Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 11/1/2006
Week of October 31
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Gylanders, S.C. The Better Angels of Our Nature. Random. Nov. 2006. c.448p. ISBN 1-4000-6514-3 [ISBN 978-1-4000-6514-1]. $24.95. F
On the eve of the Battle of Shiloh, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman discovers a young boy in an ill-fitting uniform hiding on the edges of his camp. Jesse Davis is an enigma, unwilling to tell where he comes from or who his family is and wanting only to serve Sherman. The general finally succumbs to Jesse's persistence, even though the boy still inspires questions. When it is revealed that the boy is actually a girl, even more questions arise. This ambiguity is never resolved, and as a result, the reader cannot connect with the hero/ine. Other characters, with the possible exception of Sherman, also seem superficial, although their physical descriptions are detailed and vivid. Self-educated Civil War expert Gylanders spent seven years traveling around the United States visiting battlefields and historic sites, researching and writing this novel of the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg. Her description of the battles and skirmishes goes beyond troop movements, detailing the thoughts and actions of individual soldiers and re-creating the utter brutality and horror of war. One quibble: a map would have been helpful in tracking the positions of the armies. Recommended for larger public libraries.—Ann Fleury, Tampa-Hillsborough Cty. P.L.
Nonfiction
Alfieri, Gus. Lapchick: The Life of a Legendary Player and Coach in the Glory Days of Basketball. Lyons: Globe Pequot. 2006. c.288p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-59228-869-3 [ISBN 978-1-59228-869-4]. $22.95. SPORTS
Joe Lapchick (1900–70) is a legendary figure in the lore of college basketball. He coached St. John's University to four National Invitation Tournament victories in an era when that was the most important postseason tournament of the year. Many readers may be surprised at his very important role, as well, in the formation of professional basketball. This book by one of his former players chronicles Lapchick's basketball career, from his early years growing up in Yonkers, NY, to his retirement as coach of the Redmen in 1965. He started out in professional basketball, traveling with various teams around the country, playing all comers in the days before the National Basketball Association. Later, after his initial stint at St. John's, he served as coach of the New York Knickerbockers. Alfieri's book is well written, although it jumps around at times. He gives little information about Lapchick's personal life or his postretirement years, but if you are a basketball fan and want to read about the beginnings of the game, this is a great book. Recommended to any library collecting the history of professional and college basketball.—Todd Spires, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL
Love, Courtney. Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love. Faber & Faber. Oct. 2006. c.288p. illus. ISBN 0-86547-959-3 [ISBN 978-0-86547-959-3]. $35. MUSIC
We all know Courtney Love, drug addict. Or Courtney Love, whacked-out celebrity. And who could forget Courtney Love, rock star groupie? But how about Courtney Love, respectable mom? Never heard of her? Read the Widow Cobain's quasiautobiography, and you'll meet a now middle-aged woman who sincerely seems to want the best for her daughter, Frances Bean. Dirty Blonde reinforces said image with sweet mentions of Love the mother by actress Carrie Fisher (who penned the introduction) and Love's own proud statements about the most famous rock star daughter born in the past 20 years. Though organized haphazardly—the book skips years and then goes back to missing passages later—this isn't a sanitized, PR-approved view of Love's wild life story. Instead, it features the former Hole frontwoman in a deeply confessional mode about her foster-care upbringing and her all-consuming desire to find stardom. More diary/collage than straightforward narrative, the book is filled with previously unpublished photos, random scribblings, and at least one love letter from Lindsay Lohan, a smattering of material that taken together reveals the other side of this generation's Yoko Ono. It's a tender side. And it's believable. Recommended for large music collections or any library full of kids still wearing Nirvana and Hole T-shirts. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/06.]—Robert Morast, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD
Stefanko, Frank. Patti Smith: American Artist. Insight Editions: Palace Press International. Oct. 2006. 164p. photogs. ISBN 1-933784-06-7. $39.95. PHOTOG
Photographer Stefanko and poet/rocker Patti Smith have serious history—the two first met at a state college in southern New Jersey in the mid-1960s and attended their first Rolling Stones concert together. On this foundation they built an easy artistic relationship evidenced by the book at hand, a collection of 150 black-and-white images encapsulating Smith's early gropings at stardom à la Keith Richards look-alike through her fruition as American artist, a gutsy melting pot of influences. Although Smith would not go on to use these pictures for her iconic album covers (e.g., Robert Mapplethorpe's Horses portrait), Stefanko manages to capture the same spirit of those more famous photos. This might have less to do with Stefanko's skill than Smith's power of projection—clearly, the woman believed in the cult of herself before anyone else did. There's youthful awkwardness here, but mainly bravado. You get the feeling that no matter who was holding the camera, Smith was going to stare a hole in the lens. Still, you've got to give Stefanko credit for having the courage to snap away. Smith's rabid fans will no doubt devour this eminently browsable time capsule, complete with feel-good reminiscences from Stefanko. Recommended for larger photography and music collections.—Heather McCormack, Library Journal
Tedlow, Richard S. Andy Grove: The Life and Times of an American. Portfolio. Nov. 2006. photogs. index. ISBN 1-59184-139-9. $29.95. BUS
Tedlow (business administration, Harvard Business Sch.; Giants of Enterprise) has written an engaging biography of the former CEO of Intel Corporation, chronicling not only his subject's remarkable life but also analyzing the rise of Intel as a technological powerhouse in Silicon Valley. Part 1 dramatically recounts Grove's early life as a young Jewish boy in Hungary during World War II. After the war, Grove restarted his life under the Communists but ultimately chose to leave for America during the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising of 1956. In Part 2, we follow Grove's evolution as a successful new immigrant, ultimately becoming associated with Intel and dubbed Time magazine's "Man of the Year" (1997). Tedlow displays an obvious sympathy toward Grove and tends to fawn over his accomplishments, going so far as to attempt a "psychobabble interpretation" of Grove's dream life. With some justification, Grove can be described as "the father of the digital revolution," and this exceptional biography clearly makes that case, placing him in the same league with Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Steve Jobs (Apple, Pixar). Recommended for all public libraries and larger business collections. (Notes and index not seen.)—Richard Drezen, Washington Post/New York City Bureau
Week of October 24
Nonfiction | Graphic Novels
Nonfiction
Hall, Stephen S. Size Matters: How Height Affects the Health, Happiness, and Success of Boys—and the Men They Become. Houghton. Nov. 2006. c.352p. index. ISBN 0-618-47040-9 [ISBN 978-0-618-47040-2]. $26. SOC SCI
Discussions of the Napoleon complex and empirical findings that Dutch men are now the tallest in the world form part of this sprightly written book’s impressive array of facts, research, and personal experience on the issue of male stature. A short person himself as well as a journalist and author (Merchants of Immortality), Hall explores the causes and demeaning effects of “heightism” in an engaging and accessible manner. The topically organized subjects include the rise of growth charts, the course of growth and maturation, biological correlates of small size, body-image problems among men, bullying behavior, and the roots of Western attitudes toward short stature. Later chapters provide a provocative discussion of the human growth hormone as a “lifestyle” drug and the rise of the controversial field of historical anthropometry. Hall’s own conclusions about the diminishing effects of size and the benefits of short stature are intriguing. Short people, late bloomers, and their anxious parents, as well as academic readers, will be interested. Recommended for public libraries and relevant academic collections.—Antoinette Brinkman, MLS, Evansville, IN
Rimm, Sylvia B. Keys to Parenting the Gifted Child. 3d ed. Great Potential. Oct. 2006. c.256p. index. ISBN 0-910707-74-X [ISBN 978-0-910707-74-9]. pap. $16.95. CHILD REARING
Psychologist Rimm (Case Western Reserve Univ.) may be familiar to library patrons from her appearances on NBC’s Today Show; her nationally broadcast radio program, Family Talk with Sylvia Rimm; or her syndicated newspaper column. She has also authored numerous books on parenting, several of them on parenting gifted children. Originally published as part of Barron’s “Parenting Keys” series, this book’s third edition offers 42 “keys” in just 200 pages. Although the information presented is valid and reliable, the pat answers and simplistic solutions to what can be extremely complicated and individualistic problems read like a compilation of newspaper advice columns and may discourage parents from seeking professional assistance. A better choice is Gifted Children: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, edited by Kate Distin. Recommended for libraries in communities where Rimm has a large following or where requests warrant.—Suzanne M. Stauffer, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge
Siegel, Bernie, M.D. Love, Magic and Mudpies: Raising Your Kids To Feel Loved, Be Kind, and Make a Difference. Rodale. Nov. 2006. c.256p. ISBN 1-59486-554-X [ISBN 978-1-59486-554-1]. $17.95. CHILD REARING
A father of five and grandfather of eight, Siegel (Love, Medicine and Miracles: Lessons Learned About Self-Healing from a Surgeon’s Experience with Exceptional Patients) wants us to understand that it is only when children are loved unconditionally and taught to care for others that we will live in a better world. While delivering short chapters of opinions on what it takes to achieve this utopia (e.g., love, humor, great family values, spirituality, positivism, and responsibility), Siegel provides therapeutic exercises to try at home. Some of these exercises seem simplistic for the task at hand, like repeating a motto to yourself until you truly mean it. Others, because Siegel emphasizes the importance of humor in life, are outright silly, like rehearsing your imitation of your child’s voice so that you can pretend to be your child on the phone when his friends call. If readers don’t lose patience with Siegel’s descriptions of his many practical jokes, they’ll find an important message here: love is what’s most important when raising children. With many religious references, this book might inspire parents who enjoy Deepak Chopra’s books. Buy only where spiritual self-help is in demand.—Maryse Breton, OCPL, Syracuse, NY
Amano, Jeff (text) & Craig Rousseau & others (illus.). RUULE. Vol. 2: Kiss & Tell. Image Comics. 2006. 224p. ISBN 1-58240-540-9 [ISBN 978-1-58240-540-7]. pap. $19.99. F
The story of Samson, the mythological hero with superhuman strength who was the bane of the Phillistines until he was betrayed by the woman he loved, is retold here against the backdrop of mobsters, crooks, barroom brawls, and sassy dames. Sam Swede made a vow: so long as he never drank alcohol, nothing could ever hurt him. In adulthood, Sam achieves local celebrity status as he defends his neighborhood from an organized crime syndicate. Unfortunately, Sam’s involvement with the enemy’s daughter starts him on a long and hard road that leads to his eventual fall and ultimate redemption. Those familiar with this Sunday school staple will notice many parallels between Amano’s tale and the epic from the book of Judges, and the influence of old gangster movies is apparent. Although this is a story about a man with abnormal strength, it’s strikingly human; it’s hard not to feel sympathetic for Sam by the end, who has suffered only because he was a good man at heart who wanted to do good things. For mature readers only: graphic violence and varying degrees of nudity occur throughout, and many of the themes and ideas may be hard for less advanced readers to wrap their heads around. [See also Vol. 1 in the “RUULE” series, reviewed below.—Ed.]—M. Brandon Robbins, Wayne Cty. P.L., Goldsboro, NC
Bendis, Brian Michael (text) & Mark Bagley & others (illus.). Ultimate Spider-Man. Vol. 16. Marvel. 2006. 184p. ISBN 0-7851-1927-2 [ISBN 978-0-7851-1927-2]. pap. $19.99. F
Bendis and Bagley’s six-year run of the Spider-Man series in the new Ultimate universe has brought high school angst and romance back to Peter Parker, but this volume is weighed down by its own history and three distinct story arcs. In Part 1, Peter’s romance with Kitty Pryde of the X-Men leads Peter and the X-Men into battle against Deadpool and the Reavers, a group of mutant-hating cyborgs. Spidey takes on vampires in the second story arc, while the third story depicts a battle with the Punisher, Daredevil, Moon Knight, and the Kingpin. Bagley’s art conveys the kinetic energy of Spider-Man in the first two arcs; Mark Brooks steps in as artist on the third story, and most of the action flows well. Bendis continues to show a nice touch with dialog, particularly the banter between Kitty and Peter, although when the focus is on the X-Men, the book loses the humor that keeps the series balanced. Marked as an all-ages read, it is probably better suited for middle and high school libraries or teen collections because of the violence and teen themes. Essential for any collection that has already purchased the previous volumes but not a good start for a collection.—Mark D. Richardson, Cedar Mill Community Lib., Portland, OR
Benson, Gabriel (text) & Jeff Amano (illus.). Fade from Grace. Image Comics. 2005. 136p. ISBN 1-58240-527-1 [ISBN 978-1-58240-527-1]. pap. $14.99. F
Depending on your personal cynicism, this miniseries will come off as sappy or sweet. It offers up the rather formulaic tale of a superhero, except the champion’s devoted wife serves as narrator. Grace’s husband, John, discovers that he can dematerialize at will just in time to save her from an apartment inferno; his superpowers, responsibilities, and dangers mount quickly. Meanwhile, the couple’s charming moments together underscore the depth of their love. Grace helps dress her husband’s alter ego and his wounds, but their private contentment vanishes when his public exploits start to take a mortal toll. Artist Amano conceived and illustrated this book as a devotional to his wife, who is no damsel in distress but president of Beckett Publications. Many fans hail it as an ambassador to nontraditional comic readers, particularly middle-aged women. Yet Amano’s novel approach to inking will appeal to all demographics: he abandons contour lines, using shapes, silhouettes, and intense color contrast to make his images pop. While the approach loses some fluidity, his poster-inspired iconic realism offers just the right stage for exploring the impact of superheroism on ordinary life. Highly recommended for romantics of any age.—Erika Bennett, Inst. of Production and Recording, Minneapolis
Brandon, Ivan (text) & Hawthorne, Mike & others (illus.). RUULE. Vol. 1: Ganglords of Chinatown. Image Comics. 2005. 224p. ISBN 1-58240-566-2 [ISBN 978-1-58240-566-7]. pap. $19.99. F
Reinterpreting stories from the Holy Bible in hard-boiled modern settings is the idea behind the “RUULE” series, but this rendition of the story of Gideon as an apocalyptic biker-gang-war opus has little to offer beyond its central conceit. The tale of an unlikely hero rallying his or her demoralized people to fight off their oppressors before falling prey to hubris is hardly new, and writer Brandon neither puts a distinctive stamp on it nor makes it especially compelling. Gideon’s saga plays out here much as it does in the book of Judges, and only the butt-kicking female lead rises above archetype status to achieve real emotional depth or complexity. Penciller Hawthorne and inker Rick Remender’s illustrations are gangly and cartoonish, robbing the book of grittiness; a realistic approach or a mixture of the iconic and the grotesque, such as in Frank Miller’s 300, would have been more appropriate. The violence (including severed heads and limbs, hand-to-hand combat, gunplay, and an abbreviated rape scene) is frequent but just this side of gratuitous. As a result, this book best suited to collections holding such titles as Preacher, Lone Wolf and Cub, and Master of Kung Fu, which are recommended over this ambitious misfire. [See also Vol. 2 in the “RUULE” series, reviewed above.—Ed.]—J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB
Bullock, Mike (text) & Jack Lawrence (illus.). Lions, Tigers, and Bears. Vol. 1: Fear and Pride. Image Comics. 2006. 128p. ISBN 1-58240-657-X [ISBN 978-1-58240-657-2]. pap. $12.99. F
Before Joey moves, his Grandma, who has always protected him from the “beasties” that lurk in his closet, gives him a gift of four plush animals called the Night Pride: jungle cats Minerva, Venus, Pallo, and Ares will protect him from harm. But even magical jungle cats need a little help, and Joey is drawn into the Stuffed Animal Kingdom’s struggle between good and evil. These classic plot elements and the title’s homage to The Wizard of Oz led this reviewer to believe that the creators are shooting for a “timeless story for all ages,” but they don’t quite get there; however, the story line is clear and satisfying for a younger audience (ages 8–12), and both the beasties and the Night Pride are well drawn. The panel layout offers a clear direction, and plenty of insets and variations of perspective add visual interest. Joey seems to believe in things too young for his age (he appears to be around eight), but the cats are appealing, and the dialog has a good cinematic flow. There is no gore or adult content, and the tone is similar to a lot of family-oriented animated films. Adults might find the story slight, but those looking to satisfy preteen graphic novel readers should welcome this title.—Julia Cox, Penticton P.L., B.C.
Consiglio, Tony. 110 Per¢. Top Shelf Productions. 2006. 134p. ISBN 1-891830-75-9 [ISBN 978-1-891830-75-4]. pap. $12.95. F
This little gem is the GN equivalent of a superb short story. Cathy, Sasha, and Gerty are devoted fans of the boy band 110 Per¢. They download pictures of their fab four, watch their videos repeatedly, and breathlessly scour the web for any tidbit of news—a story line that wouldn’t be special if these fans were 12 years old. But Cathy works in an office, Sasha is 50, and Gerty, the most obsessed (she salvages the band’s half-eaten fast food from a garbage can), has a husband and two kids who barely impinge on her fixation. For Cathy, overweight and lonely, and Sasha, married to the grouchy, unsympathetic Harry, the band clearly fills an emotional void. Gerty’s case is more mysterious and disturbing and, eventually, disastrous. Consiglio’s deft portraits are at once poignant, compassionate, and sharply satirical, and the crisp, black-and-white artwork is full of touches that demonstrate his thorough command of the medium. A panel or two of graphic sex and some profanity make this best suited for adult collections, but only adults could fully appreciate the humor, sadness, and irony of this marvelously told tale. Highly recommended.—Andrew Moore, Wayland P.L., MA
Hine, David (text) & Jim Muniz, Kevin Conrad, & others (illus.). Decimation: X-Men—The 198. Marvel. 2006. 168p. ISBN 0-7851-1994-9 [ISBN 978-0-7851-1994-4]. pap. $15.99. F
In the aftermath of the catastrophic M-Day, 90 percent of the world’s mutants has lost their powers. The remaining 198 are pressured to relocate to the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, home of the X-Men. But this relocation site, run by the government’s Mutant Affairs Office and patrolled by the giant robotic Sentinels, resembles a prison camp. The resident X-Men struggle to keep the peace as their school becomes home to heroes and villains alike. The conflict heats up when a mysterious omega-level mutant organizes an escape, while a villain who works behind the scenes manipulates the others and their powers. Lackluster artwork and uneven pacing detract from an exciting premise, and poor character development makes the final resolution feel awkward and forced. This collection will be appreciated mostly by devoted X-Men fans and readers who have been following Marvel’s House of M and Decimation story lines. In addition to the five-issue miniseries, this volume contains a handbook that profiles the remaining 198 mutants in the Marvel Universe, which could be helpful for comic book fans. Rated T+ for drug use and sexual situations.—Emily Williams, Metropolitan Lib. Syst., Oklahoma City
Katoh, Tadashi. Project X Challengers—Cup Noodle: The Miracle of 8.2 Billion Served; The Magic Noodle, Nissin Cup Noodle. Digital Manga. 2006. 208p. tr. from Japanese by Sachiko Sato. ISBN 1-56970-959-9 [ISBN 978-1-56970-959-7]. pap. $12.95. F
This nonfiction manga about the creation of the Nissin Cup Noodle is part of an ongoing series based on Project X, a documentary TV series in Japan that focuses on innovations in Japanese business. While the subject sounds as dry as uncooked noodles, add artwork and it becomes an engrossing story about the difficulties faced in developing an “instant” form of a traditional food. Nissin’s team had to overcome tradition, price resistance, and unusual technical problems in creating this seemingly simple product. Katoh manages to convey the excitement of making even the smallest change in the world around you by inventing a popular product. The book includes photographs of the real people and places in the story, with a time line showing advances in “ramen technology” in the context of modern Japanese culture. The artwork is somewhat stylized but with no exaggerations or special effects and is very approachable for readers new to manga. The cover is a weakness: its stern, heroic noodle scientists and overblown subtitle make it almost a parody. Not for younger readers, it belongs in collections for older teens and adults who have an interest in either business or Japanese culture.—Nick Smith, Pasadena P.L., CA
Layman, John (text) & Aaron Lopresti & others (illus.). Decimation: Sentinel Squad O*N*E. Marvel. 2006. 120p. ISBN 0-7851-1997-3 [ISBN 978-0-7851-1997-5]. pap. $13.99. F
Aimed primarily at younger fans and collecting issues 1–5, this collection is set during the events of Decimation M, when virtually all of the mutants in the Marvel Universe lost their powers. Squad O*N*E is set up by the Office of National Emergency in order to provide a force to call upon if the Avengers, X-Men, or other heroes turn up dead, unavailable, or MIA. The squad is handpicked and trained by the military to pilot the giant robotic Sentinels; the pilots undergo rigorous training and endure the typical squabbles that a diverse cast of personalities provokes. Adventures in the Savage Land and a feud between Alexander Lexington and Jeremiah “Meld” Muldoon—two mutant members of the main squad—help keep the story moving. Pencils by Lopresti are impressive, and colors by Chris Walker are reproduced nicely on glossy pages. Writing by Layman relies upon conventional superhero traditions geared toward preadolescents and contains nothing objectionable. While the story wilts in a couple places, a few poignant moments and several unique twists provide for thought-provoking possibilities. For larger collections only.—Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI
Ohtsuka, Eiji (text) & Housui Yamazaki (illus.). The Kurosagi Corpse Deliver Service. Vol. 1. Dark Horse. 2006. 208p. tr. from Japanese by Toshifumi Yoshida. ISBN 1-59307-555-3 [ISBN 978-1-59307-555-2]. pap. $10.95. F
Kura Karatsu is an average student at a Buddhist university with no prospects because he does not come from a priestly family. He does have a secret, however: he is an itako, and by touching a corpse, he can communicate with its spirit and determine its final wishes. Kura and his companions—the dowser Namato who uses his ability to find corpses; Makino the embalmer; Yata the channeler who speaks to an alien through his sock puppet; and their leader and upperclassman, Sasaki—form the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service when they discover that helping the dead can be lucrative. But accepting the dead as clients can lead to horrible discoveries about the living: a family who has to abandon their oldest and weakest member to survive; a sexually abusive and necrophiliac father; and a serial killer who dismembers and reassembles his victims into new creations. While there is cruelty, gore, violence, and implied unnatural sexual acts, the manga is also a complex and slyly ironic social commentary. Acquire this manga for adult collections for the naturalistic artwork that shows attention to human emotion, the social observation, and the banter between the members of the delivery service.—Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton
Sable, Mark (text) & Paul Azaceta & others (illus.). Grounded. Vol. 1: Powerless. Image Comics. 2006. 160p. ISBN 1-58240-641-3 [ISBN 978-1-58240-641-1]. pap. $14.99. F
Collecting the first six issues of Grounded, this volume tells the story of Jonathan, a comic book–obsessed kid who is convinced that superheroes are real. His suspicions are proved correct when he catches his father—revealed as the Superman-like Apollo—having an affair with tThe Amazon. Explanations for the infidelity and superpowers are brief, and then Jonathan suddenly finds himself the only student without superpowers enrolled at The High, a high school for the children of superheroes. Jonathan quickly becomes disenchanted with the selfish and apathetic student body but nonetheless holds onto his heroic ideals and leads the fight against a villainous threat. When the first issue assumes that Jonathan’s dreams about superheroes are fantasy, his humorous attempts to re-create comic book–origin stories are charming, but when the fantasy becomes real, the story loses strength. Characters are given less support, and broader gaps in narrative continuity occur. The artwork will be fresh and attractive to the teen eye but often drops the flow of the action, disrupting the coherence of the narrative. Jo Straczynski’s Rising Stars and Mike Allred’s X-Statix are both viable alternatives. Recommended as an optional purchase for older teens.—Ben Lathrop, Fairfield Lane Lib., OH
Yamada, Yugi. Close the Last Door! Juné: Digital Manga. 2006. 208p. tr. from Japanese by Melanie Schoen. ISBN 1-56970-883-5 [ISBN 978-1-56970-883-5]. pap. $12.95. F
Nagai makes a congratulatory speech at his younger coworker Saitou’s wedding while inwardly cursing the situation because he has a secret crush on Saitou. Later that evening at a bar, Nagai finds himself talking to another wedding guest named Honda, a cool and confident businessman. Drunk, he winds up in Honda’s hotel room, where he is “comforted.” When Saitou’s wife leaves him the day after the wedding, Nagai finds himself thinking about Saitou but somehow always seems to end up at Honda’s apartment. Nagai's indecisiveness about his love life and his need to drink before expressing affection make him more unlikable than sympathetic. Saitou's primary function is to be cute, to blush, and to cry. Honda’s character seems more nuanced: he remains somewhat mysterious and is more comfortable with his sexuality. While Yamada does a good job rendering facial expressions, in some panels the art is a little stiff and blocky. Rated 18+, this is for mature audiences and contains several explicit scenes. An optional purchase for libraries seeking to build a yaoi collection for adults.—Anna Neatrour, Salt Lake City
Yi, Dong-Eun (text) & Yu Chung (illus.). Freak: Legend of the Nonblonds. Vol. 1. ICE Kunion. 2006. 200p. tr. from Korean by Won-Jae Huh. ISBN 89-527-4605-8 [ISBN 978-89-527-4605-4]. pap. $10.95. F
Yi’s first effort and attractively drawn manwha is a creative presentation that’s full of humor and interesting characters. The futuristic story involves the Nonblonds, a group of professional thieves: Tublerun, whose talents lie in absorbing others’ knowledge by touching them on the head; Verna, who enters a state of “cyber cerebro” allowing her to operate on an alternate plane; and Lorel, who is the leader of the group and an expert in hypnosis. The initial pages begin with the tale in full swing, making it difficult to follow, and Yi frequently has two separate but related action sequences occurring simultaneously. Yi includes a humorous afterward at the end of each chapter—a positive addition that offers clarity—and by the final chapter , the confusion is resolved. The artwork is the strongest aspect: Yu uses a typical anime style and moves smoothly into a chibi style to emphasize emotion or humor. Though printed on inexpensive paper, it is solidly bound and should withstand many readings. Appropriately rated 13+, this manhwa contains violence; however, it is not particularly graphic, and there is no sexual content. Recommended.—Diane Gallagher-Hayashi, Stelly’s Sch., Saanich Sch. Dist., Saanichton, B.C.
Week of October 17
Fiction | Nonfiction
Fiction
Humphreys, C.C. Jack Absolute. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Oct. 2006. c.320p. ISBN 0-312-35822-9 [ISBN 978-0-312-35822-8]. $23.95. F
Swashbuckling Jack Absolute is so infamous that upon returning to London after months at sea he discovers that his life has been dramatized in Richard Sheridan's comedy The Rivals. Before he can object, Jack is quickly caught in a moment of passion and must fight a duel that forces him to flee to America, which is in the midst of the War for Independence. Accompanied by his Mohawk bodyguard, he lands among the British in Canada, becoming a spy for Gen. John Burgoyne, who seeks to crush the American rebels. A schoolboy fencing champion who turned his love for swordplay into a career as a fight choreographer, debut novelist Humphreys draws on his experience to craft an entertaining historical adventure reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian's naval epics and Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe military series. From the battle of Saratoga to the search for a spy in Philadelphia, this novel offers an alternative look at the American Revolution (from a British perspective) and is a great introduction to what will surely become a long-lasting series. Recommended for popular fiction collections.—Ron Samul, New London, CT
Sparks, Nicholas. Dear John. Warner. Oct. 2006. c.288p. ISBN 0-446-52805-6 [ISBN 978-0-446-52805-6]. $24.99. F
Sparks's (The Notebook; True Believer) latest romance is a gripping story that revolves around a long-distance relationship between small-town North Carolina heroine Savannah Lynn Curtis and her army recruit boyfriend, John Tyree. In a few months, John's tour of duty will end, and the couple can marry. Then 9/11 hits, and John faces the most difficult decision of his life: to return to the woman he loves or to re-enlist and continue defending his country while holding on to the promise that Savannah will agree to wait another four years for him. In true Sparks tradition, his characters discover that sometimes a happy ending requires sacrifices, which lead us to do the right thing rather than fulfill the longing of our hearts. So set yourself under a full moon like Savannah and John and read on to discover if their love will survive. For popular fiction collections.—April Davis, Chantilly, VA
Turow, Scott. Limitations. Picador. Nov. 2006. c.208p. ISBN 0-312-42645-3. pap. $13. F
Kindle County Appellate Judge George Mason, previously seen in Personal Injuries, is having a bad week. His wife has just been diagnosed with cancer, he's receiving mysterious, threatening emails, and he's troubled by the case before him, which has stirred unpleasant memories from his past. A young woman was drugged and unconscious when she was brutally raped by four college students, who videotaped every humiliating detail. Upon awakening, she's not completely sure what happened and pushes it out of her mind until several years later, when the videotape resurfaces. The young men are subsequently convicted, but the case has come before the appellate court because it appears that the statute of limitations was ignored. This expanded version of a Sunday serial originally published in the New York Times Magazine earlier this year is written in the present tense, which lends a sense of immediacy to the events, but there is a real lack of suspense and virtually no surprises. Buy this unusually low-key legal thriller from the creator of the genre for demand only.—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL
Verne, Jules. The Meteor Hunt. Univ. of Nebraska. (Bison Frontiers of Imagination). Oct. 2006. 227p. tr. from French & ed. by Frederick Paul Walter & Walter James Miller. ISBN 0-8032-4677-3 [ISBN 978-0-8032-4677-5]. $29.95; pap. ISBN 0-8032-9634-7 [ISBN 978-0-8032-9634-3]. $15.95. F
Outraged by what they see as "criminal" alterations made by Jules Verne's son and others to his posthumously published novels and their English translations, the editors and translators of this comic science fiction novel have authorized themselves to restore and publish the novelist's original work. However, in this translation, they oddly update and Americanize the novel's language and even change many of the distances and sizes (for example, kilometers become miles), so it's difficult to see how this work represents an authentic restoration. Indeed, whatever changes that Verne's son made may be unfortunate, but they hardly rise to the level of the felonious. The Meteor Hunt concerns the simultaneous discovery by two rival amateur American astronomers of a gold meteor orbiting (and eventually crashing to) Earth and the amusing impact their increasingly rancorous dispute has on their families. A pleasant diversion and quite possibly a light satire of early 20th-century Americans, this novel clearly is not one of Verne's major works, which probably renders this translation unnecessary to all but Verne purists. Recommended only for those libraries with special Verne collections.—Roger A. Berger, Everett Community Coll., WA
Nonfiction
Crosby, David & Carl Gottlieb. Since Then: How I Survived Everything and Lived To Tell About It. Putnam. Nov. 2006. c.304p. discog. ISBN 0-399-15381-0 [ISBN 978-0-399-15381-5]. $26.95. MUSIC
In Long Time Gone (1988), Crosby, founding member of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and the Byrds, and screenwriter Gottlieb (Jaws) teamed up to tell the tales of mania, mayhem, and music that shaped the first 45 years of Crosby's life. Here, the two regale us with the rest of the story, weaving three threads into this crazy quilt of a memoir. The first is made up of Crosby recounting his life in his own words; it is punctuated by the second thread, Gottlieb's "objective" account of Crosby's description of events. Crosby's friends, among them musician Jackson Browne; actor Robin Williams; and Crosby's manager, Elliott Roberts, interject their own recollections of Crosby's life and times in the third narrative strand. All the high-profile events are here—e.g., Crosby's drug arrests and prison time, his liver transplant, his motorcycle accident, and his sperm donation to Melissa Etheridge—as are descriptions of his deep love for his family. Crosby entertains us with a twinkle in his eye and a laugh in his belly as he sings us the songs of his good fortune and love. Libraries owning Long Time Gone will certainly want to invest in this sequel. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/06.]—Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Lancaster, PA
Charters, Samuel. New Orleans: Playing a Jazz Chorus. Marion Boyars, dist. by Consortium. 2006. c.240p. illus. index. ISBN 0-7145-3131-6 [ISBN 978-0-7145-3131-1]. pap. $17.95. MUSIC
Combining a unique sense of realism with impressionism, blues historian Charters (Walking a Blues Road) recounts his visit to New Orleans several months after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the city. As it turns out, this is roughly 50 years after he first traveled to and lived in the Crescent City, when as a young man he sought out what made jazz such a special local component. Today, his son's family lives there, which prompted Charters's return to help, then search for what survived the tragedy. With the city's public services still mostly out of commission, he seeks out those special areas where survivors are putting lives back together and attempting to reclaim what had been lost. His initial impressions of a gray, listless, almost spooky terrain are soon broken by little pockets of life—primarily places where jazz, zydeco, and other music are slowly turning the city back into its former joyful self. There's no condescension or hint of cynicism and glibness—Charters knows that those willing to devote themselves to the music and that music's attractiveness to listeners will eventually resuscitate New Orleans. This touching, gritty glimpse into the city's rebirth, full of portraits of the people Charters met while he was there, is highly recommended for all libraries.—William G. Kenz, Minnesota State Univ. Moorhead Lib.
Dubose, Lou & Jake Bernstein. Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency. Random. Oct. 2006. c.262p. index. ISBN 1-4000-6576-3. $25.95. POL SCI
Dick Cheney, who has been an inside fixture in American politics for roughly a generation, is arguably the most secretive and most powerful vice president in U.S. history. Anyone wishing to make sense of the George W. Bush administration is well advised to follow the lead of these two veteran political observers. Dubose (coauthor, with Molly Ivins, Bushwhacked) and Bernstein (executive editor, Texas Observer) view Cheney the power broker, the deal maker, and, perhaps, the presidency breaker. They believe that Cheney cares more about power than process, more about the dark arts of fighting terrorism than the necessary and proper dialog of democracy. Cheney's actions, according to the authors, mock our Madisonian system of checks and balances that provides constitutional constraints on capacious presidential prerogative. Cheney came to the vice presidency convinced that power in Washington had improperly shifted from the Oval Office to Capitol Hill, and he has been on a crusade to reverse that power flow. In the process, the authors contend, he has often exhibited more zeal than understanding. Cheney partisans likely will reject if not condemn this exposé; others should not be so hasty to do so, for more than just the vice presidency is ultimately at stake. Recommended for all libraries.—Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Univ., Nampa, ID
Escott, Colin. The Grand Ole Opry: The Making of an American Icon. Center Street. Nov. 2006. c.304p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 1-931722-86-2 [ISBN 978-1-931722-86-5]. $24.99. MUSIC
Escott's (Hank Williams: Snapshots from the Lost Highway) handsomely illustrated book is the first of three major titles from Center Street in partnership with Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, the longest–running radio broadcast in history. It is an account told primarily through oral histories conveying the personalities, events, and enduring musical traditions that emanated from the opry across the nation's radio waves. The live music that the opry broadcast amalgamated rural American folk music traditions to help create what became known as country music. Through archival interviews from other sources and original interviews by the author, the book traces the story of the dozens of distinctive artists (e.g., Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash) who graced the opry stage, the business behind the music, and the challenges faced by the industry over the course of 80 years. The words and reminiscences of the dozens of participants in the opry's history provide rich and detailed immediacy to the story. Hundreds of photographs of music personalities, original programs, and artifacts result in a unique narrative of the distinctly American genre of country music. Recommended for public libraries with interests in popular culture and music.—Jim Collins, Morristown & Morris Twp. P.L., NJ
Miller, Chris. The Real Animal House: The Awesomely Depraved Saga of the Fraternity That Inspired the Movie. Little, Brown. Nov. 2006. c.336p. ISBN 0-316-05701-0 [ISBN 978-0-316-05701-1]. $24.99. FILM
In what is decidedly a kick in the Republican ass of our repressed and conservative zeitgeist, this paean to adolescent alcoholic reprobates—a.k.a. the early 1960s Dartmouth Alpha Delta Phi fraternity—follows the recent biography of National Lampoon grand pooh-bah and Miller cohort Doug Kenney, Josh Karp's A Futile and Stupid Gesture: How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever. Miller, cocreator of the beloved 1978 film classic Animal House (which forever endeared actor/comedian John Belushi to our hearts) dishes in the first person on the (s)exploits of the real Ivy League Animal House, replete with its considerable debauchery, fornicating, and sophomoric hijinks. When Miller becomes frat brother Pinto, the memoir, however, abruptly and annoyingly shifts to the third person. Still, readers will enjoy finding out who inspired whom for the celluloid version of Sixties frat life. Almost 30 years have passed since Animal House dressed our collective comedic psyche in a beer-stained toga, but the question isn't, Do we still care? It's, Does Bluto like a good food fight? Recommended for performing arts and popular culture collections.—Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX
See the October 15 Xpress Reviews
