Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 08/15/2006
Fiction
Balzac, Honoré de. The Centenarian or, the Two Beringhelds. Wesleyan Univ. (Early Classics of Science Fiction). 2006. c.365p. tr. from French by Danièle Chatelain & George Slusser. ISBN 0-8195-6797-3. $29.95. F
With the publication of the first English translation of Balzac's disavowed 1822 novel, the Wesleyan "Early Classics of Science Fiction" series continues to rewrite the history of the genre. Written under the pseudonym Horace de Saint-Aubin, this book tells the parallel stories of the two remaining Beringhelds, French alpine aristocrats who oddly avoided the French Revolution. There is the Centenarian, a gigantic, terrifying 400-year-old, part-Gothic monster, part-proto-Faust who has "scientifically" extended his life by extracting a "vital fluid" from his victims; and his son, a general in Napoleon's army deeply enamored of the forest beauty Marianine. The work is abominably bad yet undeniably fascinating both as a liminal science-fiction text occupying the mostly uncharted cusp between supernatural gothicism and 19th-century science and, with a cliff-hanger ending in the catacombs of Paris, as early hack-work by the writer soon to be the leading example of French social realism. The engaging introduction suggests the novel may have been partly written by other members of Balzac's family. The translation also includes helpful notes and an afterword that intriguingly suggests how this early novel may presage some of Balzac's later characters and themes. Recommended for academic libraries and for public libraries where interest warrants.—Roger Berger, Everett Community Coll., WA
Markoe, Merrill. Walking in Circles Before Lying Down. Villard: Random. Aug. 2006. c.256p. ISBN 1-4000-6483-X [ISBN 978-1-4000-6483-0]. $22.95. F
Comic writer Markoe's (It's My F---ing Birthday) latest novel fulfills every dog lover's dream by allowing her main character to hear her dog, Chuck, talk. (In fact, he writes biographical essays when the mood takes him.) A screw-up in love, the twice-married Dawn discovers Chuck's unique verbal ability after another boyfriend leaves her, and Chuck vows to help her straighten out her life. The novel's unusual plot plays to Markoe's strengths as a writer: short, funny dialog and comic descriptions of Dawn's over-the-top family and friends. However, her satirical digs at fame, commercialism, and the public's fascination with serial killers, while funny, are highly topical and will leave future readers wondering, Who is Amber Frey? The real stars of the book are the dogs, Chuck, Brandy, Johnnie Depp, and Margie, who all have much more lasting appeal. This book doesn't need to be more than what it is, an irresistible ball of fun. For all public libraries.—Mary Kay Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS
Friend, Lonn. Life on Planet Rock. Morgan Road. 2006. c.240p. ISBN 0-7679-2208-5. pap. $14. MUSIC
Strict music journalists are going to hate Friend's memoir because it reads like a fan's guide to hanging with the rock stars the writer grew up worshipping. This wouldn't be a bad thing, except that you'd think the former editor of rock magazine RIP wouldn't have been as close to his subjects. But, hey, if he hadn't been chummy enough with Alice Cooper to play golf with the shock rocker or close enough to industry folks to have dinner with Roger Daltry (lead singer of the Who), this book would have been pretty lame. And the truth is, most readers aren't likely to care about possible ethical entanglements. They'll just want to read the inside dirt (though Friend's dirt isn't exactly dirty) on former Guns n' Roses axe man Slash (nice guy, heavy drinker) or about Trent Reznor's gushing over Gene Simmons of KISS. Overall, Friend's trip down memory lane isn't a cultural think piece on the musical might of the 1990s. But reading cheery Friend's stories about where he was during the decade isn't exactly boring either. Recommended for libraries with large music book collections.—Robert Morast, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD
Lenburg, Jeff. Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film & Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators. Applause. Aug. 2006. c.381p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-55783-671-X [ISBN 978-1-55783-671-7]. pap. $19.95. FILM
Lenburg, author of several books (including The Encyclopedia of Animated Films), has written an exceptional book highlighting the creative talents that have made animation not only an art but also a successful industry. The encyclopedic format covers more than 300 international animators, producers, and directors of animated works, from Brad Bird (The Incredibles) to Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away). The short, concise biographies contain date and place of birth, information on the person's family and education, major achievements, awards, and her or his famous characters. While perusing these biographies, readers learn a great deal about the history of the animated film. For example, Émile Cohl released what is considered the first animated film in 1908, titled Fatasmagorie. Maybe some true "animaniacs" would know this, but casual fans may not. There are many other fascinating and fun facts in this excellent book, written in cooperation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Association Internationale du Film D'Animation. The only problem is the book's somewhat specialized audience. However, it will make a useful, affordable reference where there is interest. Recommended for specialized libraries or collections.—Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL
Leyner, Mark & Billy Goldberg, M.D. Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?: More Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Whiskey Sour. Three Rivers: Crown. Aug. 2006. c.288p. ISBN 0-307-34597-1. pap. $23.95. PSYCH
In this sequel to their best seller Why Do Men Have Nipples?, Leyner and Goldberg answer more questions that might cause average Janes and Joes to scratch their heads. Despite the title, the duo does not focus exclusively on the bedroom—areas covered include gender differences, food, animals, and puberty. The authors also debunk popular myths ("Are more babies conceived during a full moon?") and provide information on other odd scenarios ("Why do I sneeze when I pluck my eyebrows?"). Each section begins with an account of the authors' (hopefully fictional) eccentric forays into therapy practice, and Instant Messenger conversations between the two are scattered throughout. These features, combined with the humorous, playful nature of the answers, seem to align this title more with humor than medicine. An entertaining read, although the schlock-doc shtick sometimes wears thin, and occasionally the authors turn to humor when it seems they do not have a straight answer for a question. For public libraries and large collections.—Amanda Glasbrenner, Chicago
Rogers, Annie G. The Unsayable: The Hidden Language of Trauma. Random. Aug. 2006. c.336p. index. ISBN 1-4000-6195-4. $25.95. PSYCH
Clinical psychologist Rogers (A Shining Affliction: A Story of Harm and Healing in Psychotherapy) shares knowledge gained from 20-plus years of treating abandoned and/or physically or sexually abused children in this erudite mix of personal remembrance and professional introspection. Most of her young patients were either too young or too traumatized to express their feelings, but over time Rogers learned how to interpret their nonverbal gestures and body language in order to help them. Her intensive, exhaustive work enabled her to learn how the painful experience of trauma influences the development of particular coded signs and symptoms that conventional therapy usually cannot grasp. Rogers also explains how French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan's work helped her unlock the unspeakable, horrible results of trauma and to make frequently startling connections with many formerly unreachable girls who had lost years of their life struggling to overcome their own abuse. Rogers's lyrical, multilayered articulation, her focus on her patients, and the extensive integration of Lacanian theory result in this unique title that stands out among the plethora of other works on child abuse. Highly recommended for university libraries supporting the helping professions and larger public libraries.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Blythe, Chris (text) & Steve Parkhouse (illus.). Angel Fire. Shattered Frames, dist. by Nantier Beall Minoustchine. 2006. 112p. ISBN 0-9549944-0-X. pap. $17.95. F
The story of John Dury begins with a night of debauchery with prostitutes and the designer drug "angel fire" to celebrate a takeover that John and his partner, Zee, have engineered. John comes to his senses long enough to find that his wife has been murdered, and, in remorse, overdoses on angel fire. When he awakens from his coma, he retreats to his wife's isolated family manor in Scotland, where a dark silhouette with red eyes appears as John's sense of reality begins to unravel. Zee arrives, but will it be enough to keep John's ghosts at bay? The art is gloomy, as befits the story, with a subdued palette occasionally featuring a dramatic red. Although there is murder, suicide, and a subplot featuring the rape of a novice nun, blood is the only startling visual element. The figures of John and Zee are drawn similarly to the point that they are sometimes difficult to differentiate, but this UK import should do well where horror GNs are popular.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids
Mahfood, Jim. Stupid Comics. Image Comics. 2006. 152p. ISBN 1-58240-611-1. pap. $12.99. AUTOBIOG
Mahfood is one angry dude. He's angry at the Bush government, suburban gangstas, frat boys, reality TV, celebrity-obsessed Americans, big corporations, the religious Right, politicians, and mindless consumerism. In other words, easy targets. Nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but without a little leavening wit, righteous anger is merely preaching, and this collection of weekly strips is definitely Mahfood's pulpit. His celebrations of life's pleasures are equally earnest and equally banal. The artist himself frequently appears as a character but rarely offers the incisive, self-deflating satire that makes the work of someone like Harvey Pekar so compelling. More than once, he even falls back on the lame device of making a strip about not having an idea for a strip. Mahfood's strong suit is his lively, cheerful artwork, and his immersion in hip-hop lends color and flavor (including casual, widespread profanity) to the otherwise conventional pursuits—partying, sex, dealing with Life's Big Questions—of his twentysomething world. But until he turns a cooler, keener eye on that world and himself and attacks his prey with a scalpel instead of a baseball bat, Mahfood's comics will remain honest, passionate, and not very interesting.—Andrew Moore, Wayland P.L., MA
Milligan, Peter (text) & Salvador Larroca (illus.). X-Men: The Blood of Apocalypse. Marvel. 2006. 168p. ISBN 0-7851-1985-X. pap. $17.99. F
When 90 percent of the Earth's mutant population is depowered, the 5000-year-old mutant Apocalypse decides to even things out by killing 90 percent of the human population. The X-Men have battled genocidal maniacs before, but with only a handful of surviving mutants, some of the team members think that Apocalypse might have the right idea. Apocalypse arrives at the X-Mansion with his new horsemen, War, Famine, and Pestilence, and convinces one X-Man to abandon his team and become the fourth, Death. Unfortunately, the plot is rushed; if Milligan had stretched this story out for a few more issues, he could have explored how anger and frustration can lead to betrayal and how a hero can be seduced into abandoning his old ways of thinking in favor of adopting a new, uncompromising doctrine. Instead, one of the X-Men turns his back on his friends, his teammates, and his girlfriend in order to side with Apocalypse in a matter of minutes. The art by Larroca is clean and detailed, and some pages are so beautiful that they almost look painted. Larroca illustrates violent scenes without making them too explicit or offensive for high school libraries. Sadly, however, the art alone does not make this book a worthy addition to your X-Men collection. Hold off on purchasing and instead wait a few months for a compilation of the current Ed Brubaker arc.—Michael Powers, John Jermain P.L., Sag Harbor, NY
Remender, Rick (text) & Tony Moore (illus.). Fear Agent. Vol. 1: Re-Ignition. Image Comics. 2006. 96p. ISBN 1-58240-618-9. pap. $9.99. F
Heath Huston—a hard-drinking, interplanetary space traveler who lost his wife and child during an invasion of Earth and seeks vengeance against those responsible—battles monkeylike aliens, robots controlled by human brains, and other nefarious creatures in frequently violent and gruesome adventures. Heath's special powers include the ability to catch a "lucky" break during his gory and graphic conflicts—enabling him to survive—only to face more severe predicaments a few moments later. Taking solace in drinking whiskey and talking to his rocket ship, Heath longs for his deceased wife, Char, and his son. A sort of tongue-in-cheek homage to horror and science fiction comic genres, issues one through four are entertaining. Occasional quotes from Samuel Clemens provide an interesting touch, and Heath's tough-guy persona is humorous, but the fast-paced narrative is marred by misspellings, punctuation errors, bad word choices, and a rushed plot. Cliff-hanger endings in each issue keep the story moving. Quirky art borders on the cartoony side at times but works well. Owing to mature language and fairly violent scenes, Fear Agent is for older teens and mature audiences. An optional purchase for libraries.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
Ruth, Greg. Sudden Gravity: A Tale of the Panopticon. Dark Horse. 2006. 162p. ISBN 1-59307-565-0 [ISBN 978-1-59307-565-1]. pap. $10.95. F
In the wake of the blockbuster film The Ring, supernatural thrillers are all the rage in the film industry. While elements of horror and mystery are nothing new to the comics world, Sudden Gravity taps into this phenomenon and thus, it seems fresh and new. Opening with an unsettling but beautifully drawn dream sequence that is arguably the book's most memorable scene, Sudden Gravity takes the reader on a journey into a world of secret societies and dark magic punctuated with eerie visuals set in a mental hospital. Unfortunately, the story takes a backseat to the genuinely beautiful black-and-white art. The mystery seems to unravel at an uneven pace, overwhelming the reader with information at the end and all but effectively eliminating the guessing-game quality of most good mysteries. What Ruth does manage to convey without a fault is the descent into the madness that all of the main characters experience in the course of the narrative; as events grow more and more bizarre, so does the artwork and the dialog. While Sudden Gravity may not be a classic on par with Alan Moore, it is definitely worth one read-through to experience the atmospheric art and puzzling (yet strangely simplistic) plot. Librarians ordering for younger readers should note that not only is this work littered with profanity and disturbing violence but also some unsettling and scary images.—M. Brandon Robbins, Wayne Cty. P.L., Goldsboro, NC
Sacco, Joe. But I Like It. Fantagraphics. Aug. 2006. 136p. ISBN 1-56097-729-9. $24.95. MUSIC
Sacco's latest effort collects previously published and some unreleased material detailing his ongoing love-hate relationship with the world of rock'n'roll. Through sketchbook selections, poster art, a CD, and various stories from the late 1980s through the present, Sacco traces his disillusionment with the music scene and the musicians and rabid fans that form its core. The book's centerpiece is the previously published "In the Company of Long Hair," which chronicles Sacco's adventures touring with a friend's band in Europe during the late 1980s. The lighter tone and humor of the pieces stand in contrast to the human tragedy explored in Sacco's later works but retain the perceptive character analysis and attention to detail that are his signature. The R. Crumb–like artwork, while more raw than the depictions of war-torn Sarajevo in The Fixer, manages in places to mimic the chaotic feel of a touring rock circus, with scenes eschewing the standard box/panel structure. Overall, the collection has a bit of a scrapbook feel but remains an entertaining and very personalized window into the world of rock. Containing some mild nudity and references to drug use, this work is recommended for larger adult graphic novel collections.—David Ward, Univ. of Illinois Undergraduate Lib., Urbana
Untold Tales of the New Universe. Marvel. 2006. 152p. ISBN 0-7851-2185-4. pap. $15.99. F
There is little point in publishing this collection of eight stories, most of which were originally presented in Marvel's New Universe line during the 1980s, other than to take a trip down memory lane and provide background material and hype for potential new fans of Warren Ellis's upcoming reboot of these characters. The tales revamp already used ideas; several of the narratives focus on teams of youths gifted with various paranormal abilities during the mysterious "White Event" and who are thrown together and decide to combat evil forces. "Star Brand" heads up the collection, providing a philosophical look at what it's like to be gifted with godlike powers, featuring Ken Connell, a youth from Pittsburgh who flies through space and attempts to deal with his newfound abilities. While the original N.U. series enjoyed a small following, revolving art teams prompted an inconsistent fan base despite the line's existence for about three years. The art and writing in these eight tales are fairly unremarkable by today's standards; although some might argue that stories by Peter David, Fred Van Lente, and others are well crafted and nicely illustrated (and somewhat revolutionary in 1986), they seem dated now. The stories are mish-mashed together and fail to inspire. A few brief new stories are added, allegedly to tie up loose ends and provide context. Best aimed at older teens and young adults (a few panels contain bedroom scenes and bikinis, but nothing objectionable). An optional purchase for large collections only.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
Yumeka, Sumomo. Same Cell Organism. Juné: Digital Manga. 2006. 144p. tr. from Japanese by Sachiko Sato. ISBN 1-56970-926-2. pap. $12.95. F
The manga short story is a difficult medium, rarely achieved satisfactorily, but Yumeka's quiet collection of four "boys' love" stories accomplishes what few do: it presents something worth reading. The title refers to the premise behind each of the four stories—that two people find each other and, despite their differences, became identical in their love. The first selection, "Same Cell Organism," is the best and sets the tone for the rest of the book. It reflects, from Nakagawa's perspective, on the development of his relationship with fellow high school senior Yokota. Believably, they begin as strangers, become friends, and then become more. In "The Letter in the Attic," Kana falls in love with Yuji, another boy who uses the high school attic as a hideaway. When Yuji disappears, Kana investigates and learns that he has died—which doesn't stop him from seeing Yuji at the end of the story. Ghost? Memory? It's hard to know. In "To Make an Angel," Yumeka bows to convention (see CLAMP's Wish) and writes about an angel who leaves heaven to live with a nice young man. In the last story, "We Selfish Two," a high schooler and a college student learn that they each harbor secret feelings for the other. Yumeka's drawings are delicate and deft, her narratives self-reflective and gently paced. One problem: the thick paper makes for a stiff book, but it contributes to the sturdy binding. Though not gratuitous, the characters and themes make this a high school read.—Rebecca Schaffner, Saline Dist. Lib., MI
Week of August 1
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Dahlquist, Gordon. The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters. Bantam. Aug. 2006. c.768p. ISBN 0-385-34035-4 [ISBN 978-0-385-34035-9]. $26. F
An abruptly terminated engagement propels a curious Celeste Temple to trail her ex-fiancé, which leads her into the wicked and mysterious machinations of a nefarious cabal of pleasure and surrender. Along with two companions, who are also accidentally drawn into this secret world, Celeste runs against time and resists seduction to thwart the "dream eaters" and their alchemical "glass books" as they aspire to power and dominion. The unlikely but heroic trio—strong-willed lady-of-wealth Celeste Temples, worldly man-for-hire Cardinal Chang, and the intelligent and reluctantly courageous Dr. Abelard Svenson—are winningly portrayed with personality and nuance and are lively cohorts on this dark adventure. Intricately plotted, precisely written, with relentless twists and turns, this debut from playwright Dahlquist is reminiscent of a Victorian grotesque meets Eyes Wide Shut meets Indiana Jones. Its ambitious, imaginative scope and numerous dramatis personae require concentration, a few plot threads are left unresolved, and a truly satisfying explanation of the powerful blue glass eludes the reader. Nevertheless, if you can suspend belief, this is an engaging work for lovers of over-the-top Victorian suspense and intrigue. Recommended. [With a six-figure marketing campaign; see Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/06.]—Ann Kim, Library Journal
Nonfiction
Baronova, Irina. Irina: Ballet, Life and Love. Univ. of Florida. Sept. 2006. c.544p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-8130-3026-9. $34.95. DANCE
Dubbed one of the "three baby ballerinas" by London critic Arnold Haskell in the early 1930s, Baronova (v-p, Royal Acad. of Dance) reviews her international career, marked by numerous artistic triumphs and set against the backdrop of war and family problems. Born in 1919 to a privileged Russian family that fled the Bolsheviks, Irina grew up, impoverished, in Romania. Her stern and determined mother enrolled her in ballet classes; she began performing and was "discovered" at age 12 by George Balanchine. At 13, she joined the Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo. Before she was 18, she had premiered several ballets, toured close to 100 cities around the world, married, danced before King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and met, among other celebrities, painter Salvador Dali and actress Marlene Dietrich. Now in her eighties, Baronova reflects on her eventful life by sharing brief anecdotes and stories. She impresses the reader as a generous spirit and as having lived her life with a sense of adventure and a commitment to her art. A memoir of personal growth and development as much as development of an artist; recommended for large public and academic libraries.—Joan Stahl, Univ. of Maryland Lib., College Park
Bicât, Tina. The Handbook of Stage Costume. Aug. 2006. 144p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-86126-807-6 [ISBN 978-1-86126-807-5]. pap. $35. THEATER
Bicât (Making Stage Costumes: A Practical Guide) here gives amateurs as well professionals a helpful, accessible guide to costuming and stagecraft. In 11 chapters, she reviews a variety of topics, including communicating with costume, creating designs, shopping for materials, cutting fabrics, and working with accessories. The 100 color photos, some of Judi Dench and Juliet Stevenson in character (in The Seagull and The Caucasian Chalk Circle, respectively) and dancers costumed for Matthew Bourne's production of Swan Lake, add an element of interest for the theater buff. Although Bicât does not supply as many details about period costumes as does Sheila Jackson in Costumes for the Stage: A Complete Handbook for Every Kind of Play, Bicât's practical tips and sound advice will nonetheless benefit drama students, community theater participants, and those theater folk who usually work in another part of the house. Added features include the "Jargon-buster," an aptly titled appendix of theater shoptalk, and a short bibliography. Recommended for all performing arts collections.—Carolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L.
Gotham Writers' Workshop Faculty. Writing Movies: The Practical Guide to Creating Stellar Screenplays. Bloomsbury, dist. by St. Martin's. Sept. 2006. c.400p. ed. by Alexander Steele. index. ISBN 1-59691-145-X [978-1-59691-145-1].pap. $15.95. FILM
Have you ever seen a movie and thought, "I can write a better script?" If so, this book will give you everything you need to complete a professional screenplay. Gotham Writers' Workshop faculty and editor Steele (dean of faculty) have fashioned a comprehensive course on screenwriting that is informative as well as entertaining. They lead you through the necessary steps in creating your screenplay, from writing compelling dialog to inventing unique characters. The text is a blend of examples, exercises, and ideas that will make a difficult undertaking seem possible. Five films are used as examples: Tootsie, Die Hard, Shawshank Redemption, Thelma & Louise, and Sideways. These films are analyzed and used to illustrate the components of a screenplay, plus the proper format for submitting the finished product. Other books on writing movies, such as Lisa Dethridge's Writing Your Screenplay, are wordy without offering the amount of information found in this guide. An excellent resource for anyone considering writing a screenplay; highly recommended for most libraries.—Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL
Health Issues Among Incarcerated Women. Rutgers Univ. Aug. 2006. c.376p. ed. by Ronald Braithwaite & others. index. ISBN 0-8135-3691-X [ISBN 978-0-8135-3691-0]. pap. $29.95. MED
This is a much-needed, well-written, and extremely thorough collection of 20 original scholarly articles focusing on the perhaps neglected topic of the various physical and mental health issues common among women in prison. Edited by Braithwaite (community health & preventive medicine, Morehouse Sch. of Medicine, Atlanta), Kimberly Jacob Arriola (behavioral sciences & health education, Rollins Sch. of Public Health, Emory Univ., Atlanta), and forensic psychiatrist Cassandra Newkirk, it addresses mood disorders, substance abuse issues, sexual and reproductive issues, and other potentially serious ailments. On a deeper level, many of the articles speak to the socioeconomic and cultural factors that can affect and perpetuate these health concerns. All of the contributing authors include concrete statistics and stress the importance of recognizing and addressing the health needs of women in our prison systems. This is not light reading and would be best thought of as a textbook and/or reference book. It is appropriate for advanced high school students, college students, and graduate students studying in the areas of women's health, public health, and/or criminal justice and is best suited for academic and medical libraries.—Nicole Cooke, Montclair State Univ. Lib., Upper Montclair, NJ
Kurlansky, Mark. Nonviolence: Twenty-Five Lessons From the History of a Dangerious Idea. Modern Library. Sept. 2006. c.224p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-679-64335-4. pap. $19.95. HIST
Nonviolence is an idea that deserves serious attention in this age. Wars haven't ended wars; they typically set the scene for future wars. Unfortunately, in his zeal to convince, Kurlansky (The Big Oyster) simplifies complicated questions and makes exaggerated claims for the efficacy of nonviolent action. The Third Reich did embrace the Final Solution after Allied aggression began, but it distorts history to claim that "the Holocaust was … started by the war." As early as 1919, Hitler was arguing for removal of the Jews. And, as horrific as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were, without the bombings, there would very likely have been many more American dead. In other words, nothing is quite so simple. Though Gandhi's nonviolent campaign succeeded against the "ruthless" British, it is Pollyannaish to assert that nonviolence, unaided by direct violence, would have worked against Hitler. In the Philippines, nonviolent resistance exacerbated Marcos's situation, but he faced two insurgent armies. The book concludes with 25 "lessons" about nonviolence that are uneven in content and often jejune. This is a book for those who already believe, not for those who want to think seriously about alternatives to continued violence. Not recommended.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Lawlis, Dr. Frank. The I.Q. Answer: Maximing your Child's Potential. Viking. Sept. 2006. c.276p. index. ISBN 0-670-03784-2. $24.95. CHILD REARING
The chief content adviser for the Dr. Phil Show follows up The ADD Answer with a bait and switch. Billed as a parenting book, this self-help guide to achieving your "authentic self" has a section in the final chapter on relating the 13-step program to family life. Complex topics such as brain neurology, psychological barriers, and creativity are briefly outlined. Readers assess themselves through a series of write-in quizzes. Commonsense approaches that figured prominently in The ADD Answer, such as sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition, as well as breathing techniques, reappear here. Faith-based references are awkward—not biblical enough to be considered "Christian" but enough to alienate some readers. Alternative choices without a TV tie-in are Linda Elder and Richard Paul's 25 Days to Better Thinking & Better Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life and Corinne L. Gediman's Brainfit: 10 Minutes a Day for a Sharper Mind and Memory. As needed, this is a solid public library purchase for self-help sections but not for parenting.—Shawna Thorup, Fayetteville P.L., AR
Spoto, Donald. Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn. Harmony: Crown. Sept. 2006. c.368p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-307-23758-3. $25.95. FILM
Best-selling biographer Spoto has written 21 books, many of which tackle film heavy hitters like Ingrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, and Laurence Olivier. Here, he takes on Audrey Hepburn, a film and fashion icon who starred in some of the most popular films of the 20th century. Readers revisit her harrowing childhood in Europe during World War II, her father's abandonment, her marriage and affairs, and her eventual dedication to UNICEF. However, Spoto had access to many of Hepburn's friends and colleagues and ferreted out obscure texts and articles as well as fresh facts. Of particular interest are the reminiscences of playwright Robert Anderson, who penned the screenplay for A Nun's Story and had an intimate relationship with Hepburn. Spoto's research is thorough, and his analysis of Hepburn's films is intriguing. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to "novelize" by putting thoughts in people's heads and words in their mouths, which gives the book a melodramatic tone. Still, this work—the first full-scale biography of Hepburn in ten years—is an engrossing read. Hepburn's son penned a biography in 2003, but it included few behind-the-scenes details. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
Wilentz, Amy. I Feel Earthquakes More Often Than They Happen: Coming to California in the Age of Schwarzenegger. S. & S. Aug. 2006. c.352p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-7432-6439-8 [ISBN 978-0-7432-6439-6].$26. SOC SCI
Journalist and novelist Wilentz (Martyrs' Crossing) has lived in Haiti, Israel, and New York, but nothing prepared her for the contorted social vicissitudes of Southern California, where she moved in 2003. Here is her impressionistic account of her new home state, and it's a minor tremor at best. Wilentz writes sharp sentences of almost Didionesque precision ("the joke about California is that the joke about California is not a joke" begs to be quoted), and her explorations of places like the desert-based California City, the hippy-remnant Esalen Institute, and suburban Lakewood prove engaging. But too often Wilentz seems overly enamored of the high-society elite circles in which she travels, and her portraits of such figures as Warren Beatty and Arianna Huffington come off as more fawning than analytical, despite some cursory criticism. Meanwhile, despite acknowledging the "apartheid geography" of Los Angeles, she shows little interest in the poor or the nonwhite (who counted for 53 percent of California's population in the 2000 census). A pleasant enough read but hardly insightful regarding the tumultuous state of contemporary California. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/06.]—Whitney Strub, doctoral candidate, UCLA
Fiction
Arnoult, Darnell. Sufficient Grace. Free Pr: S. & S. 2006. 320p. ISBN 0-7432-8447-X [ISBN 978-0-7432-8447-9]. $23. F
Grace Hollaman hears voices that tell her to paint larger-than-life-sized portraits of Jesus around her house. Then the voices tell her to get rid of her worldly possessions and leave her husband and family. She gets in her car and drives off to wherever the voices tell her. So begins Sufficient Grace, Arnoult's tale of blind faith and trust as they pertain to two very different families. Grace's life intertwines with that of two strong African American women, Mama Toot and Mattie, when they find her lying unconscious on a family grave. They take Grace home and decide not to report anything to the police. Meanwhile, Grace's husband is searching for her, not sure where or why she has gone, as she left no clues behind but a pile of cut-up credit cards and the paintings of Jesus. Arnoult explores how these two families eventually come together and help each other achieve a greater understanding of life. Recommended for public libraries, especially those where Southern-themed novels are popular.—Leann Restaino, Girard, OH
Brown, Sandra. Ricochet. S. & S. Aug. 2006. 400p. ISBN 0-7432-8933-1 [ISBN 978-0-7432-8933-7]. $25.95. F
Best-selling author Brown (Chill Factor) delivers one of her best novels ever with this taut and suspenseful tale of a cop, a judge, a trophy wife, and a renowned criminal. Savannah-based Detective Sgt. Duncan Hatcher has been trying to put drug kingpin Robert Savich away for years, but he can't make anything stick. A mistrial granted by Judge Cato Laird enrages Duncan, and he winds up charged with contempt of court. Not long after, Duncan and his partner, DeeDee Bowen, investigate what appears to be a self-defense shooting by Laird's gorgeous wife, Elise, at the Laird residence, but they don't buy her story that she interrupted a burglary. Elise complicates matters when she asks Duncan for help. Her request, along with his powerful attraction to her, may compromise the investigation and Duncan's career. Brown deftly keeps the surprises coming, and readers won't lose interest in this fast-paced, steamy story that's sure to be on waiting lists through the fall. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/06.]—Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY
Michaels, Fern. Fool Me Once. Kensington. Aug. 2006. c.320p. ISBN 0-7582-1630-0. $24. F
Two plots run concurrently in Michael's (Family Blessings) latest. The first involves Olivia Lowell's dealing with the unexpected news that her mother (thought to have died in childbirth 30 years ago) is still alive. The second plot revolves around Olivia's dog photography business, through which she falls in love with a man who is trying to keep custody of a dog that has inherited a large estate. Fool Me Once unfolds several "foolings." Olivia's mother fooled others by successfully pulling off a bank heist while a college student. Her accomplice, Jill, has lived a life of deception as a result of her participation. Olivia plans to pass off one dog for another. And a seedy character tries to fool others so he will benefit from a canine inheritance. Reader credulity may be strained by certain unbelievable elements in the story. While fans of light, escapist fiction may enjoy, the more critical will trudge hard to get to the end. Recommended only for public libraries where Michaels is popular.—Carol J. Bissett, New Braunfels P.L., TX
Robbins, David L. The Assassins Gallery. Bantam. Aug. 2006. c.432p. ISBN 0-553-80441-3 [ISBN 978-0-553-80441-6]. $25. F
After writing several excellent novels about combat in World War II (e.g., Liberation Road; Last Citadel), Robbins digresses only slightly from the formula with a superb and compelling speculative history that asks, What if FDR had been assassinated instead of dying of natural causes in Warm Springs, GA? A female agent—Judith, a Persian familiar with the ancient arts of the assassins—has been sent to the United States to kill the president. History professor Michael Lammeck has the knowledge and the means, he hopes, to stop her, and with the help of a Secret Service agent, he begins the chase. Lammeck is far from an ordinary instructor—the Czech-born American citizen also instructs secret agents in the fine art of killing before they parachute behind enemy lines. This thriller evokes pleasant memories of Frederick Forsyth's classic Day of the Jackal and also hints of a Middle East crisis to come. Assassins is a fine premise written exceedingly well. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/06.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
Bird, Howard & others. Arthritis: Your Comprehensive Guide to Pain Management, Medication, Diet, Exercise, Surgery, and Physical Therapies. DK in assoc. with the Arthritis Fdn. Aug. 2006. 224p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-7566-1870-3. $25. HEALTH
Along with an orthopedic surgeon, a dietitian, and two occupational therapists, rheumatologist Bird (coauthor, Challenges in Rheumatoid Arthritis) presents a holistic, patient-empowering approach to treating arthritic and chronic joint pain. An arthritis overview is followed by evaluated treatments (e.g., drugs, surgery, diet and exercise, complementary and movement therapies, and bodywork). There are detailed tips on living with arthritis and brief coverage of children, special-risk groups, and long-term outlook. The text presentation and illustrations are great; the photographs, beautiful and inspiring; and the sidebars and tables, relevant. Among these strengths, however, are noticeable gaps in coverage. Many important terms in the introductory chapters were not defined (e.g., viscosupplements), and glossary definitions were lacking (e.g., homeopathic), as was guidance on where to go for extended information. A decent index, a Q&A section, X-ray images, tip boxes, and a fairly complete unannotated resource list round out the book. Recommended, warts and all, for all public libraries and consumer health collections, namely for its unique medically valid and empowering approach. A good companion to Mayo Clinic on Arthritis and Kate Lorig's The Arthritis Helpbook: A Tested Self-Management Program for Coping with Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.—Janice Flahiff, Univ. of Toledo Health Science Campus Lib.
Frump, Robert R. The Man-Eaters of Eden: Life and Death in Kruger National Park. Lyons: Globe Pequot. Aug. 2006. c.272p. ISBN 1-59228-892-8. $24.95. NAT HIST
After a casual encounter with a safari guide, Frump, a former investigative reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, researched historical and present-day data on man-eating lions and believes he has uncovered a large and growing problem: lions are eating more people (mostly refugees from Mozambique) in South Africa's Kruger National Park than previously known or thought possible, and this has significant social, economic, and political implications. Told in a narrative format, unusual for a work of nonfiction like this, the book is not as smooth or as organized as a more traditional handling of the material would have allowed. One also wonders about the reliability of some of the source material—especially the information derived from the sensationalized accounts of big-game hunters. Few solutions or conclusions are reached, yet the subject matter provided many opportunities for the political and ethical aspects to be explored further. Although Frump won a Pulitzer Prize for business reporting as a member of a Philadelphia Inquirer task force and won the George Polk Award for investigative reporting, Man-Eaters doesn't measure up to his previous work. A marginal purchase.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI
Lamb, Sharon & Lyn Mikel Brown. Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes. St. Martin's. Aug. 2006. c.320p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-312-35250-6 [ISBN 978-0-312-35250-9]. $24.95. CHILD REARING
Marketers are everywhere, fiercely competing to tell girls how they should look, think, and act. Hip-hop lyrics, Nickelodeon cartoons, Bratz dolls, Hot Topic stores, and Disney girls—all these (and more!) present images to girls that are demeaning, stereotypical, and limiting. In this alarming, detailed study, Lamb (psychology, St. Michael's Coll., VT; The Secret Lives of Girls) and Brown (education, Colby Coll., ME; coauthor, Meeting at the Crossroads: Women's Psychology and Girls' Development) examine the sway of clothing, movies, TV, books, magazines, games, toys, sports, and web sites. Their conclusions are persuasive: girlhood, from preschool to the teen years, has been hijacked, and parents need to—and can—get it back. To those who say all reading is good, Lamb and Brown have the courage to say, "No!" Series books, magazines, and ads are filled with harmful stereotypes, they aver. Including the same cautionary advice as Sylvia Rimm's Growing Up Too Fast and Rosalind Wiseman's Queen Bees and Wannabes, Packaging Girlhood looks directly at marketing and the media, and the picture isn't pretty in pink. An excellent first purchase.—Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA
Millington, Barry. The New Grove Guide to Wagner and His Operas. Oxford Univ. Aug. 2006. c.240p. illus. index. ISBN 0-19-530588-4. pap. $15.95. MUSIC
In this first of three New Grove opera guides released this year by Oxford, British music critic Millington (The Wagner Compendium) draws on the scholarship of The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, updating the original pieces, bibliography, glossary, and discography and contributing a new preface and four new chapters. Separate sections on the life and works of composer Richard Wagner are followed by chronologically arranged, concisely presented chapters on 14 operas. These include a history of their composition and an act-by-act summary, with occasional examples in musical notation (reduced to a font size just this side of legible). Millington handles the complexity of the musical language with ease. The suggested listening guide, in which he lists his favorite recordings and provides some brief, subjective commentary, is particularly useful. In the biographical section, Millington touches only lightly upon the noxious philosophies and personality traits of this most controversial of all composers; readers interested in a more probing analysis should consult his Wagner Compendium or Joachim Kohler's excellent Richard Wagner: Last of the Titans. Millington's lucid and easy-to-read companion will be of interest to both seasoned fans and wary initiates. Recommended for general collections.—Larry Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, PA
Wood, M. Sandra. Internet Guide to Cosmetic Surgery for Men. Haworth Information: Haworth. Aug. 2006. c.211p. index. ISBN 0-7890-1608-7 [ISBN 978-0-7890-1608-9]. $34.95; pap. ISBN 0-7890-1609-5 [ISBN 978-0-7890-1609-6]. $19.95. HEALTH
Medical Library Association Fellow Wood (Internet Guide to Cosmetic Surgery for Women) here organizes the myriad Internet sites on the subject of cosmetic surgery for men into a cohesive webliography. As she did in the previous title, Wood here arranges the sites by subject area—e.g., "Body Contouring" (liposuction, augmentations, lifts), "Face, Head & Neck" (cheek, forehead, jaw), and "Skin" (cellulite, scars, wrinkles). She excels in her explanations of how to evaluate web sites and discussion of how she selected the recommended sites. Because so much web information is spurious, incomplete, or out of date, a book like this, listing the most recently active and thoroughly evaluated sites, will greatly help anyone researching the subject. It will be especially useful for patient libraries and for reference librarians. Highly recommended for these buyers.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with the Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH
Koike, Kazuo (text) & Goseki Kojima (illus.). Path of the Assassin. Vol. 1: Serving in the Dark. Dark Horse. 2006. 310p. tr. from Japanese by Naomi Kokubo. ISBN 1-59307-502-2. pap. $9.95. F
This historical manga (the first of 15) from the creators of Lone Wolf and Cub and Samurai Executioner follows Hattori Hanzo, a ninja assigned to protect the future shogun and uniter of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Heir to the Matsuhdaira clan, 16-year-old Ieyasu is being raised as a hostage of the rival Imagawa clan. Fifteen-year-old Hanzo is assigned by the Matsuhdaira to "serve our master in the dark." Ieyasu, portrayed as fat, clumsy, and somewhat sniveling, resents his younger servant's physical skills and experience. Hanzo in return questions the worthiness of his master, after being given awkward tasks such as demonstrating the facts of life before Ieyasu's marriage. Through a series of subtle and clever situations, the novel examines the bond forged from this fragile initial relationship. Koike continues the ingenious and often surprising plotting characteristic of his earlier work, crafting an extremely engaging and well-paced story. Presented in the original right-to-left format, the black-and-white artwork by Kojima is superb, alternating between detailed closeups of people, costumes, and objects and lush landscapes reminiscent of paintings. With scenes of extreme violence, nudity, and sex, this manga is clearly for adult collections, for which it is recommended.—David Ward, Univ. of Illinois Undergraduate Lib., Urbana
Langridge, Andrew & Roger Langridge. The Louche and Insalubrious Escapades of Art d'Ecco. Fantagraphics. Aug. 2006. 159p. ISBN 1-56097-796-5. pap. $16.95. F
Ignore the bad puns. Forget the stale jokes. The true pleasure of this book is its visual brilliance. The references include everything from film noir to M.C. Escher to the design style that gives the eponymous hero his name, with homages to comics greats Winsor McCay, George Herriman, and Carl Barks—all in a stunning black-and-white palette as rich as a classic 1930s movie. There are also evocations of Mad Magazine's Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder, but artist Roger Langridge's dizzying inventiveness is truly individual. This is not a graphic novel proper but a collection of strips that are usually no more than one-off gags, as well as longer stories that take satirical jabs at such subjects as religious cults and class economics. The characters include lounge lizard Art, his demented doppelganger Art Nouveau, and his triangular, moronic sidekick Gump, whom readers may find less endearing than his creators do. There is a fair share of comic violence, most of it directed at the hapless Gump, but nothing truly disturbing. And the cheerfully relentless humor of writer Andrew Langridge (Roger's brother) is perfect for the smart-aleck teen who's too old for Mad but too young for R. Crumb.—Andrew Moore, Wayland P.L., MA
Nakamura, Yoshiki. Skip Beat! Vol. 1. Viz Media. 2006. 184p. tr. from Japanese by Tomo Kimura. ISBN 1-4215-0585-1. pap. $8.99. F
Young performers determined to get to the top are not uncommon in shoujo (girls') manga, but Skip Beat! gives this theme an enjoyable twist. Kyoko Mogami is no professional—she can't act or sing. She's in Tokyo to support her lifelong friend Sho, who is singing his way to fame. Kyoko is utterly devoted to Sho—until she discovers that he only brought her along to handle his room and board. Realizing that she is nothing but a servant to her idol, she decides to beat Sho at his own game. Accommodating, hard-working Kyoko gets herself a makeover and a ruthless new attitude. Using the culinary skills she developed helping out at Sho's family's inn as a child, she fights her way into a talent agency as a "talento" (Japanese celebrities known for various talents, and who appear on variety shows, in ads, etc.). The agency's only concern? Her uncompassionate, unfeminine attitude. Whether Kyoko will learn to balance temperance and confidence is left to future volumes, but book one introduces a tough, atypical, and funny heroine well worth the read. Suited to the 12+ crowd and a pleasant and unobjectionable fit for library collections.—Rebecca Schaffner, Saline Dist. Lib., MI
Sheinkin, Steve. The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom and Wit in the Wild West. Jewish Lights. Aug. 2006. 123p. ISBN 1-58023-310-4. pap. $16.99. F
A hero has arrived in Elk Spring, CO, to rid the town of outlaws, solve crimes, and offer sage advice. Using only his mind, he's lightening-fast with wisdom. In ten stories based on traditional Jewish folktales, Rabbi Harvey—a man who loves baseball and a good meal—makes his mark on the American frontier. Harvey outsmarts "Big Milt" Wasserman, the smartest, toughest guy in the West, in "There's a New Rabbi in Town." Other stories include "Stump the Rabbi" and "Bad Bubbe." Illustrations are black and white with splashes of background color; the simple drawings allow the witty banter to come through loud and clear. While reading, this reviewer expected to hear the rim shot at the end of the jokes—"tata, thum." There is nonsexual nudity in "Rabbi Harvey: Bearded Chicken," when the rabbi convinces a boy that he can still be a chicken and wear clothes. Regardless of one's religious or cultural background, Rabbi Harvey has insight to pass on to everyone. A list of suggested readings is included. A good selection for school and public libraries. Appropriate for ages eight to adult.—Susan L. Wakefield, Minneapolis, MN
Tsurugi, Kai. Black Knight. Vol. 1. Blu: Tokyopop. 2006. 200p. ISBN 1-59816-522-4. pap. $9.99. F
The general premise of Black Knight is simple: an effeminate young prince goes off to develop warlike skills at a training academy and ends up in an affair with Zeke, a mentor, guard, and knight of ambition. Their relationship is the crux of the story, with several explicit scenes to their credit (hence the rating). Unlike many yaoi manga, however, Black Knight does have a plot—a number of plots, actually, involving hidden loyalties, assassination attempts, and interkingdom power struggles. Though the plot is incompletely revealed, there are enough details that readers can hope for development in further volumes. Even with several reads, similar designs for a few minor characters make them hard to distinguish; overall, the art is outstanding, the narrative strong, the characters likable, and the plot tantalizing enough to draw readers to the next installment. The book concludes, incongruously, with a short story of the seduction of a guilt-ridden Irish priest, but those who get that far won't likely object. Though certainly inappropriate for YAs, Black Knight could find a place in adult collections as the graphic novel equivalent of, say, a vampire-free Anne Rice—ruffles and guilt complexes included.—Rebecca Schaffner, Saline Dist. Lib., MI
Wood, Brian (text) & Riccardo Burchielli (illus.). DMZ. Vol. 1: On the Ground. Vertigo: DC Comics. 2006. 128p. ISBN 1-4012-1062-7. pap. $9.99. F
Wood here portrays a different futuristic New York than the one in his "Channel Zero" series. While much of the backstory is missing, the reader discovers that there has been a civil war in the United States post-9/11. New Jersey, plus all of the states west of it, make up the Free States. The United States is made up of just Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. In the middle is the DMZ—Manhattan—a place where every day is 9/11, with snipers killing anyone on the streets. Young photojournalist intern Matty Roth gets his dream assignment to accompany a seasoned reporter to the DMZ, but everyone but Matty is killed in a mortar attack. Matty is left to make his way around this dangerous, decrepit island inhabited by both the good and the bad, such as the "ghosts" who patrol what used to be the Bronx Zoo to protect the animals. On his journey, Matty realizes that much of what has been broadcasted about the DMZ by the United States is propagandistic and untrue. One cannot help but draw parallels between Wood's DMZ and current political circumstances. Wood and Burchielli illustrate with great flair and sense of menace. The artwork is grim, with judicious use of black, red, and jagged lines. While the lack of backstory leaves the reader a bit confused, this initial book in a proposed series successfully piques one's interest. The plot is certainly timely and will leave teens with much to ponder. Recommended for most teen collections, high school and up.—B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Lib., Sag Harbor, NY
Fiction
Base, Ron. Magic Man. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Aug. 2006. c.320p. ISBN 0-312-32809-5 [ISBN 978-0-312-32809-2]. $23.95. F
Is it truth or magic driving this tale of a young man's search for love in 1928 Hollywood? Brae Orrack, the son of a famous Scottish magician, is down to his last dime. There is just not much demand for his one magical talent—turning stones into bees. Looking for money and the one woman who will break the spell his fearsome father has probably put on him, Brae moves to Hollywood. There he becomes the chauffeur/bodyguard for rising young movie star Gary Cooper and careens from one close call to another with bootleggers, con men, actors with Hell's Kitchen origins, and real estate moguls. But time is running out for everyone—silent films are giving way to talkies, prohibition is on the wane, and Brae feels his father's icy hand tightening. Screenplay writer and producer Base's debut novel is a quaint glimpse of early Hollywood with a pinch of curious magic. The rigor of his research is undeniable, and his descriptions of locale are nearly photographic. Yet the story would have been better served by less detail and more plot. For specialized Hollywood fiction collections. [A library marketing campaign is planned for this book.—Ed.]—Susan Clifford Braun, Aerospace Corp. Lib., El Segundo, CA
Blachman, Jeremy. Anonymous Lawyer. Holt. Aug. 2006. c.320p. ISBN 0-8050-7981-5 [ISBN 978-0-8050-7981-4]. $25. F
Consider, if you will, a hiring partner for a big legal firm in Los Angeles who succumbs to the impulse to tell people what he really thinks and what is happening in his law firm through a blog. Of course, he has to keep everything anonymous, so his rival becomes The Jerk. His summer interns get names like The Suck Up and The Girl Who Would Be Partner. What emerges from this debut novel written in the form of emails and blogs is a brilliant 21st-century reworking of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, with the law firm standing in for hell, the partners representing arch demons, the associates portrayed as damned souls. The reader gets the kind of cutting-edge satire that makes one wonder if the author is exaggerating or simply telling the unvarnished truth. Blachman is not a hiring partner at a major law firm, but he is the creator of the popular blog Anonymous Lawyer (http://www.anonymouslawyer.blogspot.com/) and a recent graduate of Harvard Law School. Enthusiastically recommended for all fiction collections [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/06.]—Ken St. Andre, Phoenix P.L.
Cook, Robin. Crisis. Putnam. Aug. 2006. c.480p. ISBN 0-399-15357-8. $25.95. F
It wouldn't be summer without a new Jack Stapleton medical thriller from Cook (Marker). In this outing, Jack has gone to Boston to assist his psychologist sister Alexis with her estranged husband's medical malpractice trial. Insufferable Craig, with his concierge medical practice, has had a patient die on him, and the rich widower has hired a sleazy attorney to sue Craig. Why should Jack (or we) care? Readers will be as bored as the jurors with all the medical and legal posturing, but they will continue nonetheless, knowing that Cook's novels have plenty of intriguing medical trivia and the rush of a kicker ending. If nothing else, we need to find out if Jack will survive the thugs who beat him up, figure out why this patient died in the first place, and get back to New York for his wedding to long-suffering Dr. Laurie Montgomery. Laden with stereotypes, this is a lackluster effort by Cook. Expect demand, however, and buy for name recognition and series readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/06.]—Teresa L. Jacobsen, Solano Cty. Lib., Fairfield, CA
Houellebecq, Michel. The Possibility of an Island. Knopf. 2006. 352p. tr. from Frency by Gavin Bowd. ISBN 0-307-26349-5. $24.95. F
Protagonist Daniel, a renowned comedian who makes fun of contemporary society, soon realizes that the joke is on him. Thinking the sex will be better, he abandons his pregnant wife for a magazine editor, only to find she isn't as keen about sex as he thought. Daniel then falls for an actress who certainly satisfies his sexual appetite but doesn't reciprocate his love. He seeks peace of mind with the Elohim, a religious sect that believes in immortality through genetic reincarnation, but then he witnesses the death of the leader. Daniel's life story is juxtaposed with commentary by his descendants, Daniel24 and Daniel25, who try to make some sense of the depraved civilization. While continuing his customary commentary on the decadence of Western civilization, French poet, essayist, and novelist Houellebecq (Whatever; The Elementary Particles) is here more philosophical muse than storyteller. A potpourri of sex, philosophy, and religious fanaticism, this novel causes us to contemplate, in step with the author, sexual freedom, racism, manhood, consumer capitalism, senility, and euthanasia. Houellebecq's work, quite possibly a masterpiece, is highly recommended for large public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/06.]—Victor Or, Vancouver & Surrey P.L., B.C.
Brizendine, Louann, M.D. The Female Brain. Morgan Road. Aug. 2006. c.320p. index. ISBN 0-7679-2009-0 [ISBN 978-0-7679-2009-4]. $24.95. PSYCH
A few decades ago, some feminists argued that any behavioral differences between men and women were entirely owing to socialization. This position has subsequently been thoroughly disproved—we now know that sex hormones help shape the brain throughout the life span. A neuropsychiatrist specializing in women's hormone-related mental disorders, Brizendine (founder, Women's & Teen Girls' Mood & Hormone Clinic) is well qualified to explain how changing hormone levels influence behavior through adolescence, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. Here, she writes of her research, shares anecdotes from her clinical practice, and examines the latest scientific studies. Unfortunately, she never acknowledges that there are individual differences between the sexes. In her world, all little girls are chatty flirts, and all husbands are silent types who will do almost anything to avoid discussing emotions. The Boston Women's Health Collective's Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era covers much of this material in a more nuanced fashion. Not recommended, though there may be demand. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/06.]—Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA
Farber, Celia. Serious Adverse Events: An Uncensored History of AIDS. Melville House. Jul. 2006. 345p. ISBN 1-933633-07-7 [ISBN 978-1-993633-07-9]. $49.95; pap. ISBN 1-933633-01-8 [ISBN 978-1-933633-01-5]. $16.95. MED
Journalist Farber (Spin; Harper's) presents a collection of her articles dealing with dissenters from the scientific consensus that the HIV virus causes AIDS. In particular, she focuses on the story of and reflects the views of scientist Peter Duesberg of the University of California, Berkeley. Farber clearly sympathizes with the dissenting view. The articles, some updated, primarily date from the late 1980s to the late 1990s and include her controversial Harper's article from earlier this year. There are no footnotes, bibliography, or index. While making some valid points about the shortcomings of clinical trials, Farber, like those who challenge consensus on the existence of evolution and global warming, asks the reader to accept a decades-long "establishment" conspiracy including thousands of scientists worldwide, the NIH, the CDC, and the WHO to ignore evidence and cling to an incorrect view, willfully allowing harm to patients. Farber adds little to Duesberg's own Inventing the AIDS Virus or to Christine Maggiore's coverage of the dissenting views in What If Everything You Thought You Knew About AIDS Was Wrong? Recommended for libraries with large AIDS collections.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp. Lib., Denver, CO
Farr, Michael & Laurence Shatkin. 225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers. JIST. Jul. 2006. c.480p. index. ISBN 1-59357-325-1 [ISBN 978-1-59357-325-6]. pap. $16.95. CAREERS
Farr and Shatkin's (300 Best Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree) job guide for baby boomers is divided into three comprehensive sections. "It's Never Too Late To Change Your Career" offers an overview of why boomers might want to change job paths and what approaches to consider. "The Best Jobs Lists for Baby Boomers" encompasses 225 boomer-friendly jobs, which are subdivided by particular economic, topical, or demographic considerations. Each job listing includes annual earnings, openings, and projected growth through 2012, based on U.S. Department of Labor and Census statistics. The last section, "Descriptions of the Best Jobs for Baby Boomers," provides in-depth information on careers ranging from administrative service professionals and crossing guards to electronic inspectors, veterinarians, and wholesale and retail buyers. Included are text-box details on the training required, average annual earnings, growth, percentage of self-employed or part-time workers, and percentage of workers in the baby boomer bracket, as well as narrative descriptions of the jobs. The trouble with this resource is its implication that a person in this age bracket can suddenly decide to become a veterinarian or a neurosurgeon or easily switch from any one career to another. Furthermore, long-term predictions about job growth are unstable at best. Not recommended.—Nancy Larrabee, Greenburgh P.L., NY
Freeman, Steven F. & Joel Bleifuss. Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen?: Exit Polls, Election Fraud, and the Official Count. Seven Stories. 2006. 265p. index. ISBN 1-58322-687-7 [ISBN 978-1-58322-687-2]. pap. $17.95. POL SCI
President Bush's 2004 election victory surprised many pundits. Freeman (visiting scholar, Ctr. for Organizational Dynamics, Univ. of Pennsylvania) and Bleifuss (editor, In These Times) attempt to explain the discrepancies between the exit poll data gathered on election night 2004 and the reported vote count. With meticulous care and full documentation, they demonstrate that the "within precinct disparity (WPD)"—i.e., the difference between the exit poll results and reported vote tallies in the sample precincts used by the pollsters—cannot be adequately understood by any of the explanations presented to date. The authors also review the problems encountered in the 2000 election, especially in Florida, with its butterfly ballots, hanging chads, and purged voter rolls, and consider contemporary methods of voter fraud, especially the problems with direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines. In the book's heart, the authors explain exit polls and the high rate of confidence they enjoy, so much that they are routinely used to verify the accuracy of elections in developing democracies. Kerry won the national popular vote by five percent by their estimation. They conclude with an indictment of the press for failing to question the suspicious explanations offered by the winners and, surprisingly, by Democratic leaders. Although Republican partisans and their sympathizers will undoubtedly challenge this book, it should be purchased by all public and private libraries as an important contribution to the literature on the 2004 election.—Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, PA
Hansen, Mark Victor & Art Linkletter. How To Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life. Nelson: Thomas Nelson. Jul. 2006. c.272p. ISBN 0-7852-1890-4. $24.99. PSYCH
The dynamic duo of Hansen, cocreator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul®" series, and Linkletter, a well-loved speaker and television personality, has combined their wisdom and charisma in this motivational work for aging baby boomers. Believing the senior years to be the "Second Prime" of life, the authors offer tips on increasing life expectancy and living with purpose and passion. The book's main section is made up of chapters on various topics of life and aging, such as work, physical health, creativity, and sex; each chapter includes tips for improving life in that area as well as work sheets, strategy suggestions, resources, and inspirational stories. Hansen and Linkletter draw on a combination of resources: conventional wisdom, personal experience, established science, and cutting-edge research. Readers will feel infused with a positive attitude toward the Second Prime of life and focus on "refirement" and empowerment rather than retirement and resignation. Hansen's and Linkletter's popularity, coupled with increasing demand for books on aging, makes this an essential purchase for all public libraries.—Erica L. Foley, Flint P.L., MI
Isacowitz, Rael. Pilates: Your Complete Guide to Matwork and Apparatus Exercises. Human Kinetics. Aug. 2006. c.352p. illus. index. ISBN 0-7360-5623-8 [ISBN 978-0-7360-5623-6]. pap. $19.95. HEALTH
Pilates expert Isacowitz (founder, Body Arts & Science International) delivers a comprehensive approach to the practice of Pilates, pure and simple. While most treatments of Pilates emphasize the mat and address some of the apparatus, this book covers exercises on both the mat and the full range of devices. Isacowitz introduces each piece of Pilates equipment—the well-known "reformer," cadillac, wunda chair, barrels, magic circle, and the less familiar ped-a-pul and arm chair—and outlines sequences of movements to perform on each. A wide array of more than 200 exercises ranging in difficulty from easy to advanced are illustrated and described in detail. Pilates presents a thorough, clear, and understandable overview of the Pilates method. It would be useful in academic or public libraries committed to acquiring health and wellness materials. If a library is only able to purchase one book on Pilates, this should be it.—Deborah A. Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Dunwoody, GA
Shuman, Michael H. The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition. Berrett-Koehler, dist. by Publishers Group West. Jul. 2006. c.240p. index. ISBN 1-57675-386-7 [ISBN 978-1-57675-386-6]. $24. BUS
As Shuman (vp for enterprise development, Training & Development Corp.; Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age) states, "99 percent of all firms are small." Logically, he also states, "successful small businesses are major players not just in retail and services but in most sectors of the economy." Shuman describes and supports an alternative economic model based on local ownership, not globalization and multinational corporations. He identifies eight trends that are contrary to the popular belief that "bigger is better" and explains innovative strategies that companies are using to compete with large competitors, noting how these creative business owners are helping small communities survive and thrive. Using examples, he demonstrates how consumers can "go local" by spending their money at small businesses that revitalize their communities. He also dissuades readers of the notion that the megalithic corporations save consumers money. Emphasizing action, Shuman offers readers sound advice and analysis on how small changes can have big impacts. Public libraries will want to purchase and recommend to local officials and civil servants.—Susan Awe, Univ. of New Mexico Lib., Albuquerque
Wiater, Stanley & others. The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King. St. Martin's/Griffin: St. Martin's. 2006. c.544p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-312-32490-1. $21.95. LIT
Anyone who is aware of the prolificacy of Stephen King's writings will not be surprised to learn that a resource entitled Stephen King's Universe (2001) would need to be updated within five years of its publication. Further, true King aficionados will also immediately understand why this book, which posits the theory that the Dark Tower series serves as the central axis of King's fictional cosmos, has been renamed The Complete Stephen King Universe following the publication of that series' final three volumes. The authors have faithfully revised their original work, a comprehensive atlas of the geography of King's imagination complemented by a chronicling of his work in various media and a set of appendixes that guide the reader to additional sources, to encompass The Dark Tower's concluding episodes. Like its predecessor, this edition is logically arranged for immediate access to specific information on a particular title or can be read cover-to-cover as an exposition of the authors' premise. A necessary addition to any broad collection of King sourcebooks.—Nancy McNicol, Ora Mason Branch Lib., West Haven, CT
See the July 15 Xpress Reviews
