Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 10/1/2006
Week of September 26
Fiction | Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
Fiction
Blue, Treasure E. Harlem Girl Lost. One World: Ballantine. Oct. 2006. c.352p. ISBN 0-345-49264-1. pap. $12.95. F
The prolog of Blue's first novel—originally self-published to Essence magazine best seller success—has Silver Jones enrolled at Atlanta's prestigious Spelman College, but readers know it was a rough Harlem background that forged this girl. Flashbacks take us to when Silver was 13, and there are delineations of the people who influenced her, from her gorgeous mother, Jesse, a prostitute who works Times Square; to her tight friend, Missy, a third-generation project girl so loyal, she vows she would die for Silver. Fast-forward a decade later to Silver reconnecting with her adolescent friends to run a game on Harlem's drug kingpins and free her man, Chance, from the business. Top street novels speak of a journey from youth to adulthood and of how the streets destroy dreams. Blue follows that pattern but includes several surprising twists. Not as relentlessly harsh as the writings of K'wan or Tracy Brown, Harlem Girl mixes slapstick comedy and several fairy tale–like rescues to balance brutal violence. Sex scenes zoom from zero to hard-core in a single paragraph, and dialog rarely lacks profanity. Urban libraries, in short, should stock up. [Blue is currently at work on his next One World novel, A Street Girl Named Desire.—Ed.]—Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L.
Hiaasen, Carl. Nature Girl. Knopf. Nov. 2006. c.352p. ISBN 0-307-26299-5 [ISBN 978-0-307-26299-8]. $25.95. F
Honey Santana, a self-proclaimed "queen of lost causes," has had it with dinnertime telemarketers. She locates Boyd Shreve, a particularly offensive example of the lot, and lures him and his telemarketer paramour on a kayaking ecotour through some of the Thousand Islands of southeastern Florida. Honey intends simply to teach him a lesson in manners, but her abduction turns ugly when her boss at the fish market, Piejack, stalks her through the swamp. When Honey fails to retrieve her son from his father's care at nightfall, her ex-husband and child set off to find her with the help of hermit wannabe Sammy Tigertail, a half-white, half-Seminole former alligator wrestler haunted by the ghost of a tourist who recently died on one of Sammy's swamp tours. This is vintage Hiaasen (Skinny Dip), complete with wacky characters, convoluted plots, strong measures of righteous indignation, and desire for justice deftly woven into a story that is both outrageously funny and startlingly tender. Highly recommended for all fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/06.]—Susan Clifford Braun, Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA
Nonfiction
Browne, Sylvia. Exploring the Levels of Creation. Hay House. Oct. 2006. c.208p. ISBN 1-4019-0891-8. $19.95. PARAPSYCH
Psychic, lecturer, TV personality, and New York Times best-selling author Browne adds yet another book to her oeuvre. This time around, she and Francine, the spirit guide who provides most of Browne's revelations, tackle descriptions of the levels of creation. Covered are the seven lower levels of existence (fairies, yes!; Satan, no!), the seven levels of life on Earth, and, continuing the trend, the seven levels of the afterworld. The existence of evil and its purpose and the difference among religion, dogma, and spirituality are also explained. Browne's writing style has always been more akin to a conversation with a sage auntie than an enigmatic mystic: very accessible and very direct. Although typically reassuring, she makes some seemingly insensitive comments about gays and the homeless. Browne freely admits that portions of this book rehash other works. Recommended, then, only for libraries that cater to her legion fans.—Janet Tapper, Western States Chiropractic Coll., Portland, OR
Dacey, John S. & Lisa B. Fiore. The Safe Child Handbook: How To Protect Your Family and Cope with Anxiety in a Threat-Filled World. Jossey-Bass. 2006. c.198p. ISBN 0-7879-8688-7. pap. $14.95. CHILD REARING
Previously, Dacey and Fiore—both developmental psychologists at Boston College—collaborated on Your Anxious Child: How Parents and Teachers Can Relieve Anxiety in Children. Their latest book draws on the results of a Roper Poll that listed eight primary concerns of parents related to the well-being of their families: weather emergencies, kidnapping, terrorism, inappropriate media influences, drugs and alcohol, child abuse, school violence, and home safety. Organized by type of threat, the guide is rife with inflammatory statements (e.g., "[T]he weather is disrupting lives and causing premature deaths all over the world"). Dacey and Fiore assert that following their tips will help parents be "much less likely to be victimized by these alarming changes." The last two chapters offer discussion topics and exercises in relaxation and meditation to keep anxiety in check—the book's greatest strength. Parents, however, who are as anxious as the authors paint them here would perhaps benefit more from cognitive than bibliotherapy. As bad as the book's alarmist tone is, the absence of notes and references to studies and research cited is even worse. Statements such as "our best estimates" severely reduce the reader's confidence in the integrity of the information. Not recommended.—Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI
Ettus, Samantha. The Experts' Guide to the Baby Years: 100 Things Every Parent Should Know. Clarkson Potter. Oct. 2006. c.352p. illus. ISBN 0-307-34208-5. $19.95. CHILD REARING
New parents are inundated with conflicting child-rearing advice, but Ettus—a recent mom herself and the creator of the "Experts Guide" series—is here to lighten their load. After polling her brethren to come up with the top 100 trouble topics, she rounded up everyone from pediatricians and academics to authors and celebrities to get answers. The result is this useful, compact book, divided into 100 chapters, each containing a mini essay from an "expert." For instance, the founder of a scrap booking magazine talks about documenting a baby's life, a designer of maternity clothes discusses postpartum fashion, and the "worlds most published baby photographer" holds forth on taking pictures of your little one. Fledgling moms and dads in need of a quick morsel of wisdom need look no further. Recommended for public libraries.—Kari Ramstrom, MLIS, Hennepin Cty. Lib., MN
Graphic Novels
Casey, Joe (text) & Frazer Irving (illus.). Iron Man: Inevitable. Marvel. 2006. 144p. ISBN 0-7851-2084-X [ISBN 978-0-7851-2084-1]. pap. $14.99. F
In recent years, the Iron Man books have explored politics as Tony Stark, Iron Man's alter ego, acted as the U.S. secretary of defense, and the stories have drifted away from what has made the character so successful. Iron Man: Inevitable reintroduces classic Iron Man villains who have been missing for several years, offering readers an exciting combination of superheroics and industrial espionage, as Iron Man once again battles spies and criminals who threaten the Stark International corporation. Casey creates a tight plot in this six-issue miniseries, adding enough exposition so that new readers are never confused or overwhelmed by the character's decades-long backstory. The art by Irving is exceptional: every panel is rich and textured, and his interpretation of an alternate level of reality is beautiful. Some of the corporate and science fiction themes may be too advanced for middle school readers, but for high school librarians looking to add an intelligently written superhero story to their collections, this is a great purchase.—Michael Powers, John Jermain P.L., Sag Harbor, NY
Jenkins, Paul (text) & Humberto Ramos (illus.). Revelations. Dark Horse. 2006. 168p. ISBN 1-59307-239-2 [ISBN 978-1-59307-239-1]. pap. $17.95. F
Detective Charlie Northern is sent deep into the heart of the Vatican to investigate the mysterious death of a prominent cardinal. Embroiled in a web of conspiracies within the Catholic Church and facing a host of obstacles (including a murderous cult, police cover-ups, and a sinister clergyman), Charlie, a lapsed Catholic, soon finds himself overwhelmed and left only with his lost faith to uncover the truth. The pacing of this crime fantasy slows in the middle and advances too quickly in more significant parts, creating a choppy, unclear narrative. The themes of faith and the human condition are not established well enough to provide more than a by-the-numbers mystery. On the other hand, Ramos's distinct, cartoonish style, seen in previous works Peter Parker: Spiderman and Wolverine, makes Revelations stand out on the shelves, and colorist Leonardo Olea did a wonderful job vividly eliciting the mood of the sharp penciling. Yet Ramos's art is not the best fit for the dark tone and subject matter. With foul language, mild violence, and nudity, this is an optional purchase for libraries interested in growing their adult collection.—George Sun, New York
Jeon, Jin-Seok (text) & Seung-Hee Han (illus.). One Thousand and One Nights. Vol. 2. ICE Kunion. 2006. 200p. tr. from Korean by Hye-Young Im. ISBN 89-527-4477-2 [ISBN 978-89-527-4477-7]. pap. $10.95. F
In this twist on The Arabian Nights, beautiful boy Sehara dresses like a woman to save the life of his sister who is trapped in the sultan's harem. Quickly discovered, he begs Shahryar to spare him long enough to hear a story. In this second volume, Shahryar is captured by rebels who are angry at his wanton slaughter of their women, and Sehara joins the resistance to keep close to Shahryar. While Shahryar is imprisoned, Sehara tells him the sad tale of the slave Cho-Yong and his love for a woman who believes him to be the son of the sea god. While Sehara's stories of love, violence, and betrayal make up the bulk of each volume, they are less compelling than the continuing (and increasingly yaoi) tale of Sehara and Shahryar. Though Sehara is blandly gentle, he provides a nice counterpoint to Shahryar's unpredictable, wounded menace. Han's fairly realistic style conveys the story's brooding atmosphere, and his characters are distinctive, with dark, heavily outlined eyes. Unfortunately, the translation can be awkward ("How dare you preach to me with a through story!"), and simple errors compound the amateurish feel. Recommended only for larger libraries; for teens over 16.—Krista Hutley, Lakeside Sch., Seattle
Koujima, Naduki. Our Kingdom. Vol. 4. Juné: Digital Manga. Oct. 2006. 184p. tr. from Japanese by Sachiko Sato. ISBN 1-56970-912-2 [ISBN 978-1-56970-912-2]. pap. $12.95. F
Orphan Akira Nonaka faces the challenges of learning to live a life of opulence and restriction as he becomes a possible heir to the Takatou power and fortune when he is taken to live with family he never knew existed: Rei, his half-American cousin; Mr. Okumiya, the caretaker of the Takatou mansion; and Shigure, Rei's bodyguard. It is only the growing love between Akira and Rei that makes this situation bearable. In Volume 4, these young men continue to struggle with their feelings for each other; however, the arrival of Raoul, Rei's distant cousin from America, strains their relationship, especially when Raoul kidnaps Akira and threatens to take him back to America. This yaoi series has a tight though complicated story line with both poignant and humorous moments. The characters openly kiss and touch each other, and in this volume there is a suggestion that more has taken place, which makes the 16+ rating appropriate. The black-and-white artwork is clear and attractive. The only drawback is the similarity in looks between many of the characters—readers may often get confused about who is who. Yaoi fans will certainly find this title as enjoyable as Gravitation. Highly recommended.—Diane Gallagher-Hayashi, Stelly's Sch., Saanich Sch. Dist., B.C.
Niles, Steve & Dan Wickline (text) & Ben Templesmith & others (illus.). 30 Days of Night: Three Tales. IDW Pub. 2006. 132p. ISBN 1-933239-92-1 [ISBN 978-1933239-92-7]. pap. $19.99. F
This collection of three stories features the characters and vampire mythology from the first 30 Days of Night horror graphic novel. "Picking Up the Pieces" kicks things off with John Ikos, a survivor of the vampire feeding frenzy, as he brings a dead vampire back to his cabin. Ikos dozes off and wakes, weaponless, confronted by a former FBI agent–turned–vampire. In the second story, Ikos travels to Los Angeles to track down the vampire Agent Norris and joins forces with a sympathetic vampire who is trying to stop a group of bloodsuckers who want to enslave humanity. In "Dead Space," an astronaut is infected with vampirism prior to take-off and during the mission devours his fellow astronauts, rescuers, and the crew of a space orbiter. The 30 Days of Night titles are best sellers; there is a novelization, Rumors of the Undead, available in paperback, and according to IMDB.com, a movie version is currently being filmed. The art is excellent, with impressionistic and naturalistic depictions, but blood-spattered. Pages began to come out during the first reading, so popularity may lead to frequent replacement. For adult horror graphic novel collections.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, A.B.
Sempé, Jean-Jacques. Monsieur Lambert. Phaidon. 2006. 58p. tr. from French by Anthea Bell. ISBN 0-7148-4623-6 [ISBN 978-0-7148-4623-1]. $14.95. F
Readers of The New Yorker and Paris Match will recognize the deft hand of Sempé, and English-language audiences should be delighted with this first of the French artist's graphic novels to appear in English. Monsieur Lambert and friends are regulars at Chez Picard, where they have lunch each day and talk politics and soccer. But one day, Monsieur Lambert is late, and wild speculation ensues. Lambert's affair plays out in Sempé's characteristic simple but detailed black-and-white drawings. Fans of James Thurber's cartoonish illustration will find much to love in Sempé's work. Bell's translation captures the nuances of leisurely, daily conversation, and the retention of handwritten speech bubbles against the type-written text at the bottom of each page brings the babble of café conversation to life. Accompanying the story are several illustrations, some in color—even hand-written Chez Picard menus. Fans of classic French bandes-dessinées will enjoy this lovely example of graphic storytelling, and those who are familiar with Sempé's illustrations for Rene Goscinny's Nicholas will want to get to know Sempé's own work. Recommended for larger collections and those specializing in literary graphic novels.—Ruthanne Price, Vaughan Pub. Libs., Ont.
Yun, Ji-Un. Cynical Orange. Vol. 2. ICE Kunion. 2006. 200p. tr. from Korean by Suk-Hee Ryu. ISBN 89-527-4478-0 [ISBN 978-89-527-4478-4]. pap. $10.95. F
In this soonjung manhwa series, beautiful and seemingly shy schoolgirl Hye-Min Hwang suppresses her feisty personality in an attempt to get the attention of her crush. The heroine, compelling when she lets her angry impulses rise to the surface, becomes bland in her effort to appear perfect. In this second volume, the featured supporting cast makes Cynical Orange stand out from similar works. Each character displays questionable motives and personality quirks that keep the reader involved despite the slow pace of the action: there is the strange relationship between Hye-Min and her "big brother" Shin-Bi, along with Ma-Ha's dubious aims in his pursuit of Hye-Min. Yun's figures are lanky and angular; she often uses chibi characters to provide humor and to soften the effects of angry actions. In addition to the occasional punch, often directed at Ma-Ha, one of the adult characters overindulges in alcohol and suffers the consequences. Cynical Orange is rated 13+ and has a secure binding. Recommended for libraries where shojo, soonjung, and high school fiction are popular.—Kristin Fance, Houston Baptist Univ., TX
Wells, Zeb (text) & Seth Fisher (illus.). Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan. Marvel. 2006. 120p. ISBN 0-7851-1776-8 [ISBN 978-0-7851-1776-6]. pap. $12.99. F
When Japan is attacked by multicolored, bug-eyed, giant monsters, it is up to the Fantastic Four and Iron Man to save the day. In spite of its somewhat unoriginal premise, Big in Japan is one of the most exciting, humorous, and original graphic novels in years. This is an over-the-top, rollicking adventure, and Fisher's highly stylized images jump off the pages. The late artist's work looks like a cross between the styles of Jack Kirby, Dr. Seuss, and Mad magazine. The extra effort Fisher put into each illustration is clear, whether it be of giant turtle-monsters, many-eyed creatures, or Iron Man keeping warm with a wool cap. Included with the four-issue series are pencil breakdowns for each cover, story notes and emails from Fisher, and a short from Spider-Man Unlimited #8. The monsters are not frightening to children, and the violence is no worse than that featured on any Saturday morning cartoon. Besides being a hit with superhero fans, this will have crossover appeal among anime and manga readers. Recommended.—Michael Powers, John Jermain P.L., Sag Harbor, NY
Week of September 19
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Trigiani, Adriana. Home to Big Stone Gap. Random. Nov. 2006. c.336p. ISBN 1-4000-6008-7 [ISBN 978-1-4000-6008-5]. $25.95. F
This latest "Big Stone Gap" novel begins in 1998, where Milk Glass Moon ends, just after the Italian wedding of Ave Maria's daughter. Back home, Ave Maria is trying to deal with Etta's new life in Italy, husband Jack's health issues, and his possible job with a surface mining company, as well as the threat to her cherished friendship with Iva Lou. Toss in another wedding, a local production of The Sound of Music, and a possible house swap abroad. All of this forces Ave Maria to examine her past so she can face the future with confidence and joy. Maybe it's the four-year gap between books, but even the inclusion of recipes and Trigiani's familiar humor don't seem to be able to improve this disappointing novel. Unlike Jan Karon's "Mitford" novels, Trigiani's characters don't seem to hold up as well over time. Purchase for public libraries where there's high demand for this series. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/06.]—Rebecca Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
Nonfiction
Anand, Geeta. The Cure. ReganBks: HarperCollins. Sept. 2006. 352p. photogs. ISBN 0-06-073439-6 [ISBN 978-0-06-073439-8]. $25.95. MED
A Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Anand chronicles the true story of John and Aileen Crowley's struggle to find a cure for Pompe disease—a usually fatal genetic disorder that affects two of their children. A financial consultant at the time of his son's and daughter's diagnoses, John left his job and started his own biotechnology company in the hopes of rounding up scientists who could create a replacement enzyme that would prevent Pompe's progression. His efforts were ultimately successful—he raised more than $100 million to fund researching the condition, and his children are alive and kicking—but he and his wife had to juggle finding good child care and attending marriage counseling. While this up-close recounting of the tribulations and celebrations of the Crowley family is compelling (and perhaps inspirational to other families wrangling with life-threatening disorders), Anand's writing is at times a bit reminiscent of a Hallmark special. However, with little else published on the heavy issues surrounding the subject, the benefits of The Cure seem to outweigh any lasting side effects. Recommended for larger health science or specialized health collections.—Lisa A. Forrest, Buffalo State Coll. Lib., SUNY
Burstyn, Ellen. Lessons in Becoming Myself. Riverhead: Putnam. Oct. 2006. c.480p. ISBN 1-59448-929-7. $25.95. FILM
Burstyn's career as a film and television actress has consistently garnered respect among her peers and critics. Her first stab at memoir is nearly a refreshing addition to the form in that it is more an examination of her life and evolution as a person than merely a recitation of film anecdotes. A central section dealing with the 1960s and 1970s is particularly interesting as she refers to both her professional life—the success of The Last Picture Show—and her spiritual life as she discovers Sufism. Burstyn writes in a literate voice that feels very sincere and yet, as is often the case with celebrity memoir, she is prone to florid prose and a subtle but implicit sense of self-importance. Several associates have apparently told her she is one of "our greatest living actors," and while this may be true, it is slightly off-putting to have her repeat it again and again, however much it is couched in modesty. Recommended for large public and academic libraries with a substantial biography section.—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA
Johnson, Steven. The Ghost Map. Riverhead: Putnam. Oct. 2006. c.320p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-59448-925-4. $26.95. MED
Popular science author, blogger, and Discover magazine columnist Johnson (Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter) has written a fascinating book about a small slice of medical history: London's 1854 cholera epidemic. In particular, he brings to light the contributions of physician John Snow, a pioneer in public health who mapped the route of the disease and whose work continues to have great relevance for the 21st century. Though Johnson graphically describes the causes and effects of cholera, his imagery is not gratuitous, and he quotes historical documents in detail, often paraphrasing them in subsequent paragraphs to make them more understandable. This is a far more readable work on the subject than Margaret Pelling's Cholera, Fever and English Medicine 1825–1865. Johnson supplies chapter notes, a bibliography, and important information about other related books, e.g., Stephen Halliday's The Great Stink of London and Tom Koch's Cartographies of Disease. This extremely well-researched history is recommended for large public and high school libraries and for any library with history of medicine or public health collections. (Index not seen.) [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/06.]—Martha E. Stone, Massachusetts General Hosp. Lib., Boston
See the September 15 Xpress Reviews
