and literary agent Regan-both of whom have personal experience with infertility-would have something new to say on the subject. Unfortunately, their anticipated book features writing that at times makes light of the emotional and physical impact of infertility on individuals, their partners, and their families. Readers may be dismayed by chapter headings like A Pregnant Pause: Miscarriage. While the authors provide a lot of basic information on tests and treatments that infertile couples can expect to undergo and discuss the ethical, legal, financial, and psychological issues inherent, there are better resources out there. For information on fertility treatments, see Daniel Potter and Jennifer Hanin's What To Do When You Can't Get Pregnant; for help in dealing with the emotional and psychological impacts, Mercedes Wilson's Love and Fertility. Not recommended.-Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Lib.

Woodward, Bob. The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate's Deep Throat. S. & S. Jul. 2005. c.249p. ISBN 0-7432-8715-0. $23. POLITICS

Unlike the identity of Deep Throat, kept secret by Woodward for 33 years, much of this book was revealed by the media before publication. Still, Woodward's 13th book is important for its personal account of his relationship with Deep Throat, that is, Mark Felt, and its story of why Felt passed to Woodward the high-level insider information that enabled him and Carl Bernstein to expose the corrupt Nixon administration in the Washington Post. Woodward and Felt first met in 1969 when the future reporter was completing his five-year naval tour. In 1971, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover promoted Felt to the second most powerful FBI position, that of day-to-day manager, while in the same year Woodward began his Post career. When Hoover died, Nixon passed over Felt and appointed his own political crony, L. Patrick Gray, as director. This might have moved the demoralized Felt to become Deep Throat, or possibly he became Woodward's source to protect the FBI from an attempt by Nixon to take control of the agency, the author speculates. Eventually the tension caused by Felt's dangerous role broke his already strained relationship with Woodward when the author asked Felt to be identified in Woodward and Bernstein's 1974 blockbuster investigation, All the President's Men. This book concludes on a bittersweet note when Woodward visits Felt in 2000 at his home in Santa Rosa, CA. Then 87 and suffering from dementia, Felt had forgotten much about Watergate, Nixon, and his FBI career. Also forgotten was his anger at Woodward. Although the passage of time and the realities of the post-9/11 era have made the identity of Deep Throat a less consuming interest, the concerns raised here about governmental authority and presidential power are as timely now as they were in the America of Vietnam and Watergate. Highly recommended for public libraries.-Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

Zweibel, Alan. The Other Shulman. Villard: Random. 2005. c.304p. ISBN 1-4000-6266-7. $23.95. F

Shulman is trying to figure out the rest of his life. His stationery shop is in financial trouble, unable to compete with the big office-supply chains. Meanwhile, now that their three children are grown, his wife has launched a new career as a designer. Shulman is proud of her accomplishments but worries about the growing distance between them. Then he sees a flyer announcing a six-month training period for the New York marathon, and, having nothing better to do, he joins up. During his training, he encounters temptation, altruism, understanding, optimism, confusion-and his alter ego in the flesh. This other Shulman looks like him but acts very differently: he is confident, rude, ruthless, out to make a buck, and, worst of all, out to ruin the real Shulman. Who will win? Emmy Award winner Zweibel has created a totally believable everyman, facing the midlife questions we all face; however bizarre, his situation is a commentary on real life. The quirky characters provide humor and color, and scenes alternating between the marathon and Shulman's memory lend interest and contrast. Recommended.-Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., RI

See the July Xpress Reviews